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Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering in the United States is $158,852 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $76.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $174,355
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $141,403 to $166,967
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,517
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View as table View as graph 25% $141,403 10% $125,517 90% $174,355 75% $166,967 $158,852 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $166,967 $13,914 $3,211 $80
Average $158,852 $13,238 $3,055 $76
25th Percentile $141,403 $11,784 $2,719 $68
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Key Factors That Influence Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Salaries

A Lead Engineer, Systems 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 Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Engineer, Systems 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): $87,060
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $129,995
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $158,255
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $182,248
  • Expert (over 8 years): $203,619
Levels Salary
Engineeri... Level Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering$87,060
Engineeri... Level Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering$129,995
Lead Engi... Level Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering$158,255
Engineeri... Level Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering$182,248
Engineeri... Level Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering$203,619
$87,060 0 yr
$129,995 < 2 yrs
$158,255 2-4 yrs
$182,248 5-8 yrs
$203,619 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering 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 Lead Engineer, Systems Engineerings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $175,881.
  • California: $175,214.
  • Massachusetts: $172,879.

Top Paying Cities for Lead Engineer, Systems 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: $200,360
  • San Francisco: $198,166
  • Oakland: $193,990

What Skills Can Increase a Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.73% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Python (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.73%
Python 1.86%
AWS 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 Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering's salary.
  • Product Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Identity and Access Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Management
 $177,914
12%
Identity and Access Management
 $177,914
12%
Computer Science
 $177,914
12%
Kubernetes
 $177,914
12%
Software Engineering
 $176,326
11%
Agile Software Development
 $176,326
11%
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Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$214,450$103.035%
Financial Services$206,508$99.030%
Energy & Utilities$190,622$92.020%
Biotechnology$182,680$88.015%
Pharmaceuticals$182,680$88.015%

How Education impacts a Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead Engineer, Systems 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 Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree is between $147,146 and $155,639).

Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.7%
Associates 3.3%
Bachelors 43.7%
Masters 42.1%
Doctorate 8.0%
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Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead Engineer, Systems 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$141,403
Average $158,852/year
$166,967
$11,784
Average $13,238/month
$13,914
$2,719
Average $3,055/week
$3,211
$68
Average $76/hour
$80
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $166,967 $13,914 $3,211 $80
Average $158,852 $13,238 $3,055 $76
25th Percentile $141,403 $11,784 $2,719 $68

Salaries of jobs related to Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering

Salary Trends for Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering

Salaries for a Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $147,316 in 2023 to around $146,380 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$147,316
2024
$147,588
2025
$146,380
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $147,316
2024 $147,588
2025 $146,380
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering

Here are companies hiring for Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering Job

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

United States

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Class CDL Company Driver

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Dermatology Physician Assistant

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    6 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    Surgery

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    7 Days Ago

  • The Curare Group, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    Pediatrics Physician

    The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Hospital is seeking a Board Certified/Board Eligible Pediatrician to join a well-respected and growing practice located an hour from Columbus. Only Pediatr... more

    7 Days Ago

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    Columbus, OH

    Anesthesiology Physician

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FAQ about Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering 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.

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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