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Senior Electronics Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Electronics Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Electronics Engineer in the United States is $120,760 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $138,718
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $112,730 to $130,160
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,419

Key Factors That Influence Senior Electronics Engineer Salaries

A Senior Electronics 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 Senior Electronics Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Electronics 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:

  • Electronics Design Engineer I (0-2 years): $82,085
  • Electronics Design Engineer II (2-4 years): $99,499
  • Senior Electronics Engineer (4-7 years): $120,758
  • Electronics Design Engineer IV (7+ years): $143,785
  • Electronics Design Engineer V (7-10 years): $169,234
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Electronics Design Engineer I0-2 years$82,085
Electronics Design Engineer II2-4 years$99,499
Senior Electronics Engineer4-7 years$120,758
Electronics Design Engineer IV7+ years$143,785
Electronics Design Engineer V7-10 years$169,234

Top Paying Cities for Senior Electronics 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: $152,320
  • San Francisco: $150,650
  • Oakland: $147,470

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Electronics Engineer'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 4.47% 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 2% 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 4.47%
Electrical Engineering 2%

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 Senior Electronics Engineer's salary.

  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Electrical Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Decision Making $126,798
5%
Flexibility $125,590
4%
Electrical Engineering $125,590
4%

Senior Electronics Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Senior Electronics Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $134,954. While startup companies pay approximate $114,158.

Senior Electronics Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $114,158
Growth Stage 51~500 $120,733
Established 501~5000 $130,316
Enterprise 5000+ $134,954

Senior Electronics Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Electronics Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Senior Electronics Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Electronics Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Electronics Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$150,950$73.025%
Energy & Utilities$144,912$70.020%
Internet$144,912$70.020%
Construction$138,874$67.015%
Pharmaceuticals$138,874$67.015%

How Education impacts a Senior Electronics Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Electronics Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Senior Electronics Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $114,638 and $121,615).

Senior Electronics Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Electronics Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.9%
High School 2.9%
Associates 3.9%
Bachelors 36.3%
Masters 50.0%
Doctorate 6.9%

Senior Electronics Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Electronics 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 September 01, 2026
$112,730
Average $120,760/year
$130,160
$9,394
Average $10,063/month
$10,847
$2,168
Average $2,322/week
$2,503
$54
Average $58/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $130,160 $10,847 $2,503 $63
Average $120,760 $10,063 $2,322 $58
25th Percentile $112,730 $9,394 $2,168 $54

Senior Electronics Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Senior Electronics Engineer, 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.

Senior Electronics Engineer Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Digital Signal Processing Engineer IV $147,100 22%
EE IV $143,800 19%
Electronics Design Engineer IV $143,800 19%
RF Engineer IV $143,800 19%

Most common benefits for Senior Electronics Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Senior Electronics Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Senior Electronics Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Senior Electronics Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Electronics Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Electronics Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

2. What is the highest salary for senior engineer?

The highest salary for a Senior Electronics Engineer is $133,880. The salary range typically falls between a minimum of $108,420 and a midpoint of $121,290, reflecting the competitive nature of this role in the engineering field.

3. How much does a senior electronic design engineer at Tesla make?

A Senior Electronics Engineer at Tesla typically earns between $108,420 and $133,880 annually, with a mid-salary of $121,290. This reflects a competitive compensation package, aligning with industry standards.

4. What is the highest salary for senior engineer?

The highest salary for a Senior Electronics Engineer is $133,880 per year. The minimum salary is $108,420, while the mid-range salary is $121,290. This data reflects the salary range for Senior Electronics Engineers in the United States.

5. Which type of engineer has highest salary?

Among engineering roles, Senior Electronics Engineers have competitive salaries, with a minimum of $108,420, a mid-range of $121,290, and a maximum of $133,880. While other engineering fields like Petroleum and Aerospace may offer high salaries, the compensation for Senior Electronics Engineers is substantial, reflecting their expertise and demand in the industry.

6. Can electrical engineers make 500k?

While electrical engineers can earn substantial salaries, the typical range for a Senior Electronics Engineer is between $108,420 and $133,880. Achieving a salary of $500k is uncommon and usually reserved for top executives or specialized roles in high-demand sectors.

7. What is the highest salary for an electronics engineer in the US?

The highest salary for a Senior Electronics Engineer in the US is approximately $133,880 per year, based on the provided salary data. While some cities like Cupertino, CA, may offer higher salaries, the typical range for this role is between $108,420 and $133,880, with a mid-salary of $121,290.

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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