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Release Engineer IV Salary in the United States

How much does a Release Engineer IV make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Release Engineer IV in the United States is $139,220 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $154,030
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $130,288 to $146,972
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $122,156
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Release Engineer IV Salaries

A Release 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Release Engineer IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Release 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:

  • Release Engineer II (2-4 years): $99,332
  • Release Engineer III (4-7 years): $123,001
  • Release Engineer IV (7+ years): $139,220
  • Release Engineer V (7-10 years): $171,953
  • Release Engineering Manager (10+ years): $148,256
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Release Engineer II2-4 years$99,332
Release Engineer III4-7 years$123,001
Release Engineer IV7+ years$139,220
Release Engineer V7-10 years$171,953
Release Engineering Manager10+ years$148,256
View as Graph

How Do Release 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 Release Engineer IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $154,144.
  • California: $153,560.
  • Massachusetts: $151,513.

Top Paying Cities for Release 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: $175,598
  • San Francisco: $173,676
  • Oakland: $170,015

What Skills Can Increase a Release Engineer IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 4.12% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Release Management (Mentioned in 3% Job Postings): Release management is the process of managing, planning, scheduling and controlling a software build through different stages and environments; including testing and deploying software releases.
  • Customer Relationship (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): Customer relations is the company-wide process of nurturing positive relationships with your customers . It helps you connect with your customers on a much more personal level and create a sense of mutual understanding with them.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 4.12%
Release Management 3%
Customer Relationship 2.15%
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 a Release Engineer IV's salary.

  • API: Can increase your salary by up to 46%.
  • Technical Support: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
  • Linux: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
API $203,261
46%
Technical Support $194,908
40%
Linux $178,202
28%
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Release Engineer IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Release Engineer IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $155,849. While startup companies pay approximate $131,844.

Release Engineer IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $131,844
Growth Stage 51~500 $139,441
Established 501~5000 $150,500
Enterprise 5000+ $155,849

Release Engineer IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Release Engineer IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 114% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Release Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Release Engineer IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Release Engineer IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$194,908$94.040%
Financial Services$180,986$87.030%
Biotechnology$174,025$84.025%
Internet$167,064$80.020%
Pharmaceuticals$160,103$77.015%

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

Understanding how a Release 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
$130,288
Average $139,220/year
$146,972
$10,857
Average $11,602/month
$12,248
$2,506
Average $2,677/week
$2,826
$63
Average $67/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $146,972 $12,248 $2,826 $71
Average $139,220 $11,602 $2,677 $67
25th Percentile $130,288 $10,857 $2,506 $63

Release Engineer IV Salary Growth & Career Path

Release Engineer IV

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Advancement

For a Release Engineer IV, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Release Engineer V role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $171,953 - a projected growth of 24% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Release Engineer IV

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

Common company salaries for Release Engineer IV

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

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FAQ about Release Engineer IV

1. Where can a Release Engineer IV earn the most?

A Release 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, a Release Engineer IV earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Release Engineer IV is $175,598.

2. What is the highest pay for Release Engineer IV?

The highest pay for Release Engineer IV is $154,030.

3. What is the lowest pay for Release Engineer IV?

The lowest pay for Release Engineer IV is $122,156.

4. What are the responsibilities of Release Engineer IV?

Responsible for software builds and releases. Responsible for the design and development of builds, scripts, installation procedures, and systems including source code control and issue tracking. Works closely with a quality assurance team to ensure final version is up to organizational standards. Requires a bachelor's degree. 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 Release Engineer IV?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Release Engineer IV roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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