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 Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead in Alabama is $147,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.
However, Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead'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-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $157,100 | $13,092 | $3,021 | $76 |
| Average | $147,200 | $12,267 | $2,831 | $71 |
| 25th Percentile | $139,600 | $11,633 | $2,685 | $67 |
Black Creek Integrated Systems - Birmingham, AL
Karman Space & Defense - Decatur, AL
Mesa Associates, Inc. - Madison, AL
JBS Solutions - Huntsville, AL
Design Engineer - Project Senior 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.
Experience is a primary driver of Design Engineer - Project Senior 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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Design Engineer, Senior | 4-7 years | $102,862 |
| Design Engineer - Project Lead | 7+ years | $125,597 |
| Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead | 7-10 years | $147,135 |
| Product Development Design Manager | 10+ years | $134,672 |
| Product Development Design Senior Manager | 10+ years | $168,532 |
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 - Project Senior Leads. 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 - Project Senior Lead salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $164,782. While startup companies pay approximate $139,402.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $139,402 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $147,434 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $159,126 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $164,782 |
For Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 47% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $184,000 | $88.0 | 25% |
| Financial Services | $169,280 | $81.0 | 15% |
| Software & Networking | $169,280 | $81.0 | 15% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $161,920 | $78.0 | 10% |
| Telecom | $157,504 | $76.0 | 7% |
Understanding how Design Engineer - Project Senior 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $157,100 | $13,092 | $3,021 | $76 |
| Average | $147,200 | $12,267 | $2,831 | $71 |
| 25th Percentile | $139,600 | $11,633 | $2,685 | $67 |
For Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Product Development Design Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $134,700 - a projected growth of -8% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Design Engineer - Project Senior Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
CACI International
Montgomery, AL
CACI International | Montgomery, AL
Job Title: Senior Site Lead EngineerJob Category: Information TechnologyTime Type: Full timeMinimum Clearance Required to Start: SecretEmployee Type: Regul... more
6 Days Ago
Orion Placement
Birmingham, AL
Orion Placement | Birmingham, AL
Pay. $75,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year. Why This Is a Great Opportunity. Join a growing civil engineering firm working on meaningful site development and i... more
3 Days Ago
OHM Advisors
Huntsville, AL
OHM Advisors | Huntsville, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Come work for OHM Advisors, the Community Advancement firm. . With the singular mission of. Advancing Communities. our di... more
3 Days Ago
Thompson Engineering
Mobile, AL
Thompson Engineering | Mobile, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Position. Summary───────────────────────────────────────────────────────. Thompson Engineering is seeking an experienced ... more
3 Days Ago
AAA USA Inc
Mobile, AL
AAA USA Inc | Mobile, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Description. About the Company. We provide specialized subcontracting and technical assistance services to support client... more
3 Days Ago
Thompson Engineering
Daphne, AL
Thompson Engineering | Daphne, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Position. Summary───────────────────────────────────────────────────────. Thompson Engineering is seeking an experienced ... more
3 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:
