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Design Engineer, Entry Salary in the United States

How much does a Design Engineer, Entry make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Engineer, Entry in the United States is $79,000 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Design Engineer, Entry's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,361
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,200 to $83,900
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,740
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Design Engineer, Entry Salaries

A Design Engineer, Entry's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Design Engineer, Entry Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Design Engineer, Entry's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Design Engineer, Entry (0-2 years): $78,962
  • Design Engineer, Intermediate (2-4 years): $89,565
  • Design Engineer, Senior (4-7 years): $111,967
  • Design Engineer - Project Lead (7+ years): $136,714
  • Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead (7-10 years): $160,151
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Design Engineer, Entry0-2 years$78,962
Design Engineer, Intermediate2-4 years$89,565
Design Engineer, Senior4-7 years$111,967
Design Engineer - Project Lead7+ years$136,714
Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead7-10 years$160,151
View as Graph

How Do Design Engineer, Entry Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Design Engineer, Entries. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $87,500.
  • California: $87,100.
  • Massachusetts: $86,000.

Top Paying Cities for Design Engineer, Entries

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $99,600
  • San Francisco: $98,600
  • Oakland: $96,500

What Skills Can Increase a Design Engineer, Entry's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 17.02% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 0.88% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • CNC (Mentioned in 0.49% Job Postings): Numerical control is the automated control of machining tools by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material to meet specifications by following coded programmed instructions
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 17.02%
Continuous Improvement 0.88%
CNC 0.49%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Design Engineer, Entry's salary.

  • Square: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Brand Design: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Square $82,950
5%
Networking $82,950
5%
Brand Design $82,160
4%
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Design Engineer, Entry Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Design Engineer, Entry salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $88,286. While startup companies pay approximate $74,681.

Design Engineer, Entry Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $74,681
Growth Stage 51~500 $78,982
Established 501~5000 $85,251
Enterprise 5000+ $88,286

Design Engineer, Entry Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Design Engineer, Entry roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Design Engineer, Entry positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Engineer, Entry as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Design Engineer, Entry

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$90,850$44.015%
Pharmaceuticals$88,480$43.012%
Biotechnology$86,900$42.010%
Energy & Utilities$85,320$41.08%
Aerospace & Defense$82,950$40.05%

How Education impacts a Design Engineer, Entry's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Design Engineer, Entries enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Design Engineer, Entry with a Bachelor's Degree is between $75,910 and $79,721).

Design Engineer, Entry Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Design Engineer, Entry
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 5.3%
Associates 10.6%
Bachelors 56.2%
Masters 25.2%
Doctorate 2.5%
View as Graph

Design Engineer, Entry Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Design Engineer, Entry's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$75,200
Average $79,000/year
$83,900
$6,267
Average $6,583/month
$6,992
$1,446
Average $1,519/week
$1,613
$36
Average $38/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,900 $6,992 $1,613 $40
Average $79,000 $6,583 $1,519 $38
25th Percentile $75,200 $6,267 $1,446 $36

Design Engineer, Entry Salary Growth & Career Path

Design Engineer, Entry

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Advancement

For a Design Engineer, Entry, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Design Engineer, Intermediate role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $89,600 - a projected growth of 13% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Design Engineer, Entry

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Design Engineer, Entry

Here are companies hiring for Design Engineer, Entry and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Design Engineer, Entry

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Design Engineer, Entry?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Design Engineer, Entry roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

2. Is engineer 1 Entry Level?

Engineer I is the entry-level classification for engineers. Incumbents handle less complex office and field civil engineering tasks under direct supervision, preparing for advancement to Engineer II. The salary range for this position is between $73,000 and $87,100, with a midpoint of $80,000, reflecting the role's responsibilities and growth potential.

3. What is highest salary for Design Engineer?

The highest salary for a Design Engineer is ₹87,100 per year. The average starting salary is around ₹1.8 Lakhs annually, with a minimum experience requirement of 1 year. While entry-level positions may start lower, experienced Design Engineers can earn significantly more, reflecting their skills and expertise in the field.

4. Do engineers make 300k a year?

Engineers typically do not make $300,000 a year. For a Design Engineer at the entry level, salaries range from $73,000 to $87,100, with a mid-salary of $80,000. While experienced engineers in specialized roles may earn higher, the average entry-level salary is significantly lower than $300,000.

5. Do design engineers get paid well?

Design Engineers typically earn a competitive salary, with entry-level positions starting at a minimum of $73,000. The mid-range salary is around $80,000, while experienced professionals can earn up to $87,100. This reflects a solid compensation structure for those entering the field.

6. What does a design engineer get paid?

A Design Engineer typically earns between $73,000 and $87,100 annually, with a median salary of around $80,000. While some cities like Berkeley, CA, offer higher salaries, the general pay range reflects the skills and experience required in this role.

7. Are design engineers in demand?

Design engineers are in demand, with a projected growth of 6% from 2020 to 2030. The salary for entry-level design engineers ranges from $73,000 to $87,100, with a median salary of $80,000. This competitive compensation reflects the increasing need for skilled professionals in the field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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