What are the main factors that influence a Lead System Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Lead System Engineer's salary?

A Lead System Engineer's salary grows with experience: a CAE Design Supervisor I (12+ years)earns $95,800, a CAE Design Supervisor II (12+ years)earns $122,622, a CAE Design Manager (12+ years)earns $136,215, a Lead System Engineer (12+ years)earns $182,686, a CAE Design Director (12+ years)earns $225,479,

What are the highest paying states for a Lead System Engineer?

Lead System Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead System Engineer roles are District of Columbia $203,597, California $202,825, Massachusetts $200,122. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lead System Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Lead System Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Lead System Architect: $172,500; System Development Engineer: $133,027; System Engineer: $118,289; System Solutions Engineer: $113,498; Manufacturing Execution System Engineer IV: $112,800.

How do different companies affect a Lead System Engineer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Lead System Engineer roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Lead System Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead System Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead System Engineer in the United States is $183,885 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $88.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $215,035
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $169,748 to $200,190
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $156,877

10% $156,877

50% (Median) $183,885

90% $215,035

Lead System Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$200,190	$16,683	$3,850	$96
Average	$183,885	$15,324	$3,536	$88
25th Percentile	$169,748	$14,146	$3,264	$82

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Key Factors That Influence Lead System Engineer Salaries

A Lead System 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 Lead System Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead System 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): $95,800
Early Career (1-2 years): $122,622
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $136,215
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $182,686
Expert (over 8 years): $225,479

Levels	Salary
CAE Desig... Level Lead System Engineer	$95,800
CAE Desig... Level Lead System Engineer	$122,622
CAE Desig... Level Lead System Engineer	$136,215
Lead Syst... Level Lead System Engineer	$182,686
CAE Desig... Level Lead System Engineer	$225,479

View as Graph

How Do Lead System 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 Lead System Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $203,597.
California: $202,825.
Massachusetts: $200,122.

District of Columbia $203,597 California $202,825 Massachusetts $200,122 Washington $199,387 New Jersey $199,313 Alaska $199,056 Connecticut $196,518 New York $195,488

Hawaii $192,197 Rhode Island $190,652 Maryland $189,604 Minnesota $188,170 Colorado $187,618 Illinois $187,434 Oregon $186,735 Delaware $186,220

New Hampshire $185,897 Virginia $185,172 Pennsylvania $183,058 Nevada $181,991 North Dakota $181,642 Michigan $181,090 Wisconsin $180,888 Vermont $180,483

Texas $179,361 Maine $179,288 Arizona $179,178 Ohio $179,049 Georgia $177,357 Indiana $176,511 Wyoming $176,346 Utah $176,088

Iowa $175,978 Kansas $175,095 Louisiana $174,838 North Carolina $174,746 Missouri $174,709 Florida $173,992 Montana $173,606 Nebraska $173,238

Kentucky $173,036 South Carolina $172,300 Tennessee $171,841 Idaho $171,657 New Mexico $170,314 Oklahoma $170,020 Alabama $168,935 South Dakota $167,115

Arkansas $166,122 West Virginia $165,588 Mississippi $163,989

Top Paying Cities for Lead System 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: $231,934
San Francisco: $229,395
Oakland: $224,560

