Propulsion Systems Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Propulsion Systems Engineer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Propulsion Systems Engineer in the United States is $86,608 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,474
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,812 to $95,436
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,161
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View as table View as graph 25% $73,812 10% $62,161 90% $103,474 75% $95,436 $86,608 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Propulsion Systems Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $95,436 $7,953 $1,835 $46
Average $86,608 $7,217 $1,666 $42
25th Percentile $73,812 $6,151 $1,419 $35
Check out Propulsion Systems Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Propulsion Systems Engineer Salaries

A Propulsion Systems 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.

Top Paying Cities for Propulsion Systems 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: $109,239
  • San Francisco: $108,165
  • Oakland: $105,766

What Skills Can Increase a Propulsion Systems Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Mediation (Mentioned in 6.2% Job Postings): Mediation is a dynamic, structured, interactive process where a neutral third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques. All participants in mediation are encouraged to actively participate in the process. Mediation is a "party-centered" process in that it is focused primarily upon the needs, rights, and interests of the parties. The mediator uses a wide variety of techniques to guide the process in a constructive direction and to help the parties find their optimal solution. A mediator is facilitative in that she/he manages the interaction between parties and facilitates open communication. Mediation is also evaluative in that the mediator analyzes issues and relevant norms ("reality-testing"), while refraining from providing prescriptive advice to the parties (e.g., "You should do... ."). Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution resolving disputes between two or more parties with concrete effects. Typically, a third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate a settlement. Disputants may mediate disputes in a variety of domains, such as commercial, legal, diplomatic, workplace, community and family matters.
  • Document Review (Mentioned in 2.05% Job Postings): Document review (also known as doc review), in the context of legal proceedings, is the process whereby each party to a case sorts through and analyzes the documents and data they possess (and later the documents and data supplied by their opponents through discovery) to determine which are sensitive or otherwise relevant to the case. Document Review is a valuable main staple of the type of work performed by attorneys for their clients, though it is increasingly common for the work to be performed by specialized document review attorneys. Some types of cases that typically require large numbers of documents to be reviewed are litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and government and internal investigations (including internal audits). Regarding litigation, documents reviewed by attorneys are obtained through the discovery process, which is generally governed by rules of procedure for the presiding court. In cases in United States Federal Courts the rules related to discovery are Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (F.R.C.P.) 16, 26, 33, 34, 37, and 45 which were amended in 2006 to include electronically stored information.
  • Word Processing (Mentioned in 1.08% Job Postings): word processing, operation in which a text-editing software program called a word processor is used to create a document on a computer. A word-processing system can produce a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Mediation 6.2%
Document Review 2.05%
Word Processing 1.08%
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 Propulsion Systems Engineer's salary.
  • CornerStone: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Business Acumen: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CornerStone
$95,269
10%
Business Acumen
$95,269
10%
Consulting
$94,403
9%
Leadership
$93,537
8%
Products and Services
$92,671
7%
File Handling
$92,671
7%
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How Education impacts a Propulsion Systems Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Propulsion Systems Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Propulsion Systems Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $89,827 and $96,445).

Propulsion Systems Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Propulsion Systems Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 16.3%
High School 16.3%
Associates 11.8%
Bachelors 50.2%
Masters 12.2%
Doctorate 9.5%
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Propulsion Systems Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Propulsion Systems 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Propulsion Systems Engineer

Salaries for a Propulsion Systems Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $90,345 in 2023 to around $88,956 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Propulsion Systems Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Propulsion Systems Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$90,345
2024
$89,796
2025
$88,956
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $90,345
2024 $89,796
2025 $88,956
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Propulsion Systems Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Propulsion Systems Engineer

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

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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.)

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