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 a Technical Engineer I in Washington is $86,380 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.
However, a Technical 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
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
Technical Engineer I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $92,380 | $7,698 | $1,777 | $44 |
| Average | $86,380 | $7,198 | $1,661 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,710 | $6,643 | $1,533 | $38 |
Consolidated Metco - Vancouver, WA
3MD Inc. - Redmond, WA
F5 - Seattle, WA
3MD - Redmond, WA
A Technical 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 a Technical 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Engineer I | 0-2 years | $86,375 |
| Intermediate Engineer | 2-4 years | $99,888 |
| Senior Engineer | 4-7 years | $120,070 |
| Engineer - Specialist/Project Lead | 7+ years | $151,970 |
| Engineer - Expert/Consultant | 7-10 years | $175,469 |
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 Technical 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:
Technical Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $96,697. While startup companies pay approximate $81,804.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $81,804 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $86,517 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $93,379 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $96,697 |
For Technical Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Technical Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Technical Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $107,975 | $52.0 | 25% |
| Energy & Utilities | $103,656 | $50.0 | 20% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $99,337 | $48.0 | 15% |
| Internet | $99,337 | $48.0 | 15% |
| Chemicals | $95,018 | $46.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Technical 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 | $92,380 | $7,698 | $1,777 | $44 |
| Average | $86,380 | $7,198 | $1,661 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,710 | $6,643 | $1,533 | $38 |
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Technical 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation Engineer II | $103,800 | 20% |
| Airport Design Engineer | $79,401 | -8% |
| Aerospace Aviation Engineer II | $103,790 | 20% |
| Intermediate Engineer | $99,900 | 16% |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Technical Engineer I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Hospitable
Vancouver, WA
Hospitable | Vancouver, WA
tldr. We build software for Airbnbs to rent themselves, with a state-of-the-art product and user experience.We have crafted an Applicant Handbook, which we... more
3 Days Ago
Link Technical Talent
Seattle, WA
Link Technical Talent | Seattle, WA
A leading technical solutions provider seeks a Geotechnical Engineer to transition into a Technical Sales role.This fully remote position, based in Seattle... more
6 Days Ago
Koch Industries
Seattle, WA
Koch Industries | Seattle, WA
Technical Sales Engineer- Hyperscale/AI Applications. Molex is currently seeking a talented Technical Sales Engineer to join our team. In this role you wil... more
6 Days Ago
Securitas Technology
Spokane, WA
Securitas Technology | Spokane, WA
A global security solutions provider is seeking a customer-oriented professional for application and configuration support.This role involves troubleshooti... more
3 Days Ago
Lumotive
Redmond, WA
Lumotive | Redmond, WA
Job Description. Job Description. Lumotive is pioneering the era of programmable optics—where light is controlled as intelligently and flexibly as software... more
6 Days Ago
Nametag
Seattle, WA
Nametag | Seattle, WA
A leader in identity verification is hiring a Technical Customer Engineer to act as the technical escalation point for customer issues.Candidates should ha... more
6 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:
