Composite Design Engineer, Sr Salary in the United States

How much does a Composite Design Engineer, Sr make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Composite Design Engineer, Sr in the United States is $195,008 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $94.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $220,138
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $186,566 to $208,162
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $178,880

Key Factors That Influence Composite Design Engineer, Sr Salaries

A Composite Design Engineer, Sr'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 Composite Design Engineer, Sr Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Composite Design Engineer, Sr'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): $131,712
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $163,761
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $194,041
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $179,149
  • Expert (over 8 years): $252,769
Levels Salary
Digital D... Level Composite Design Engineer, Sr$131,712
Digital D... Level Composite Design Engineer, Sr$163,761
Composite... Level Composite Design Engineer, Sr$194,041
Digital D... Level Composite Design Engineer, Sr$179,149
Digital D... Level Composite Design Engineer, Sr$252,769

How Do Composite Design Engineer, Sr 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 Composite Design Engineer, Srs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $215,913.
  • California: $215,094.
  • Massachusetts: $212,227.

Top Paying Cities for Composite Design Engineer, Srs

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: $245,964
  • San Francisco: $243,271
  • Oakland: $238,144

What Skills Can Increase a Composite Design Engineer, Sr's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.33% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Perl (Mentioned in 3.7% Job Postings): Perl is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language originally developed for text manipulation. It borrows many features from C and Shell script and is used for system administration, networking, and other applications that involve user interfaces
  • Performance Analysis (Mentioned in 2.78% Job Postings): Profiling (computer programming), the analysis of computer performance. In software engineering, profiling ("program profiling", "software profiling") is a form of dynamic program analysis that measures, for example, the space (memory) or time complexity of a program, the usage of particular instructions, or the frequency and duration of function calls. Most commonly, profiling information serves to aid program optimization. Profiling is achieved by instrumenting either the program source code or its binary executable form using a tool called a profiler (or code profiler). Profilers may use a number of different techniques, such as event-based, statistical, instrumented, and simulation methods.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.33%
Perl 3.7%
Performance Analysis 2.78%

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 Composite Design Engineer, Sr's salary.

  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 36%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Continuous Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping $265,211
36%
Networking $228,159
17%
Continuous Learning $216,459
11%

Composite Design Engineer, Sr Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Composite Design Engineer, Sr roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Composite Design Engineer, Sr positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Composite Design Engineer, Sr as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Composite Design Engineer, Sr

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$224,259$108.015%

Composite Design Engineer, Sr Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Composite Design Engineer, Sr'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
$186,566
Average $195,008/year
$208,162
$15,547
Average $16,251/month
$17,347
$3,588
Average $3,750/week
$4,003
$90
Average $94/hour
$100
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $208,162 $17,347 $4,003 $100
Average $195,008 $16,251 $3,750 $94
25th Percentile $186,566 $15,547 $3,588 $90

Most common benefits for Composite Design Engineer, Sr

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

Common company salaries for Composite Design Engineer, Sr

Here are companies hiring for Composite Design Engineer, Sr and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Composite Design Engineer, Sr

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Composite Design Engineer, Sr?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Composite Design Engineer, Sr roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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.)

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