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Engineer IV Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineer IV make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineer IV in the United States is $140,155 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $155,593
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $130,669 to $148,236
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $122,032
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Engineer IV Salaries

An Engineer IV'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 Engineer IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineer IV'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:

  • Engineer II (2-4 years): $92,122
  • Engineer III (4-7 years): $110,735
  • Engineer IV (7+ years): $140,155
  • Engineer V (7-10 years): $161,827
  • Engineer VI (10-12 years): $187,043
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Engineer II2-4 years$92,122
Engineer III4-7 years$110,735
Engineer IV7+ years$140,155
Engineer V7-10 years$161,827
Engineer VI10-12 years$187,043
View as Graph

How Do Engineer IVs 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 Engineer IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $155,180.
  • California: $154,591.
  • Massachusetts: $152,531.

Top Paying Cities for Engineer IV

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: $176,778
  • San Francisco: $174,842
  • Oakland: $171,157

What Skills Can Increase an Engineer IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.9% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.9%
AWS 1.93%
Programming 1.37%
See More Skills

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 an Engineer IV's salary.

  • Oracle: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Docker: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oracle $155,572
11%
AWS $151,367
8%
Docker $149,966
7%
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Engineer IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Engineer IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $156,895. While startup companies pay approximate $132,730.

Engineer IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $132,730
Growth Stage 51~500 $140,378
Established 501~5000 $151,510
Enterprise 5000+ $156,895

Engineer IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Engineer IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Engineer positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Engineer IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Engineer IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$168,186$81.020%

How Education impacts an Engineer IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineer IV enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Engineer IV with a Bachelor's Degree is between $130,386 and $136,531.

Engineer IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineer IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.5%
Associates 2.7%
Bachelors 39.8%
Masters 40.9%
Doctorate 13.9%
View as Graph

Engineer IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineer IV'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 August 01, 2026
$130,669
Average $140,155/year
$148,236
$10,889
Average $11,680/month
$12,353
$2,513
Average $2,695/week
$2,851
$63
Average $67/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $148,236 $12,353 $2,851 $71
Average $140,155 $11,680 $2,695 $67
25th Percentile $130,669 $10,889 $2,513 $63

Engineer IV Salary Growth & Career Path

Engineer IV

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Engineer IV, 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
Aeronautical Engineer V $162,780 16%
Aerospace Engineer V $161,824 15%
Engineer V $161,827 15%
Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer V $168,584 20%

Most common benefits for Engineer IV

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

Common company salaries for Engineer IV

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

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FAQ about Engineer IV

1. Where can an Engineer IV earn the most?

An Engineer IV's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Engineer IV earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Engineer IV is $176,778.

2. What is the highest pay for Engineer IV?

The highest pay for Engineer IV is $155,593.

3. What is the lowest pay for Engineer IV?

The lowest pay for Engineer IV is $122,032.

4. What are the responsibilities of Engineer IV?

Utilizes engineering methodologies, principles, and tools to develop or improve technical products, systems, or processes that meet specified requirements and standards. Researches and identifies optimal materials and processes to ensure product quality, performance, and manufacturability. Utilizes CAD software and engineering methodologies to create blueprints, drawings, or models and communicate designs and specifications to stakeholders. Collaborates with stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure specifications are captured. Oversees prototype testing to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs, collect feedback, and draw meaningful insight for product improvements. Maintains detailed documentation of test results, processes, and specifications for future needs. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Engineer IV?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Engineer IV roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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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