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Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer in the United States is $161,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $78.

However, an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $176,984
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $154,600 to $169,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $148,136
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View as table View as graph 25% $154,600 10% $148,136 90% $176,984 75% $169,700 $161,700 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $169,700 $14,142 $3,263 $82
Average $161,700 $13,475 $3,110 $78
25th Percentile $154,600 $12,883 $2,973 $74
Check out Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Reliability Engineer

AMG Vanadium LLC - Cambridge, OH

Reliability Engineer

GOJO Industries Inc - Wooster, OH

Reliability Engineer

Southern Recruiting Solutions, Inc. - Cincinnati, OH

Reliability Engineer

PCA - Massillon, OH

Search More Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Salaries

An Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer'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:

  • Failure Analysis Engineer III (4-7 years): $112,546
  • Failure Analysis Engineer IV (7+ years): $137,023
  • Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer (7-10 years): $161,684
  • Product Reliability Engineering Supervisor (10+ years): $125,317
  • Product Reliability Engineering Senior Manager (10+ years): $148,711
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Failure Analysis Engineer III4-7 years$112,546
Failure Analysis Engineer IV7+ years$137,023
Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer7-10 years$161,684
Product Reliability Engineering Supervisor10+ years$125,317
Product Reliability Engineering Senior Manager10+ years$148,711
$112,546 Failure A...
$137,023 Failure A...
$161,684 Expert/Co...
$125,317 Product R...
$148,711 Product R...
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer 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 Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $179,100.
  • California: $178,400.
  • Massachusetts: $176,000.

Top Paying Cities for Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineers

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: $204,000
  • San Francisco: $202,000
  • Oakland: $197,500

What Skills Can Increase an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 13.96% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Root Cause Analysis (Mentioned in 2.58% Job Postings): In science and engineering, root cause analysis (RCA) is a method of problem solving used for identifying the root causes of faults or problems. It is widely used in IT operations, telecommunications, industrial process control, accident analysis (e.g., in aviation, rail transport, or nuclear plants), medicine (for medical diagnosis), healthcare industry (e.g., for epidemiology), etc. RCA can be decomposed into four steps: Identify and describe clearly the problem. Establish a timeline from the normal situation up to the time the problem occurred. Distinguish between the root cause and other causal factors (e.g., using event correlation). Establish a causal graph between the root cause and the problem.RCA generally serves as input to a remediation process whereby corrective actions are taken to prevent the problem from reoccurring. The name of this process varies from one application domain to another.
  • Elder Care (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): Elderly care, or simply eldercare (also known in parts of the English speaking world as aged care), is the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes (often referred to as residential care), hospice care, and home care. Because of the wide variety of elderly care found nationally, as well as differentiating cultural perspectives on elderly citizens, it cannot be limited to any one practice. For example, many countries in Asia use government-established elderly care quite infrequently, preferring the traditional methods of being cared for by younger generations of family members. Elderly care emphasizes the social and personal requirements of senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities and health care, but who desire to age with dignity. It is an important distinction, in that the design of housing, services, activities, employee training and such should be truly customer-centered. It is also noteworthy that a large amount of global elderly care falls under the unpaid market sector.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 13.96%
Root Cause Analysis 2.58%
Elder Care 1.59%
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 Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer's salary.
  • Kubernetes: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Site Reliability Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Kubernetes
$200,508
24%
Team Development
$195,657
21%
Site Reliability Engineering
$190,806
18%
Incident Response
$185,955
15%
Verbal Communication
$182,721
13%
Written Communication
$176,253
9%
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How Education impacts an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $159,979 and $166,664).

Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.4%
High School 3.4%
Associates 45.8%
Bachelors 35.6%
Masters 45.8%
Doctorate 15.3%
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Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer'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 April 01, 2026

Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Product Reliability Engineering Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $125,400 - a projected growth of -22% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer

Salaries for an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $163,831 in 2023 to around $159,372 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$163,831
2024
$161,912
2025
$159,372
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $163,831
2024 $161,912
2025 $159,372
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer

1. What is the salary of Site Reliability Engineer in JP Morgan?

The salary for an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer at JP Morgan ranges from approximately ? 15,62,000 to ? 18,08,000, with a mid-point salary of around ? 16,85,000. This reflects competitive compensation in the industry, aligning with the expertise required for the role.

2. How much does a VP of Site Reliability Engineer make?

The estimated total pay for a Vice President of Site Reliability Engineering is around $337,421 per year. However, for an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer, the salary ranges from a minimum of $156,200 to a maximum of $180,800, with a mid-salary of $168,500.

3. Is reliability engineer a good job?

The reliability engineer is a vital role that carries significant responsibility and demands ongoing collaboration with other professionals, particularly maintenance engineers. This position not only helps reduce the risk of “unplanned downtime” but also offers a competitive salary range, with a minimum of $156,200, a mid-point of $168,500, and a maximum of $180,800, making it an attractive career choice.

4. How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make at Google?

The estimated total pay range for an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer is between $156,200 and $180,800 per year, with a mid-salary of $168,500. This figure reflects the base salary and does not include additional compensation.

5. What is the salary of Site Reliability Engineer at Cisco?

The salary of an Expert/Consultant Reliability Engineer is between ?156,200 and ?180,800, with a mid-range salary of ?168,500. This reflects the compensation for professionals in this role, depending on their experience and expertise.

6. What is the highest paid reliability engineer?

The highest paid Reliability Engineer positions can earn between $156,200 and $180,800 annually, with a mid-salary of $168,500. This reflects the competitive nature of the field, where specialized roles such as Site Reliability Engineering and System Reliability Engineer also offer substantial salaries, but the top-tier positions command even higher compensation.

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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