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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Engineer, Entry in California is $87,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.
However, a Design Engineer, Entry's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Design Engineer, Entry Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $92,600 | $7,717 | $1,781 | $45 |
| Average | $87,100 | $7,258 | $1,675 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $1,596 | $40 |
Sandis - Oakland, CA
Lean In - San Francisco, CA
Alphatec Spine - Carlsbad, CA
Clera - San Francisco, CA
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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Design Engineer, Entry | 0-2 years | $87,094 |
| Design Engineer, Intermediate | 2-4 years | $98,794 |
| Design Engineer, Senior | 4-7 years | $123,497 |
| Design Engineer - Project Lead | 7+ years | $150,793 |
| Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead | 7-10 years | $176,652 |
What Am I Worth?
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:
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:
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 $97,503. While startup companies pay approximate $82,486.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $82,486 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $87,238 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $94,157 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $97,503 |
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet | $100,165 | $48.0 | 15% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $97,552 | $47.0 | 12% |
| Biotechnology | $95,810 | $46.0 | 10% |
| Energy & Utilities | $94,068 | $45.0 | 8% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $91,455 | $44.0 | 5% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $92,600 | $7,717 | $1,781 | $45 |
| Average | $87,100 | $7,258 | $1,675 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $1,596 | $40 |
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 $98,800 - a projected growth of 13% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Design Engineer, Entry job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Metriport
San Francisco, CA
Metriport | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Design Engineer. Metriport is an open-source data intelligence platform that helps healthcare organizations access and ex... more
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Innogrit
San Jose, CA
Innogrit | San Jose, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Salary: DOE. Job description. Contribute to micro-architecture designs for state-of-the-art high-speed low-power digital ... more
4 Days Ago
Sandis
Santa Cruz, CA
Sandis | Santa Cruz, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our growing team in Santa Cruz, CA. Our ideal candidate has exp... more
4 Days Ago
Sandis
Campbell, CA
Sandis | Campbell, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our team in Campbell, CA. Our ideal candidate has experience wi... more
4 Days Ago
Higher Talent Group LLC
Irvine, CA
Higher Talent Group LLC | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Design Engineer – Irvine, California. . . About our Client. Our Client is a global provider within a wide range of areas,... more
5 Days Ago
Sandis
Roseville, CA
Sandis | Roseville, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our growing team in Roseville, CA. Our ideal candidate has expe... more
6 Days Ago
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