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Release Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Release Engineering Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Release Engineering Manager in the United States is $148,256 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $163,182
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $132,264 to $156,069
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $117,704
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Release Engineering Manager Salaries

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

How Experience Level Affects Release Engineering Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Release 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:

  • 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 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 Release Engineering Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $164,149.
  • California: $163,526.
  • Massachusetts: $161,347.

Top Paying Cities for Release 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: $186,995
  • San Francisco: $184,948
  • Oakland: $181,050

What Skills Can Increase a Release Engineering Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 6.36% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Scrum (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
  • Continuous Integration (Mentioned in 1.78% Job Postings): Continuous integration (CI) is the practice of automating the integration of code changes from multiple contributors into a single software project.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 6.36%
Scrum 2.77%
Continuous Integration 1.78%
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 Engineering Manager's salary.

  • iOS: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Customer Service: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
iOS $157,151
6%
Partnering $155,669
5%
Customer Service $152,704
3%
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Release Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Release Engineering Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $165,964. While startup companies pay approximate $140,402.

Release Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $140,402
Growth Stage 51~500 $148,491
Established 501~5000 $160,268
Enterprise 5000+ $165,964

Release Engineering Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Release Engineering Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Release Engineering Manager positions in Telecom or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Release Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Release Engineering Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$192,733$93.030%
Internet$185,320$89.025%
Financial Services$177,907$86.020%
Hospitality & Leisure$170,494$82.015%
Pharmaceuticals$166,047$80.012%

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

Understanding how a Release 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
$132,264
Average $148,256/year
$156,069
$11,022
Average $12,355/month
$13,006
$2,544
Average $2,851/week
$3,001
$64
Average $71/hour
$75
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $156,069 $13,006 $3,001 $75
Average $148,256 $12,355 $2,851 $71
25th Percentile $132,264 $11,022 $2,544 $64

Most common benefits for Release Engineering Manager

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

Common company salaries for Release Engineering Manager

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

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FAQ about Release Engineering Manager

1. Where can a Release Engineering Manager earn the most?

A Release 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, a Release Engineering Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Release Engineering Manager is $186,995.

2. What is the highest pay for Release Engineering Manager?

The highest pay for Release Engineering Manager is $163,182.

3. What is the lowest pay for Release Engineering Manager?

The lowest pay for Release Engineering Manager is $117,704.

4. What are the responsibilities of Release Engineering Manager?

Manages and oversees the software builds and releases. Directs the work of engineers to ensure the best practices around design and development of builds, scripts, installation procedures, and systems including source code control and issue tracking. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a senior manager. 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 Release Engineering Manager?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Release Engineering Manager 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.

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