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Hourly Wage for Chief Engineering Officer Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Chief Engineering Officer?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Chief Engineering Officer in the United States is $179, which translates to an annual salary of about $371,707.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $205 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $168 to $192 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $158 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief Engineering Officer Salaries

A Chief Engineering Officer'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 Chief Engineering Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Engineering Officer'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 Senior Manager (5+ years): $179,917
  • Engineering Director (5+ years): $201,016
  • VP of Engineering (5+ years): $235,482
  • SVP of Engineering (5+ years): $295,651
  • Chief Engineering Officer (5+ years): $371,707
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Engineering Senior Manager5+ years$179,917
Engineering Director5+ years$201,016
VP of Engineering5+ years$235,482
SVP of Engineering5+ years$295,651
Chief Engineering Officer5+ years$371,707
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How Do Chief Engineering Officer Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Chief Engineering Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $411,554.
  • California: $409,993.
  • Massachusetts: $404,529.

Top Paying Cities for Chief Engineering Officers

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: $468,834
  • San Francisco: $463,701
  • Oakland: $453,929

Chief Engineering Officer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chief Engineering Officer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $415,398. While startup companies pay approximate $351,384.

Chief Engineering Officer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $351,384
Growth Stage 51~500 $371,624
Established 501~5000 $401,120
Enterprise 5000+ $415,398

Chief Engineering Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Engineering Officer 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 Biotechnology and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Chief Engineering Officer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Engineering Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chief Engineering Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$464,634$223.025%
Software & Networking$446,048$214.020%
Telecom$427,463$206.015%
Energy & Utilities$408,878$197.010%
Financial Services$408,878$197.010%

Chief Engineering Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief Engineering Officer'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
$349,394
Average $371,707/year
$400,269
$29,116
Average $30,976/month
$33,356
$6,719
Average $7,148/week
$7,697
$168
Average $179/hour
$192
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $400,269 $33,356 $7,697 $192
Average $371,707 $30,976 $7,148 $179
25th Percentile $349,394 $29,116 $6,719 $168

Most common benefits for Chief Engineering Officer

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

Common company salaries for Chief Engineering Officer

Here are companies hiring for Chief Engineering Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chief Engineering Officer

1. What are the responsibilities of Chief Engineering Officer?

Provides technical guidance and strategic oversight to develop or improve technical products, systems, or processes that meet specified requirements and standards. Ensures all engineering practices, systems, and designs adhere to organizational policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements. Develops engineering processes, tools, and systems to ensure operational efficiency and quality of solutions. Drives innovation through research and adopts emerging technologies, tools, and best practices to enhance engineering capabilities and team performance. Oversees resource planning, budgeting, and allocation to ensure engineering efforts align with the organization's long-term strategy and growth objectives. Collaborates with business leaders to understand needs, develop technical roadmaps, and define engineering objectives. Monitors engineering projects, deadlines, and schedules to prioritize resources and ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction. Requires a master's degree in engineering or related discipline. Typically reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Top level or C level management. Responsible for the development of functional or business unit strategy for the entire organization. Defines corporate vision and strategy establishes company direction and focus. Executes multiple high impact initiatives to achieve overall corporate goals.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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