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Electronic Systems Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does an Electronic Systems Engineer I make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Electronic Systems Engineer I in the United States is $82,090 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an Electronic Systems Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,800
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,490 to $89,790
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,571

Key Factors That Influence Electronic Systems Engineer I Salaries

An Electronic Systems Engineer I'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 Electronic Systems Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Electronic Systems Engineer I'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:

  • Electronic Systems Engineer I (0-2 years): $82,084
  • Electronics Design Engineer II (2-4 years): $99,498
  • Electronics Design Engineer III (4-7 years): $123,205
  • Electronics Design Engineer IV (7+ years): $143,785
  • Electronics Design Engineer V (7-10 years): $169,231
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Electronic Systems Engineer I0-2 years$82,084
Electronics Design Engineer II2-4 years$99,498
Electronics Design Engineer III4-7 years$123,205
Electronics Design Engineer IV7+ years$143,785
Electronics Design Engineer V7-10 years$169,231

How Do Electronic Systems Engineer I 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 Electronic Systems Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $90,890.
  • California: $90,590.
  • Massachusetts: $89,390.

Top Paying Cities for Electronic Systems Engineer Is

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: $103,590
  • San Francisco: $102,390
  • Oakland: $100,290

What Skills Can Increase an Electronic Systems Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 14.14% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Calibration (Mentioned in 4.48% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
  • Electrical Engineering (Mentioned in 1.99% Job Postings): Electrical engineering is a technical discipline concerned with the study, design and application of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identified activity in the latter half of the 19th century after commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electrical power generation, distribution and use. Electrical engineering is now divided into a wide range of fields including, computer engineering, power engineering, telecommunications, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, instrumentation, and electronics. Many of these disciplines overlap with other engineering branches, spanning a huge number of specializations including hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics and waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, renewable energies, mechatronics, and electrical materials science. See glossary of electrical and electronics engineering.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 14.14%
Calibration 4.48%
Electrical Engineering 1.99%

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 an Electronic Systems Engineer I's salary.

  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Electronic Components: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Flexibility $98,508
20%
Verbal Communication $97,687
19%
Electronic Components $96,866
18%

Electronic Systems Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Electronic Systems Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $91,645. While startup companies pay approximate $77,600.

Electronic Systems Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $77,600
Growth Stage 51~500 $82,052
Established 501~5000 $88,490
Enterprise 5000+ $91,645

Electronic Systems Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Electronic Systems Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 27% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Electronic Systems Engineer positions in Media or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Electronic Systems Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Electronic Systems Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$90,299$43.010%
Pharmaceuticals$90,299$43.010%
Software & Networking$90,299$43.010%
Aerospace & Defense$86,194$41.05%
Energy & Utilities$86,194$41.05%

Electronic Systems Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Electronic Systems Engineer I'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 October 01, 2026
$74,490
Average $82,090/year
$89,790
$6,208
Average $6,841/month
$7,483
$1,433
Average $1,579/week
$1,727
$36
Average $39/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $89,790 $7,483 $1,727 $43
Average $82,090 $6,841 $1,579 $39
25th Percentile $74,490 $6,208 $1,433 $36

Electronic Systems Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Electronic Systems Engineer I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Electronic Systems Engineer I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Digital Signal Processing Engineer II $99,500 21%
EE II $99,300 21%
Electronics Design Engineer II $99,500 21%
RF Engineer II $99,490 21%

Most common benefits for Electronic Systems Engineer I

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

Common company salaries for Electronic Systems Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Electronic Systems Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Electronic Systems Engineer I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Electronic Systems Engineer I?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Electronic Systems Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

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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