San Jose, CA $231,934

San Francisco, CA $229,395

Oakland, CA $224,560

New York, NY $211,723

Paramus, NJ $209,149

Queens Village, NY $209,140

Passaic, NJ $208,965

Bergenfield, NJ $208,949

Stamford, CT $208,544

Huntington, NY $208,469

Newark, NJ $207,110

Bridgeport, CT $206,722

Vallejo, CA $206,356

New Brunswick, NJ $206,282

Petaluma, CA $206,172

Middlesex, NJ $205,822

Somerset, NJ $205,694

Santa Cruz, CA $205,455

Boston, MA $204,333

Monterey, CA $203,688

Seattle, WA $203,266

Santa Rosa, CA $203,230

Los Angeles, CA $203,175

Juneau, AK $202,696

Washington, DC $202,494

Orange, CA $201,840

Santa Ana, CA $201,354

Long Beach, CA $201,170

Anaheim, CA $201,133

Anchorage, AK $201,041

Santa Maria, CA $200,490

Everett, WA $200,453

Danbury, CT $199,806

Bremerton, WA $199,552

Tacoma, WA $198,890

New Suffolk, NY $198,886

Sacramento, CA $198,835

Santa Barbara, CA $198,633

Trenton, NJ $198,430

San Diego, CA $198,430

Brockton, MA $198,228

Fairbanks, AK $197,778

Lompoc, CA $197,309

Lowell, MA $197,160

Ventura, CA $197,125

Nashua, NH $197,088

Stockton, CA $197,070

Modesto, CA $195,727

Poughkeepsie, NY $195,323

Olympia, WA $194,973

Kennewick, WA $194,973

New Haven, CT $194,900

Lawrence, MA $194,238

Hartford, CT $194,054

Riverside, CA $194,017

New Bedford, MA $193,833

Richland, WA $193,833

Bakersfield, CA $193,576

San Bernardino, CA $193,502

New Britain, CT $193,484

Atlantic City, NJ $193,484

New London, CT $193,410

Norwich, CT $193,355

Portsmouth, NH $193,318

Boulder, CO $192,928

Portland, OR $192,675

Worcester, MA $192,656

Minneapolis, MN $192,086

Philadelphia, PA $191,829

Honolulu, HI $191,222

Saint Paul, MN $191,134

Vineland, NJ $191,093

Providence, RI $190,560

Chicago, IL $190,027

Bellingham, WA $189,806

Springfield, MA $189,659

Baltimore, MD $189,604

Chico, CA $189,144

Pittsfield, MA $188,648

Manchester, NH $188,298

Spokane, WA $187,489

Denver, CO $187,471

Albany, NY $186,606

Troy, NY $186,533

Nassau, NY $186,336

Schenectady, NY $186,147

Wilmington, DE $186,000

Burlington, VT $185,742

Salem, OR $185,669

Portland, ME $185,099

Yakima, WA $184,915

Rochester, MN $184,345

Reno, NV $184,253

Fresno, CA $184,253

Milwaukee, WI $184,087

Detroit, MI $183,903

Ann Arbor, MI $183,872

Allentown, PA $183,848

Colorado Springs, CO $183,536

Syracuse, NY $183,444

Carson City, NV $183,444

Houston, TX $183,186

Eugene, OR $183,094

Gary, IN $182,874

Springfield, OR $182,727

Bismarck, ND $182,690

Galveston, TX $182,561

Medford, OR $182,285

Fort Collins, CO $182,212

Concord, NH $182,120

Austin, TX $182,065

Mesa, AZ $181,678

Reading, PA $181,660

Phoenix, AZ $181,642

Dallas, TX $181,586

Saint Cloud, MN $181,410

Madison, WI $181,164

Utica, NY $180,667

Rochester, NY $180,373

Des Moines, IA $180,354

Raleigh, NC $180,336

Atlanta, GA $180,060

Battle Creek, MI $180,005

Salt Lake City, UT $179,950

Lancaster, PA $179,674

Harrisburg, PA $179,417

Kansas City, MO $179,233

Champaign, IL $179,196

Kansas City, KS $179,196

Fort Worth, TX $179,178

Columbus, OH $179,146

Boca Raton, FL $179,104

Pittsburgh, PA $179,030

Richmond, VA $178,957

Indianapolis, IN $178,920

Cleveland, OH $178,902

Las Vegas, NV $178,681

Cincinnati, OH $178,681

Petersburg, VA $178,405

Huntsville, AL $178,129

Lansing, MI $178,006

Lebanon, PA $177,982

Pueblo, CO $177,964

Appleton, WI $177,909

Buffalo, NY $177,835

Dayton, OH $177,780

Racine, WI $177,743

Charlotte, NC $177,725

Saint Louis, MO $177,670

York, PA $177,559

Elkhart, IN $177,559

Gastonia, NC $177,524

Billings, MT $177,480

Beaumont, TX $177,431

Lorain, OH $177,394

Benton Harbor, MI $177,357

Toledo, OH $177,320

Binghamton, NY $177,228

Rock Hill, SC $177,210

Rockford, IL $177,118

Springfield, IL $177,044

Elyria, OH $177,026

Fargo, ND $177,026

Flagstaff, AZ $176,897

Fort Lauderdale, FL $176,787

Duluth, MN $176,677

Miami, FL $176,677

Cheyenne, WY $176,548

Grand Forks, ND $176,548

Bangor, ME $176,143

Cedar Rapids, IA $175,941

Durham, NC $175,864

Louisville, KY $175,849

