Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Manufacturing Engineer Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Manufacturing Engineer Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Manufacturing Engineer Director in the United States is $178,611 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $86.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $194,976
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $171,762 to $187,177
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $165,526
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Manufacturing Engineer Director Salaries

A Manufacturing Engineer Director'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 Manufacturing Engineer Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Manufacturing Engineer Director'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:

  • Manufacturing Engineer Manager (5+ years): $138,935
  • Manufacturing Engineer Senior Manager (5+ years): $153,787
  • Manufacturing Engineer Director (5+ years): $178,611
  • VP of Manufacturing Engineering (5+ years): $215,693
  • SVP of Manufacturing Engineering (5+ years): $232,901
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Manufacturing Engineer Manager5+ years$138,935
Manufacturing Engineer Senior Manager5+ years$153,787
Manufacturing Engineer Director5+ years$178,611
VP of Manufacturing Engineering5+ years$215,693
SVP of Manufacturing Engineering5+ years$232,901
View as Graph

How Do Manufacturing Engineer Director 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 Manufacturing Engineer Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $197,758.
  • California: $197,008.
  • Massachusetts: $194,382.

Top Paying Cities for Manufacturing Engineer Directors

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: $225,282
  • San Francisco: $222,815
  • Oakland: $218,120

Manufacturing Engineer Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Manufacturing Engineer Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $200,328. While startup companies pay approximate $169,585.

Manufacturing Engineer Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $169,585
Growth Stage 51~500 $179,310
Established 501~5000 $193,479
Enterprise 5000+ $200,328

Manufacturing Engineer Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Manufacturing Engineer Director 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 Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Manufacturing Engineer Director positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Manufacturing Engineer Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Manufacturing Engineer Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$232,194$112.030%
Aerospace & Defense$214,333$103.020%
Software & Networking$214,333$103.020%
Telecom$205,403$99.015%
Biotechnology$196,472$94.010%

Manufacturing Engineer Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Manufacturing Engineer Director'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
$171,762
Average $178,611/year
$187,177
$14,314
Average $14,884/month
$15,598
$3,303
Average $3,435/week
$3,600
$83
Average $86/hour
$90
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $187,177 $15,598 $3,600 $90
Average $178,611 $14,884 $3,435 $86
25th Percentile $171,762 $14,314 $3,303 $83

Manufacturing Engineer Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Manufacturing Engineer Director

Next Role

Advancement

For a Manufacturing Engineer Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Manufacturing Engineering role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $215,693 - a projected growth of 21% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Manufacturing Engineer Director

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

Common company salaries for Manufacturing Engineer Director

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

Find Your Next Manufacturing Engineer Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Manufacturing Engineer Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Manufacturing Engineer Director

1. Where can a Manufacturing Engineer Director earn the most?

A Manufacturing Engineer Director'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, a Manufacturing Engineer Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Manufacturing Engineer Director is $225,282.

2. What is the highest pay for Manufacturing Engineer Director?

The highest pay for Manufacturing Engineer Director is $194,976.

3. What is the lowest pay for Manufacturing Engineer Director?

The lowest pay for Manufacturing Engineer Director is $165,526.

4. What are the responsibilities of Manufacturing Engineer Director?

Directs the planning and design of manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, and machining processes for a production facility. Develops policies and procedures to ensure manufacturing processes, equipment, and products comply with safety requirements and quality standards. Collaborates with senior leaders to develop manufacturing plans, schedules, and objectives and ensure alignment with product designs, equipment capabilities, quality standards, and cost targets. Evaluates standard operating procedures, process documentation, work instructions, and process control plans to ensure standardization across processes and functional groups. Researches advanced technology and automation trends to evaluate new methodologies and tools to increase manufacturing capabilities. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Manufacturing Engineer Director?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Manufacturing Engineer Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job