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General Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a General Engineer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a General Engineer in the United States is $107,382 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,510
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $96,469 to $118,441
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,533
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence General Engineer Salaries

A General Engineer'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 General Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a General Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $74,361
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,720
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $109,656
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,711
  • Expert (over 8 years): $159,273
Levels Salary
Physicist... Level General Engineer$74,361
Physicist... Level General Engineer$96,720
General E... Level General Engineer$109,656
Physicist... Level General Engineer$142,711
Physicist... Level General Engineer$159,273
View as Graph

How Do General Engineer 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 General Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $118,893.
  • California: $118,442.
  • Massachusetts: $116,864.

Top Paying Cities for General Engineers

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: $135,441
  • San Francisco: $133,958
  • Oakland: $131,135

What Skills Can Increase a General Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 11.42% 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.
  • Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 6.52% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
  • Quality Control (Mentioned in 1.11% Job Postings): Developing and implementing a set of procedures intended to maintain the quality of a product and reduce any risks or errors.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 11.42%
Quality Assurance 6.52%
Quality Control 1.11%
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 General Engineer's salary.

  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Verbal Communication $140,670
31%
Project Management $125,637
17%
Dedication $119,194
11%
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General Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For General Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 115% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, General Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view General Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a General Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$150,335$72.040%
Pharmaceuticals$139,597$67.030%
Biotechnology$134,228$65.025%
Energy & Utilities$128,858$62.020%
Chemicals$118,120$57.010%

How Education impacts a General Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many General Engineers enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a General Engineer with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $105,014 and $116,512).

General Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for General Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.3%
High School 15.2%
Associates 81.5%
Bachelors 3.3%
Masters 15.2%
Doctorate 81.5%
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General Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a General Engineer'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 October 01, 2026
$96,469
Average $107,382/year
$118,441
$8,039
Average $8,949/month
$9,870
$1,855
Average $2,065/week
$2,278
$46
Average $52/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $118,441 $9,870 $2,278 $57
Average $107,382 $8,949 $2,065 $52
25th Percentile $96,469 $8,039 $1,855 $46

Most common benefits for General Engineer

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

Common company salaries for General Engineer

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

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FAQ about General Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for General Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for General Engineer 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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