What are the main factors that influence a Design Engineer - Project Lead's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Design Engineer - Project Lead's salary?

A Design Engineer - Project Lead's salary grows with experience: a Design Engineer, Intermediate (2-4 years)earns $90,713, a Design Engineer, Senior (4-7 years)earns $113,381, a Design Engineer - Project Lead (7+ years)earns $138,444, Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead (7-10 years)earns $162,203, a Product Development Design Manager (10+ years)earns $148,456,

What are the highest paying states for a Design Engineer - Project Lead?

Design Engineer - Project Lead salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Design Engineer - Project Lead roles are District of Columbia $151,400, California $150,800, Massachusetts $148,800. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Design Engineer - Project Lead roles make?

Salaries for Design Engineer - Project Lead level roles vary by specialization: ASIC Design Engineer Lead: $191,000; Digital Design Engineer Lead: $190,990; Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead: $160,200; Lead Project Engineer: $156,518; Software Engineer - Project Lead: $148,890.

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Design Engineer - Project Lead Salary in Delaware

How much does a Design Engineer - Project Lead make in Delaware?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Engineer - Project Lead in Delaware is $138,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $160,661
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $125,600 to $150,100
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $113,855

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Design Engineer - Project Lead Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$150,100	$12,508	$2,887	$72
Average	$138,500	$11,542	$2,663	$67
25th Percentile	$125,600	$10,467	$2,415	$60

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Key Factors That Influence Design Engineer - Project Lead Salaries

A Design Engineer - Project Lead'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.

How Experience Level Affects Design Engineer - Project Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Design Engineer - Project Lead'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, Intermediate (2-4 years): $90,713
Design Engineer, Senior (4-7 years): $113,381
Design Engineer - Project Lead (7+ years): $138,444
Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead (7-10 years): $162,203
Product Development Design Manager (10+ years): $148,456

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Design Engineer, Intermediate	2-4 years	$90,713
Design Engineer, Senior	4-7 years	$113,381
Design Engineer - Project Lead	7+ years	$138,444
Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead	7-10 years	$162,203
Product Development Design Manager	10+ years	$148,456

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Design Engineer - Project Lead 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 - Project Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $151,400.
California: $150,800.
Massachusetts: $148,800.

District of Columbia $151,400 California $150,800 Massachusetts $148,800 Washington $148,300 New Jersey $148,200 Alaska $148,000 Connecticut $146,100 New York $145,400

Hawaii $142,900 Rhode Island $141,800 Maryland $141,000 Minnesota $139,900 Colorado $139,500 Illinois $139,400 Oregon $138,900 Delaware $138,500

New Hampshire $138,300 Virginia $137,700 Pennsylvania $136,100 Nevada $135,300 North Dakota $135,100 Michigan $134,700 Wisconsin $134,500 Vermont $134,200

Texas $133,400 Arizona $133,300 Maine $133,300 Ohio $133,200 Georgia $131,900 Indiana $131,300 Wyoming $131,200 Utah $131,000

Iowa $130,900 Kansas $130,200 Louisiana $130,000 North Carolina $130,000 Missouri $129,900 Florida $129,400 Montana $129,100 Nebraska $128,800

Kentucky $128,700 South Carolina $128,100 Tennessee $127,800 Idaho $127,700 New Mexico $126,700 Oklahoma $126,500 Alabama $125,600 South Dakota $124,300

Arkansas $123,600 West Virginia $123,200 Mississippi $122,000

Top Paying Cities for Design Engineer - Project Leads

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:

Lincoln: $137,900
Little Creek: $138,900
Magnolia: $138,700

Lincoln, DE $137,900 Little Creek, DE $138,900 Magnolia, DE $138,700 Milford, DE $138,200 Marydel, DE $138,400 Millsboro, DE $137,300 Millville, DE $137,500 Milton, DE $137,700

Nassau, DE $137,800 Ocean View, DE $137,500 Rehoboth Beach, DE $137,700 Seaford, DE $137,800 Selbyville, DE $137,300 Smyrna, DE $139,000 Viola, DE $138,300 Woodside, DE $138,700

Bear, DE $138,400 Newark, DE $138,300 Claymont, DE $138,600 Delaware City, DE $138,500 Hockessin, DE $138,300 Kirkwood, DE $138,400 Middletown, DE $138,500 Montchanin, DE $138,400

New Castle, DE $138,400 Odessa, DE $138,600 Port Penn, DE $138,700 Rockland, DE $138,400 Saint Georges, DE $138,500 Townsend, DE $138,700 Winterthur, DE $138,400 Lewes, DE $137,800

Wilmington, DE $138,300 Dover, DE $138,900 Dover Afb, DE $138,100 Bethany Beach, DE $137,300 Bethel, DE $137,500 Bridgeville, DE $137,800 Camden Wyoming, DE $138,500 Cheswold, DE $138,800

Clayton, DE $138,800 Dagsboro, DE $137,200 Delmar, DE $137,000 Ellendale, DE $137,400 Felton, DE $138,200 Fenwick Island, DE $137,300 Frankford, DE $137,000 Frederica, DE $138,300

Georgetown, DE $137,200 Greenwood, DE $137,800 Harbeson, DE $137,300 Harrington, DE $138,000 Hartly, DE $138,500 Houston, DE $137,800 Kenton, DE $138,800 Laurel, DE $137,100

Yorklyn, DE $138,400

Design Engineer - Project Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Design Engineer - Project Lead'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 May 01, 2026

$125,600

Average $138,500/year

$150,100

$10,467

Average $11,542/month

$12,508

$2,415

Average $2,663/week

$2,887

$60

Average $67/hour

$72

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$150,100	$12,508	$2,887	$72
Average	$138,500	$11,542	$2,663	$67
25th Percentile	$125,600	$10,467	$2,415	$60

Design Engineer - Project Lead Salary Growth & Career Path

Design Engineer - Project Lead

Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead

Product Development Design Manager

For a Design Engineer - Project Lead, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $162,300 - a projected growth of 17% over your current level.

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