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Junior Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Junior Engineer make in the United States?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Engineer in the United States is $146,587 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $162,249
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $135,750 to $154,785
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,883
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Junior Engineer Salaries

A Junior 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.

How Experience Level Affects Junior Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior 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): $100,794
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $125,961
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $145,984
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $169,337
  • Expert (over 8 years): $203,820
Levels Salary
Electrica... Level Junior Engineer$100,794
Electrica... Level Junior Engineer$125,961
Junior En... Level Junior Engineer$145,984
Electrica... Level Junior Engineer$169,337
Electrica... Level Junior Engineer$203,820
View as Graph

How Do Junior 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 Junior Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $162,301.
  • California: $161,685.
  • Massachusetts: $159,531.

Top Paying Cities for Junior 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: $184,890
  • San Francisco: $182,866
  • Oakland: $179,012

What Skills Can Increase a Junior Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.89% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
  • Renewable Energy (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Using renewable energy sources for more sustainable business operations to drive environmental risk and cost reduction.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.89%
AutoCAD 3.29%
Renewable Energy 1.63%
See More Skills

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 Junior Engineer's salary.

  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Circuit Design: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping $155,382
6%
Verbal Communication $152,450
4%
Circuit Design $152,450
4%
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Junior Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Junior Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 52% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Insurance and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Junior Engineer positions in Internet or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Junior Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Junior Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$178,836$86.022%
Energy & Utilities$168,575$81.015%
Aerospace & Defense$164,177$79.012%
MFG Nondurable$164,177$79.012%
Construction$161,246$78.010%

How Education impacts a Junior Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Junior 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 Junior Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $135,331 and $141,444).

Junior Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Junior Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.5%
Bachelors 44.6%
Masters 41.6%
Doctorate 12.6%
View as Graph

Junior Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Junior 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 November 01, 2026
$135,750
Average $146,587/year
$154,785
$11,313
Average $12,216/month
$12,899
$2,611
Average $2,819/week
$2,977
$65
Average $70/hour
$74
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $154,785 $12,899 $2,977 $74
Average $146,587 $12,216 $2,819 $70
25th Percentile $135,750 $11,313 $2,611 $65

Most common benefits for Junior Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Junior Engineer

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

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FAQ about Junior Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Junior Engineer?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Junior Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 22% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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