Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer Salary in the United States
How much does a Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer in the United States is $91,523 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.
However, a Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $102,689
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $84,979 to $97,368
Key Factors That Influence Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer Salaries
A Guidance, Navigation and Controls 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Guidance, Navigation and Controls 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): $91,093
Early Career (1-2 years): $105,803
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $120,272
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $147,139
Expert (over 8 years): $161,872
Levels
Salary
Guidance,... Level Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
$91,093
Control &... Level Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
$105,803
Control &... Level Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
$120,272
Control &... Level Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
$147,139
Control &... Level Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
$161,872
$91,0930 yr
$105,803< 2 yrs
$120,2722-4 yrs
$147,1395-8 yrs
$161,872> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Guidance, Navigation and Controls 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 Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $101,334.
California: $100,950.
Massachusetts: $99,605.
District of Columbia$101,334
California$100,950
Massachusetts$99,605
Washington$99,239
New Jersey$99,202
Alaska$99,074
Connecticut$97,811
New York$97,298
Hawaii$95,660
Rhode Island$94,891
Maryland$94,370
Minnesota$93,656
Colorado$93,381
Illinois$93,290
Oregon$92,942
Delaware$92,686
New Hampshire$92,524
Virginia$92,164
Pennsylvania$91,111
Nevada$90,581
North Dakota$90,407
Michigan$90,132
Wisconsin$90,031
Vermont$89,830
Texas$89,272
Maine$89,235
Arizona$89,180
Ohio$89,116
Georgia$88,274
Indiana$87,853
Wyoming$87,771
Utah$87,643
Iowa$87,588
Kansas$87,148
Louisiana$87,020
North Carolina$86,974
Missouri$86,956
Florida$86,599
Montana$86,407
Nebraska$86,224
Kentucky$86,123
South Carolina$85,757
Tennessee$85,528
Idaho$85,437
New Mexico$84,769
Oklahoma$84,622
Alabama$84,082
South Dakota$83,176
Arkansas$82,682
West Virginia$82,417
Mississippi$81,620
Top Paying Cities for Guidance, Navigation and Controls 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: $115,438
San Francisco: $114,174
Oakland: $111,768
San Jose, CA$115,438
San Francisco, CA$114,174
Oakland, CA$111,768
New York, NY$105,379
Paramus, NJ$104,098
Queens Village, NY$104,093
Passaic, NJ$104,006
Bergenfield, NJ$103,998
Stamford, CT$103,796
Huntington, NY$103,759
Newark, NJ$103,083
Bridgeport, CT$102,889
Vallejo, CA$102,707
New Brunswick, NJ$102,671
Petaluma, CA$102,616
Middlesex, NJ$102,442
Somerset, NJ$102,378
Santa Cruz, CA$102,259
Boston, MA$101,701
Monterey, CA$101,379
Seattle, WA$101,170
Santa Rosa, CA$101,151
Los Angeles, CA$101,124
Juneau, AK$100,886
Washington, DC$100,785
Orange, CA$100,460
Santa Ana, CA$100,218
Long Beach, CA$100,126
Anaheim, CA$100,108
Anchorage, AK$100,062
Santa Maria, CA$99,788
Everett, WA$99,769
Danbury, CT$99,447
Bremerton, WA$99,321
Tacoma, WA$98,991
New Suffolk, NY$98,990
Sacramento, CA$98,964
Santa Barbara, CA$98,863
Trenton, NJ$98,763
San Diego, CA$98,763
Brockton, MA$98,662
Fairbanks, AK$98,438
Lompoc, CA$98,204
Lowell, MA$98,130
Ventura, CA$98,113
Nashua, NH$98,095
Stockton, CA$98,085
Modesto, CA$97,417
Poughkeepsie, NY$97,216
Olympia, WA$97,042
Kennewick, WA$97,042
New Haven, CT$97,005
Lawrence, MA$96,676
Hartford, CT$96,584
Riverside, CA$96,566
New Bedford, MA$96,475
Richland, WA$96,475
Bakersfield, CA$96,346
San Bernardino, CA$96,310
