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Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineering Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineering Manager in the United States is $156,224 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $75.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $171,303
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $137,952 to $164,117
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $121,316
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Engineering Manager Salaries

An Engineering Manager'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 Engineering Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineering Manager'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 Supervisor (12+ years): $85,943
  • Engineering Senior Supervisor (12+ years): $128,327
  • Engineering Manager (12+ years): $156,224
  • Engineering Senior Manager (12+ years): $179,909
  • Engineering Director (12+ years): $201,006
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Engineering Supervisor12+ years$85,943
Engineering Senior Supervisor12+ years$128,327
Engineering Manager12+ years$156,224
Engineering Senior Manager12+ years$179,909
Engineering Director12+ years$201,006
View as Graph

How Do Engineering Managers 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 Engineering Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $172,971.
  • California: $172,315.
  • Massachusetts: $170,019.

Top Paying Cities for Engineering Manager

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: $197,045
  • San Francisco: $194,888
  • Oakland: $190,781

What Skills Can Increase an Engineering Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.73% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Python (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 1.47% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.73%
Python 1.86%
AWS 1.47%
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 Engineering Manager's salary.

  • Product Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Identity and Access Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Management $174,971
12%
Identity and Access Management $174,971
12%
Computer Science $174,971
12%
Get Latest Data

Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Engineering Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $174,884. While startup companies pay approximate $147,948.

Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $147,948
Growth Stage 51~500 $156,472
Established 501~5000 $168,881
Enterprise 5000+ $174,884

Engineering Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Engineering Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Engineering Manager positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Engineering Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$210,902$101.035%
Financial Services$203,091$98.030%
Energy & Utilities$187,469$90.020%
Biotechnology$179,658$86.015%
Pharmaceuticals$179,658$86.015%

How Education impacts an Engineering Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineering Manager 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 Engineering Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $147,146 and $155,639.

Engineering Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineering Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.7%
Associates 3.3%
Bachelors 43.7%
Masters 42.1%
Doctorate 8.0%
View as Graph

Engineering Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineering Manager'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
$137,952
Average $156,224/year
$164,117
$11,496
Average $13,019/month
$13,676
$2,653
Average $3,004/week
$3,156
$66
Average $75/hour
$79
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $164,117 $13,676 $3,156 $79
Average $156,224 $13,019 $3,004 $75
25th Percentile $137,952 $11,496 $2,653 $66

Engineering Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Engineering Manager

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Engineering Manager, 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 Engineering Senior Manager $179,722 15%
Aerospace Engineering Senior Manager $198,510 27%
Engineering Senior Manager $179,909 15%

Most common benefits for Engineering Manager

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

Common company salaries for Engineering Manager

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

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FAQ about Engineering Manager

1. Where can an Engineering Manager earn the most?

An Engineering Manager'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 Engineering Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Engineering Manager is $197,045.

2. What is the highest pay for Engineering Manager?

The highest pay for Engineering Manager is $171,303.

3. What is the lowest pay for Engineering Manager?

The lowest pay for Engineering Manager is $121,316.

4. What are the responsibilities of Engineering Manager?

Manages an organization's engineering activities to develop or improve technical products, systems, or processes that meet specified requirements and standards. Manages engineering projects through their entire lifecycle, including cost and requirement analysis, scheduling, and coordinating activities with stakeholders. Monitors schedules and deadlines and prioritizes projects to ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction. Establishes engineering methodologies, principles, and tools to support training, process improvements, and best practices and protocols. Leads initiatives with other departments to identify potential products, projects, or opportunities. Remains informed of new technologies and processes and implements changes to improve engineering capabilities. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Engineering Manager?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Engineering Manager roles, with salaries approximately 35% 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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