Grand Rapids, MI $175,812

Hialeah, FL $175,794

Casper, WY $175,537

Scranton, PA $175,316

New Orleans, LA $175,261

Virginia Beach, VA $175,242

Akron, OH $175,150

Peoria, IL $174,911

Sarasota, FL $174,875

Nashville, TN $174,746

Omaha, NE $174,746

Green Bay, WI $174,746

Baton Rouge, LA $174,654

Charleston, SC $174,617

Jamestown, NY $174,525

Davenport, IA $174,525

Tucson, AZ $174,433

Saint Petersburg, FL $174,323

Tampa, FL $174,286

Evansville, IN $174,176

Port Arthur, TX $174,176

Bradenton, FL $174,102

Santa Fe, NM $173,771

Orlando, FL $173,440

Clearwater, FL $173,385

Canton, OH $172,999

La Crosse, WI $172,999

Albuquerque, NM $172,889

Newport News, VA $172,870

High Point, NC $172,815

Ogden, UT $172,742

Corpus Christi, TX $172,594

Norfolk, VA $172,484

Laramie, WY $172,484

Rock Island, IL $172,374

Saginaw, MI $172,337

Jacksonville, FL $172,319

Salisbury, NC $172,282

Boise, ID $172,245

Moline, IL $172,153

Fort Myers, FL $172,098

Memphis, TN $172,061

Tulsa, OK $171,969

Waterloo, IA $171,859

Spartanburg, SC $171,675

Lincoln, NE $171,583

Fort Wayne, IN $171,546

Provo, UT $171,528

Cedar Falls, IA $171,307

San Antonio, TX $171,234

Greensboro, NC $171,160

South Bend, IN $171,142

Savannah, GA $170,939

Muskegon, MI $170,866

Birmingham, AL $170,848

Winston Salem, NC $170,757

Lake Charles, LA $170,314

Anderson, IN $170,278

Lexington, KY $170,222

Augusta, GA $170,167

Greenville, SC $170,167

Lima, OH $170,020

Wichita, KS $170,002

Tuscaloosa, AL $170,002

Columbia, SC $169,836

Springfield, OH $169,799

Asheville, NC $169,505

Bloomington, IN $169,376

Knoxville, TN $168,714

Shreveport, LA $168,696

Wilmington, NC $168,457

Roanoke, VA $168,457

Topeka, KS $168,126

Frankfort, KY $168,106

Oklahoma City, OK $167,979

Chillicothe, OH $167,905

Longview, TX $167,887

Melbourne, FL $167,869

Sioux Falls, SD $167,574

Mobile, AL $167,556

Terre Haute, IN $167,482

Altoona, PA $167,372

Amarillo, TX $167,243

Killeen, TX $167,188

Fayetteville, AR $167,041

Chattanooga, TN $166,986

Sioux City, IA $166,820

Idaho Falls, ID $166,784

Lynchburg, VA $166,637

Gainesville, FL $166,398

Portsmouth, OH $166,306

Little Rock, AR $166,269

Lafayette, LA $166,195

Youngstown, OH $166,195

Daytona Beach, FL $166,085

Clarksville, TN $166,067

Pensacola, FL $166,048

Temple, TX $166,035

Hopkinsville, KY $165,497

Erie, PA $165,460

Florence, SC $165,386

Charleston, WV $165,092

Great Falls, MT $165,000

Macon, GA $164,743

Tallahassee, FL $164,724

Fayetteville, NC $164,687

Waco, TX $164,651

Helena, MT $164,522

Pine Bluff, AR $164,452

Vincennes, IN $164,228

Lubbock, TX $164,154

Alamogordo, NM $164,044

Twin Falls, ID $163,878

Rapid City, SD $163,823

Jackson, MS $163,492

Huntington, WV $163,479

Greenville, MS $163,474

Parkersburg, WV $163,286

Montgomery, AL $163,253

Wichita Falls, TX $163,069

Springfield, MO $163,069

Biloxi, MS $162,977

Monroe, LA $162,793

Johnstown, PA $162,665

Sumter, SC $162,591

Columbus, GA $162,573

Pascagoula, MS $162,223

Abilene, TX $162,223

Kingsport, TN $161,745

Albany, GA $161,745

Gulfport, MS $161,690

Alexandria, LA $161,083

Fort Smith, AR $160,624

El Paso, TX $160,127

Las Cruces, NM $159,300

Harlingen, TX $158,833

Pocatello, ID $158,803

Florence, AL $158,564

Brownsville, TX $158,527

Mcallen, TX $158,141

Dothan, AL $157,884

Columbus, MS $156,791

Altus, OK $155,934

Lawton, OK $155,585

Pierre, SD $154,923

Lead System Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead System Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 41% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Lead System Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead System Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead System Engineer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology	$216,984	$104.0	18%
Insurance	$211,468	$102.0	15%
Energy & Utilities	$202,274	$97.0	10%
Pharmaceuticals	$202,274	$97.0	10%
Software & Networking	$202,274	$97.0	10%