New Britain, CT$96,301
Atlantic City, NJ$96,301
New London, CT$96,264
Norwich, CT$96,237
Portsmouth, NH$96,218
Boulder, CO$96,024
Portland, OR$95,898
Worcester, MA$95,889
Minneapolis, MN$95,605
Philadelphia, PA$95,477
Honolulu, HI$95,175
Saint Paul, MN$95,131
Vineland, NJ$95,111
Providence, RI$94,845
Chicago, IL$94,580
Bellingham, WA$94,470
Springfield, MA$94,397
Baltimore, MD$94,370
Chico, CA$94,141
Pittsfield, MA$93,894
Manchester, NH$93,720
Spokane, WA$93,317
Denver, CO$93,308
Albany, NY$92,878
Troy, NY$92,841
Nassau, NY$92,743
Schenectady, NY$92,649
Wilmington, DE$92,576
Burlington, VT$92,448
Salem, OR$92,411
Portland, ME$92,127
Yakima, WA$92,036
Rochester, MN$91,752
Reno, NV$91,706
Fresno, CA$91,706
Milwaukee, WI$91,624
Detroit, MI$91,532
Ann Arbor, MI$91,517
Allentown, PA$91,505
Colorado Springs, CO$91,349
Syracuse, NY$91,304
Carson City, NV$91,304
Houston, TX$91,175
Eugene, OR$91,130
Gary, IN$91,020
Springfield, OR$90,947
Bismarck, ND$90,928
Galveston, TX$90,864
Medford, OR$90,727
Fort Collins, CO$90,690
Concord, NH$90,645
Austin, TX$90,617
Mesa, AZ$90,425
Reading, PA$90,416
Phoenix, AZ$90,407
Dallas, TX$90,379
Saint Cloud, MN$90,291
Madison, WI$90,169
Utica, NY$89,922
Rochester, NY$89,775
Des Moines, IA$89,766
Raleigh, NC$89,757
Atlanta, GA$89,620
Battle Creek, MI$89,592
Salt Lake City, UT$89,565
Lancaster, PA$89,427
Harrisburg, PA$89,299
Kansas City, MO$89,208
Champaign, IL$89,189
Kansas City, KS$89,189
Fort Worth, TX$89,180
Columbus, OH$89,165
Boca Raton, FL$89,144
Pittsburgh, PA$89,107
Richmond, VA$89,070
Indianapolis, IN$89,052
Cleveland, OH$89,043
Las Vegas, NV$88,933
Cincinnati, OH$88,933
Petersburg, VA$88,796
Huntsville, AL$88,659
Lansing, MI$88,597
Lebanon, PA$88,585
Pueblo, CO$88,576
Appleton, WI$88,549
Buffalo, NY$88,512
Dayton, OH$88,485
Racine, WI$88,466
Charlotte, NC$88,457
Saint Louis, MO$88,430
York, PA$88,375
Elkhart, IN$88,375
Gastonia, NC$88,357
Billings, MT$88,335
Beaumont, TX$88,311
Lorain, OH$88,292
Benton Harbor, MI$88,274
Toledo, OH$88,256
Binghamton, NY$88,210
Rock Hill, SC$88,201
Rockford, IL$88,155
Springfield, IL$88,119
Elyria, OH$88,109
Fargo, ND$88,109
Flagstaff, AZ$88,045
Fort Lauderdale, FL$87,990
Duluth, MN$87,935
Miami, FL$87,935
Cheyenne, WY$87,871
Grand Forks, ND$87,871
Bangor, ME$87,670
Cedar Rapids, IA$87,569
Durham, NC$87,531
Louisville, KY$87,524
Grand Rapids, MI$87,505
Hialeah, FL$87,496
Casper, WY$87,368
Scranton, PA$87,258
New Orleans, LA$87,231
Virginia Beach, VA$87,222
Akron, OH$87,176
Peoria, IL$87,057
Sarasota, FL$87,039
Nashville, TN$86,974
Omaha, NE$86,974
Green Bay, WI$86,974
Baton Rouge, LA$86,929
Charleston, SC$86,910
Jamestown, NY$86,865
Davenport, IA$86,865
Tucson, AZ$86,819
Saint Petersburg, FL$86,764
Tampa, FL$86,746
Evansville, IN$86,691
Port Arthur, TX$86,691
Bradenton, FL$86,654
Santa Fe, NM$86,489
Orlando, FL$86,325
Clearwater, FL$86,297
Canton, OH$86,105
La Crosse, WI$86,105
Albuquerque, NM$86,050
Newport News, VA$86,041
High Point, NC$86,014
Ogden, UT$85,977
Corpus Christi, TX$85,904
Norfolk, VA$85,849
Laramie, WY$85,849
Rock Island, IL$85,794
Saginaw, MI$85,776
Jacksonville, FL$85,766
Salisbury, NC$85,748
Boise, ID$85,730
Moline, IL$85,684
Fort Myers, FL$85,657
Memphis, TN$85,638
Tulsa, OK$85,592
Waterloo, IA$85,538
Spartanburg, SC$85,446
Lincoln, NE$85,400
Fort Wayne, IN$85,382
Provo, UT$85,373
Cedar Falls, IA$85,263
San Antonio, TX$85,226
Greensboro, NC$85,190
South Bend, IN$85,181
Savannah, GA$85,080
Muskegon, MI$85,043
Birmingham, AL$85,034
Winston Salem, NC$84,989
Lake Charles, LA$84,769
Anderson, IN$84,750
Lexington, KY$84,723
Augusta, GA$84,696
Greenville, SC$84,696
Lima, OH$84,622
Wichita, KS$84,613
Tuscaloosa, AL$84,613
Columbia, SC$84,531
Springfield, OH$84,513
Asheville, NC$84,366
Bloomington, IN$84,302
Knoxville, TN$83,973
Shreveport, LA$83,963
Wilmington, NC$83,844
Roanoke, VA$83,844
