Sustaining Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Sustaining Engineering make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sustaining Engineering in the United States is $98,982 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,536
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,301 to $106,077
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $84,307
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $91,301 10% $84,307 90% $112,536 75% $106,077 $98,982 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Sustaining Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $106,077 $8,840 $2,040 $51
Average $98,982 $8,249 $1,904 $48
25th Percentile $91,301 $7,608 $1,756 $44
Check out Sustaining Engineering Job Openings in the United States
Certified Nursing Assistant

The Emeralds at Faribault - FARIBAULT, MN

Registered Nurse

Hillcrest Rehabilitation Center - MANKATO, MN

Registered Nurse

Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center - MANKATO, MN

Registered Nurse

Laurels Peak Rehabilitation Center - MANKATO, MN

Search More Sustaining Engineering Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Sustaining Engineering Salaries

A Sustaining Engineering'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 Sustaining Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Sustaining Engineering'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): $87,755
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $100,583
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,662
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $136,469
  • Expert (over 8 years): $119,106
Levels Salary
Process E... Level Sustaining Engineering$87,755
Sustainin... Level Sustaining Engineering$100,583
Process E... Level Sustaining Engineering$111,662
Process E... Level Sustaining Engineering$136,469
Process E... Level Sustaining Engineering$119,106
$87,755 0 yr
$100,583 < 2 yrs
$111,662 2-4 yrs
$136,469 5-8 yrs
$119,106 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Sustaining Engineerings

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: $124,847
  • San Francisco: $123,619
  • Oakland: $120,877

What Skills Can Increase a Sustaining Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.36% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Design Engineering (Mentioned in 1.83% Job Postings): Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
  • Chemical Engineering (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering that uses principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to efficiently use, produce, design, transport and transform energy and materials. The work of chemical engineers can range from the utilisation of nano-technology and nano-materials in the laboratory to large-scale industrial processes that convert chemicals, raw materials, living cells, microorganisms, and energy into useful forms and products. Chemical engineers are involved in many aspects of plant design and operation, including safety and hazard assessments, process design and analysis, modeling, control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, construction specification, and operating instructions. Chemical engineers typically hold a degree in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering. Practising engineers may have professional certification and be accredited members of a professional body. Such bodies include the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) or the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). A degree in chemical engineering is directly linked with all of the other engineering disciplines, to various extents.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.36%
Design Engineering 1.83%
Chemical Engineering 1.47%
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 Sustaining Engineering's salary.
  • Semiconductors: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Process Development: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Material Science: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Semiconductors
$103,932
5%
Process Development
$102,942
4%
Material Science
$102,942
4%
Alignment
$100,962
2%
SOP
$100,962
2%
Process Manufacturing
$100,962
2%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Sustaining Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Sustaining Engineerings 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 Sustaining Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree is between $87,914 and $91,683).

Sustaining Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Sustaining Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.5%
High School 1.5%
Associates 2.1%
Bachelors 51.7%
Masters 37.9%
Doctorate 6.7%
view as graph

Sustaining Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Sustaining Engineering'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 March 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Sustaining Engineering

Salaries for a Sustaining Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $87,196 in 2023 to around $86,605 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Sustaining Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Sustaining Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$87,196
2024
$86,953
2025
$86,605
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $87,196
2024 $86,953
2025 $86,605
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Sustaining Engineering

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Sustaining Engineering

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

Find Your Next Sustaining Engineering Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

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