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Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant make in District of Columbia?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant in District of Columbia is $173,690 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $178,084
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $165,790 to $175,990
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $158,597
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View as table View as graph 25% $165,790 10% $158,597 90% $178,084 75% $175,990 $173,690 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $175,990 $14,666 $3,384 $85
Average $173,690 $14,474 $3,340 $84
25th Percentile $165,790 $13,816 $3,188 $80
Check out Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Job Openings in District of Columbia
Project Engineer

Allegiance Group - Washington, DC

Project Engineer

The Bell Company - Washington, DC

Construction Project Engineer

Doyon Government Group - Washington, DC

Project Engineer

Smoot Construction Compan - Washington, DC

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Key Factors That Influence Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salaries

A Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant'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 Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant'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:

  • Engineering Program/Project Management III (4-7 years): $129,400
  • Engineering Program/Project Management IV (7+ years): $148,019
  • Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant (7-10 years): $173,700
  • Engineering Program/Project Management - Team Lead (10+ years): $91,455
  • Engineering Program/Project Management - Senior Team Lead (10+ years): $129,607
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Engineering Program/Project Management III4-7 years$129,400
Engineering Program/Project Management IV7+ years$148,019
Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant7-10 years$173,700
Engineering Program/Project Management - Team Lead10+ years$91,455
Engineering Program/Project Management - Senior Team Lead10+ years$129,607
$129,400 Engineeri...
$148,019 Engineeri...
$173,700 Project E...
$91,455 Engineeri...
$129,607 Engineeri...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Project Engineer - Expert/Consultants

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:

  • Parcel Return Service: $172,790
  • Washington: $172,790
  • Naval Anacost Annex: $172,790

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $194,271. While startup companies pay approximate $164,295.

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$164,295
Growth Stage51~500$173,768
Established501~5000$187,606
Enterprise5000+$194,271

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 53% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 23% above the average. In contrast, Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$213,639$103.023%
Internet$210,165$101.021%
Software & Networking$210,165$101.021%
Aerospace & Defense$204,954$99.018%
Energy & Utilities$198,007$95.014%

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$165,790
Average $173,690/year
$175,990
$13,816
Average $14,474/month
$14,666
$3,188
Average $3,340/week
$3,384
$80
Average $84/hour
$85
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $175,990 $14,666 $3,384 $85
Average $173,690 $14,474 $3,340 $84
25th Percentile $165,790 $13,816 $3,188 $80

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant Salary Growth & Career Path

Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant
Engineering Program/Project Management - Team Lead
Engineering Program/Project Management - Manager

For a Project Engineer - Expert/Consultant, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Engineering Program/Project Management - Team Lead role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $91,500 - a projected growth of -47% over your current level.

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Cost of Living In District of Columbia

Cost of Living in District of Columbia is
10.7% Higher
than the National Average

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