Embedded Software Engineer Lead Salary in the United States

How much does an Embedded Software Engineer Lead make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for an Embedded Software Engineer Lead in the United States is $150,060 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

However, an Embedded Software Engineer Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $168,406
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $138,918 to $159,663
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $128,774
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View as table View as graph 25% $138,918 10% $128,774 90% $168,406 75% $159,663 $150,060 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Embedded Software Engineer Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $159,663 $13,305 $3,070 $77
Average $150,060 $12,505 $2,886 $72
25th Percentile $138,918 $11,577 $2,672 $67
Check out Embedded Software Engineer Lead Job Openings in the United States
Principal Embedded Real-time Software Engineer

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Embedded Real-time Software Engineer II

Raytheon - PIMA, AZ

HWIL Software Engineer - P2

Raytheon - PIMA, AZ

Software Engineer

Alaska Railroad - EAGLE RIVER, AK

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Key Factors That Influence Embedded Software Engineer Lead Salaries

An Embedded Software Engineer Lead'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 Embedded Software Engineer Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Embedded Software Engineer Lead'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): $215,180
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $148,233
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $149,354
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $202,014
  • Expert (over 8 years): $206,387
Levels Salary
Embedded ... Level Embedded Software Engineer Lead$215,180
Embedded ... Level Embedded Software Engineer Lead$148,233
Embedded ... Level Embedded Software Engineer Lead$149,354
Embedded ... Level Embedded Software Engineer Lead$202,014
Embedded ... Level Embedded Software Engineer Lead$206,387
$215,180 0 yr
$148,233 < 2 yrs
$149,354 2-4 yrs
$202,014 5-8 yrs
$206,387 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Embedded Software Engineer Lead 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 Embedded Software Engineer Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $166,146.
  • California: $165,516.
  • Massachusetts: $163,310.

Top Paying Cities for Embedded Software Engineer Leads

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: $189,271
  • San Francisco: $187,410
  • Oakland: $183,253

What Skills Can Increase an Embedded Software Engineer Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.33% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Product Development (Mentioned in 3.17% Job Postings): Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
  • Linux (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Managing a system's hardware and resources using a Unix-like open-source operating system.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.33%
Product Development 3.17%
Linux 1.81%
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 an Embedded Software Engineer Lead's salary.
  • Empowerment: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Agility: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Empowerment
 $169,568
13%
Coaching
 $168,067
12%
Agility
 $168,067
12%
Career Development
 $165,066
10%
Self-Directed
 $163,565
9%
AWS
 $163,565
9%
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Embedded Software Engineer Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Embedded Software Engineer Lead'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$138,918
Average $150,060/year
$159,663
$11,577
Average $12,505/month
$13,305
$2,672
Average $2,886/week
$3,070
$67
Average $72/hour
$77
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $159,663 $13,305 $3,070 $77
Average $150,060 $12,505 $2,886 $72
25th Percentile $138,918 $11,577 $2,672 $67

Salaries of jobs related to Embedded Software Engineer Lead

Salary Trends for Embedded Software Engineer Lead

Salaries for an Embedded Software Engineer Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $140,620 in 2023 to around $139,109 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Embedded Software Engineer Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Embedded Software Engineer Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$140,620
2024
$140,846
2025
$139,109
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $140,620
2024 $140,846
2025 $139,109
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Embedded Software Engineer Lead

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401(k)
Disability
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Pension
Time Off (days)
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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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