Topeka, KS$83,680
Frankfort, KY$83,670
Oklahoma City, OK$83,606
Chillicothe, OH$83,570
Longview, TX$83,561
Melbourne, FL$83,552
Sioux Falls, SD$83,405
Mobile, AL$83,396
Terre Haute, IN$83,359
Altoona, PA$83,304
Amarillo, TX$83,240
Killeen, TX$83,213
Fayetteville, AR$83,140
Chattanooga, TN$83,112
Sioux City, IA$83,030
Idaho Falls, ID$83,012
Lynchburg, VA$82,938
Gainesville, FL$82,819
Portsmouth, OH$82,774
Little Rock, AR$82,755
Lafayette, LA$82,719
Youngstown, OH$82,719
Daytona Beach, FL$82,664
Clarksville, TN$82,655
Pensacola, FL$82,645
Temple, TX$82,639
Hopkinsville, KY$82,371
Erie, PA$82,353
Florence, SC$82,316
Charleston, WV$82,170
Great Falls, MT$82,124
Macon, GA$81,996
Tallahassee, FL$81,986
Fayetteville, NC$81,968
Waco, TX$81,950
Helena, MT$81,886
Pine Bluff, AR$81,851
Vincennes, IN$81,739
Lubbock, TX$81,703
Alamogordo, NM$81,648
Twin Falls, ID$81,565
Rapid City, SD$81,538
Jackson, MS$81,373
Huntington, WV$81,367
Greenville, MS$81,364
Parkersburg, WV$81,271
Montgomery, AL$81,254
Wichita Falls, TX$81,163
Springfield, MO$81,163
Biloxi, MS$81,117
Monroe, LA$81,025
Johnstown, PA$80,961
Sumter, SC$80,925
Columbus, GA$80,916
Pascagoula, MS$80,742
Abilene, TX$80,742
Kingsport, TN$80,504
Albany, GA$80,504
Gulfport, MS$80,476
Alexandria, LA$80,174
Fort Smith, AR$79,946
El Paso, TX$79,698
Las Cruces, NM$79,287
Harlingen, TX$79,054
Pocatello, ID$79,039
Florence, AL$78,920
Brownsville, TX$78,902
Mcallen, TX$78,710
Dothan, AL$78,582
Columbus, MS$78,038
Altus, OK$77,612
Lawton, OK$77,438
Pierre, SD$77,108
What Skills Can Increase a Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 6.27% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Schematic (Mentioned in 2.53% Job Postings): A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.
Calibration (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
6.27%
Schematic
2.53%
Calibration
2.04%
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 Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer's salary.
Algorithms: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Project Control: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
System Requirements: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Algorithms
$101,591
11%
Project Control
$100,676
10%
System Requirements
$100,676
10%
Systems Architecture
$99,760
9%
Computer Engineering
$98,845
8%
Flexibility
$98,845
8%
Get Latest Data
Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average.
In contrast, Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$123,556
$59.0
35%
Biotechnology
$118,980
$57.0
30%
Software & Networking
$118,980
$57.0
30%
Energy & Utilities
$114,404
$55.0
25%
Aerospace & Defense
$109,828
$53.0
20%
Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Guidance, Navigation and Controls 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$84,979
Average$91,523/year
$97,368
$7,082
Average$7,627/month
$8,114
$1,634
Average$1,760/week
$1,872
$41
Average$44/hour
$47
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$97,368
$8,114
$1,872
$47
Average
$91,523
$7,627
$1,760
$44
25th Percentile
$84,979
$7,082
$1,634
$41
Salaries of jobs related to Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
Salary Trends for Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
Salaries for a Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $74,151 in 2023
to around $73,161 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$74,151
2024
$73,724
2025
$73,161
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$74,151
2024
$73,724
2025
$73,161
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
Here are companies hiring for Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Guidance, Navigation and Controls Engineer roles,
with salaries approximately 35% 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.
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