How Education impacts a Lead System Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead System 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 Lead System Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $172,162 and $184,824).

Lead System Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

$189,000
$186,600
$184,200
$181,800
$179,400
$177,000
$174,600
$172,200

Typical Education for Lead System Engineer
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	1.8%
High School	7.3%
Associates	9.1%
Bachelors	56.7%
Masters	23.2%
Doctorate	1.8%

View as Graph

Lead System Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead System 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.

$169,748

Average $183,885/year

$200,190

$14,146

Average $15,324/month

$16,683

$3,264

Average $3,536/week

$3,850

$82

Average $88/hour

$96

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$200,190	$16,683	$3,850	$96
Average	$183,885	$15,324	$3,536	$88
25th Percentile	$169,748	$14,146	$3,264	$82

Salary Trends for Lead System Engineer

Salaries for a Lead System Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $181,822 in 2023 to around $177,389 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead System Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead System Engineer Over Time

$???
$181,822
$179,954
$177,389
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$181,822
2024	$179,954
2025	$177,389
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Lead System Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Lead System Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Lead System 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 Lead System Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead System Engineer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead System Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 18% 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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Lead System Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead System Engineer make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Lead System Engineer Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Lead System Engineer Salaries?

How Do Lead System Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Lead System Engineers

Lead System Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Lead System Engineer

How Education impacts a Lead System Engineer's Salary?

Lead System Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead System Engineer

Lead System Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for Lead System Engineer

Average Annual Salary of Lead System Engineer Over Time

Most common benefits for Lead System Engineer

Common company salaries for Lead System Engineer

Find Your Next Lead System Engineer Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Lead System Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead System Engineer?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Lead System Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lead System Engineer make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Lead System Engineer Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Lead System Engineer Salaries?

How Do Lead System Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Lead System Engineers

Lead System Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Lead System Engineer

How Education impacts a Lead System Engineer's Salary?

Lead System Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead System Engineer

Lead System Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of Jobs related to Lead System Engineer

Salary Trends for Lead System Engineer

Average Annual Salary of Lead System Engineer Over Time

Most common benefits for Lead System Engineer

Common company salaries for Lead System Engineer

Find Your Next Lead System Engineer Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Lead System Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead System Engineer?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?