Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Engineer, Intermediate in Wisconsin is $88,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.
However, a Design Engineer, Intermediate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered Talent
Design Engineer, Intermediate Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $95,700 | $7,975 | $1,840 | $46 |
| Average | $88,200 | $7,350 | $1,696 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $1,500 | $38 |
RACINE RAILROAD PRODUCTS INC - Racine, WI
Northern Gear - Muskego, WI
KMC Stampings - Fredonia, WI
Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group - Milwaukee, WI
A Design Engineer, Intermediate'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, Intermediate'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 | $77,674 |
| Design Engineer, Intermediate | 2-4 years | $88,108 |
| Design Engineer, Senior | 4-7 years | $110,140 |
| Design Engineer - Project Lead | 7+ years | $134,484 |
| Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead | 7-10 years | $157,545 |
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, Intermediates. 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, Intermediate salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $98,735. While startup companies pay approximate $83,527.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $83,527 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $88,340 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $95,346 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $98,735 |
For Design Engineer, Intermediate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Hospitality & Leisure and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Design Engineer, Intermediate positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Engineer, Intermediate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality & Leisure | $123,480 | $59.0 | 40% |
| Construction | $114,660 | $55.0 | 30% |
| Internet | $110,250 | $53.0 | 25% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $105,840 | $51.0 | 20% |
| MFG Durable | $101,430 | $49.0 | 15% |
Understanding how a Design Engineer, Intermediate'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 | $95,700 | $7,975 | $1,840 | $46 |
| Average | $88,200 | $7,350 | $1,696 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $1,500 | $38 |
For a Design Engineer, Intermediate, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Design Engineer, Senior role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $110,140 - a projected growth of 25% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Design Engineer, Intermediate job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Astec Industries
Burlington, WI
Astec Industries | Burlington, WI
Job Description. Job Description. BUILT TO CONNECT. At Astec, we believe in the power of connection and the importance of building long-lasting relationshi... more
4 Days Ago
The Jor-mac Company Inc
Lomira, WI
The Jor-mac Company Inc | Lomira, WI
Job Description. Job Description. About Company. The Jor-Mac Company is a contract manufacturer of metal fabrications and assemblies. We provide. On-Time, ... more
5 Days Ago
PS SEASONING & SPICES INC
Hartford, WI
PS SEASONING & SPICES INC | Hartford, WI
Job Description. Job Description. Position Summary. The Design Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and improving smoker products and related... more
6 Days Ago
G3 Soft Inc
Racine, WI
G3 Soft Inc | Racine, WI
Job Title: Warehouse Design Engineer. Client. CNH. Job ID. 29570. Location. c. Job Summary. CNH is looking for an experienced. Warehouse Design Engineer. w... more
7 Days Ago
Dynamic Tool Corporation
Menomonee Falls, WI
Dynamic Tool Corporation | Menomonee Falls, WI
Job Description. Job Description. Description. MISSION & CORE VALUES. At Dynamic Tool Corporation, it is our mission to inspire those around us through gro... more
7 Days Ago
Sterling Engineering Inc.
Darien, WI
Sterling Engineering Inc. | Darien, WI
Job Description. Job Description. Title. Design Engineer. Location. Darien, WI 53114. Hire Type. Direct Hire. Compensation. $65,000–$78,000. Benefits. Full... more
7 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
