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Lead Reliability Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Reliability Engineer make in the United States?

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

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $176,773
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $154,530 to $169,590
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $148,002
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View as table View as graph 25% $154,530 10% $148,002 90% $176,773 75% $169,590 $161,700 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Reliability Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $169,590 $14,133 $3,261 $82
Average $161,700 $13,475 $3,110 $78
25th Percentile $154,530 $12,878 $2,972 $74
Check out Lead Reliability Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Reliability Engineer

Lincoln Electric - EUCLID, OH

Lead R&D Engineer

Powell Industries - HOUSTON, TX

Engineer Strategic Reliability

Constellation Energy - CALIFORNIA, MD

Engineer Strategic Reliability

Constellation Energy - SAINT LEONARD, MD

Search More Lead Reliability Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Lead Reliability Engineer Salaries

A Lead 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 Lead Reliability Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $158,811
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $159,346
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $159,881
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $160,630
  • Expert (over 8 years): $162,289
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lead Reliability Engineer$158,811
Intermediate Level Lead Reliability Engineer$159,346
Senior Level Lead Reliability Engineer$159,881
Specialist Level Lead Reliability Engineer$160,630
Expert Level Lead Reliability Engineer$162,289
$158,811 0 yr
$159,346 < 2 yrs
$159,881 2-4 yrs
$160,630 5-8 yrs
$162,289 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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: $203,950
  • San Francisco: $201,950
  • Oakland: $197,470

What Skills Can Increase a Lead 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 a Lead 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 a Lead Reliability Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead 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 a Lead Reliability Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $159,919 and $166,614).

Lead Reliability Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead 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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Lead Reliability Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead 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 January 01, 2026

Lead Reliability Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Lead 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 Lead Reliability Engineer

Salaries for a Lead 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 Lead Reliability Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead 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 Lead Reliability Engineer

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

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

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

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FAQ about Lead Reliability Engineer

1. How much does a lead QA engineer earn in us?

As of January 19, 2025, the salary for a Lead Reliability Engineer in the United States ranges from $156,150 to $180,780 annually, with a median salary of $168,420. This translates to approximately $75.00 to $86.90 per hour, or about $3,015 to $3,515 per week.

2. What is the highest paid reliability engineer?

The highest paid Lead Reliability Engineer can earn a maximum salary of $180,780 annually. The average salary for this role typically falls around $168,420, with a minimum starting salary of $156,150. This positions Lead Reliability Engineers among the top earners in the field, reflecting their critical role in ensuring system reliability.

3. What is a good salary for an engineer in USA?

A good salary for a Lead Reliability Engineer in the USA ranges from a minimum of $156,150 to a maximum of $180,780, with a mid-salary of $168,420. This reflects the specialized skills and experience required for the role, positioning it above the average engineering salaries in the industry.

4. How much QA is paid in USA?

The average salary for a Lead Reliability Engineer in the US ranges from $156,150 to $180,780, with a mid-salary of $168,420. This reflects the competitive compensation in the field, highlighting the importance of reliability engineering in various industries.

5. How much do engineering leads make in the US?

The estimated total pay for a Lead Reliability Engineer in the US ranges from $156,150 to $180,780 per year, with a mid-salary of $168,420. These figures reflect the typical salary range based on collected data, providing a clear picture of compensation for this role.

6. Who is the highest paid engineer in the United States?

The highest-paid engineering role in the United States is the Lead Reliability Engineer, with a salary range from $156,150 to $180,780. The median salary for this position is approximately $168,420, surpassing many other engineering disciplines, making it a lucrative career choice for professionals in the field.

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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