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 an RF Engineer I in North Carolina is $85,080 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.
However, an RF Engineer I'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
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
RF Engineer I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $94,550 | $7,879 | $1,818 | $45 |
| Average | $85,080 | $7,090 | $1,636 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,740 | $6,562 | $1,514 | $38 |
SimVentions, Inc - Glassdoor ✪ 4.6 - Knotts Island, NC
SPREADTRUM COMMUNICATIONS USA - Greensboro, NC
American Airlines - FORT WORTH, TX
Lane Enterprises Inc - BEALETON, VA
An RF 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.
Experience is a primary driver of an RF 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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| RF Engineer I | 0-2 years | $85,073 |
| RF Engineer II | 2-4 years | $94,555 |
| RF Engineer III | 4-7 years | $114,756 |
| RF Engineer IV | 7+ years | $136,640 |
| RF Engineer V | 7-10 years | $168,811 |
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 RF Engineer Is. 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:
RF Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $96,004. While startup companies pay approximate $81,250.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $81,250 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $85,922 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $92,720 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $96,004 |
For RF Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, RF Engineer positions in Biotechnology or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view RF Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $110,604 | $53.0 | 30% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $106,350 | $51.0 | 25% |
| Business Services | $102,096 | $49.0 | 20% |
| Construction | $97,842 | $47.0 | 15% |
| Energy & Utilities | $93,588 | $45.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an RF 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $94,550 | $7,879 | $1,818 | $45 |
| Average | $85,080 | $7,090 | $1,636 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,740 | $6,562 | $1,514 | $38 |
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an RF 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.
| Next Step Role | Estimate Salary | Projected Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Signal Processing Engineer II | $94,600 | 11% |
| EE II | $94,400 | 11% |
| Electronics Design Engineer II | $94,600 | 11% |
| RF Engineer II | $94,590 | 11% |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current RF Engineer I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Distributed Spectrum
NEW YORK CITY, NY
Distributed Spectrum | NEW YORK CITY, NY
DS creates systems that power the next generation of radio spectrum intelligence. We collect radio data from all over the world, train neural networks to d... more
1 Day Ago
TagoreTech, Inc
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL
TagoreTech, Inc | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL
TagoreTech is seeking a talented and motivated RF Product Engineer to join our team. This position bridges engineering design, operations, quality, and man... more
1 Day Ago
Nusano
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT
Nusano | WEST VALLEY CITY, UT
Nusano is redefining the production and supply of isotopes to support precision medicine, advanced diagnostics, therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, and natio... more
2 Days Ago
Northrop Grumman
MARYLAND, MD
Northrop Grumman | MARYLAND, MD
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Descrip... more
2 Days Ago
Lynk, Inc.
CHANTILLY, VA
Lynk, Inc. | CHANTILLY, VA
About Elveo Elveo is what happens when two pioneers in direct-to-device (D2D) communications join forces. Elveo brings together a combined 20 years of expe... more
2 Days Ago
Energous
SAN JOSE, CA
Energous | SAN JOSE, CA
We are seeking an experienced RF Systems Engineer to lead the architecture, development, validation, and optimization of next-generation wireless power net... more
2 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:
