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

A Lead Systems Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $157,930 for beginners, reaching about $159,884 at mid-level, and approach $163,792 for experts.

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

Lead Systems Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead Systems Engineer roles are District of Columbia $179,076, California $178,397, Massachusetts $176,019. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

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

Salaries for Lead Systems Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Lead AI Engineer: $176,243; Lead Engineer, Systems Engineering: $158,865; Control Systems Engineer IV: $149,400; Systems Simulation Engineer IV: $144,560; Enterprise Systems Engineer IV: $144,200.

Lead Systems Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Lead Systems Engineer make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Systems Engineer in Delaware is $163,792 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $179,063
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $151,289 to $171,785
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $139,906

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI Onboarding

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Lead Systems Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$171,785	$14,315	$3,304	$83
Average	$163,792	$13,649	$3,150	$79
25th Percentile	$151,289	$12,607	$2,909	$73

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Lead Systems Engineer Job Openings in Delaware

Lead Citrix Systems Engineer – Network/Virtualization

Humana Inc - Dover, DE

Systems Engineer

Corporation Service Company - Wilmington, DE

Systems Engineer

The Cook & Boardman Group, LLC - Dover, DE

Systems Engineer I

RELX INC - Dover, DE

Search More Lead Systems Engineer Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence Lead Systems Engineer Salaries

A Lead Systems 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 Lead Systems Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Systems 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): $157,930
Early Career (1-2 years): $158,907
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $159,884
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $161,251
Expert (over 8 years): $163,792

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Lead Systems Engineer	$157,930
Intermediate Level Lead Systems Engineer	$158,907
Senior Level Lead Systems Engineer	$159,884
Specialist Level Lead Systems Engineer	$161,251
Expert Level Lead Systems Engineer	$163,792

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $179,076.
California: $178,397.
Massachusetts: $176,019.

District of Columbia $179,076 California $178,397 Massachusetts $176,019 Washington $175,373 New Jersey $175,308 Alaska $175,081 Connecticut $172,849 New York $171,944

Hawaii $169,049 Rhode Island $167,690 Maryland $166,768 Minnesota $165,506 Colorado $165,021 Illinois $164,860 Oregon $164,245 Delaware $163,792

New Hampshire $163,507 Virginia $162,870 Pennsylvania $161,010 Nevada $160,072 North Dakota $159,765 Michigan $159,280 Wisconsin $159,102 Vermont $158,746

Texas $157,759 Maine $157,695 Arizona $157,598 Ohio $157,484 Georgia $155,996 Indiana $155,252 Wyoming $155,107 Utah $154,880

Iowa $154,783 Kansas $154,007 Louisiana $153,780 North Carolina $153,700 Missouri $153,667 Florida $153,036 Montana $152,697 Nebraska $152,373

Kentucky $152,195 South Carolina $151,549 Tennessee $151,144 Idaho $150,982 New Mexico $149,802 Oklahoma $149,543 Alabama $148,589 South Dakota $146,987

Arkansas $146,114 West Virginia $145,645 Mississippi $144,238

Top Paying Cities for Lead Systems 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:

Lincoln: $169,518
Little Creek: $167,949
Magnolia: $168,644

Lincoln, DE $169,518 Little Creek, DE $167,949 Magnolia, DE $168,644 Milford, DE $169,518 Marydel, DE $167,318 Millsboro, DE $169,518 Millville, DE $170,650 Milton, DE $169,518

Nassau, DE $169,518 Ocean View, DE $170,650 Rehoboth Beach, DE $170,650 Seaford, DE $167,738 Selbyville, DE $170,650 Smyrna, DE $167,124 Viola, DE $168,644 Woodside, DE $168,159

Bear, DE $165,895 Newark, DE $165,959 Claymont, DE $166,089 Delaware City, DE $165,959 Hockessin, DE $166,089 Kirkwood, DE $165,959 Middletown, DE $166,784 Montchanin, DE $166,089

New Castle, DE $166,089 Odessa, DE $167,011 Port Penn, DE $165,506 Rockland, DE $166,089 Saint Georges, DE $165,959 Townsend, DE $166,768 Winterthur, DE $166,089 Lewes, DE $169,518

Wilmington, DE $166,089 Dover, DE $167,868 Dover Afb, DE $168,256 Bethany Beach, DE $170,650 Bethel, DE $167,738 Bridgeville, DE $169,518 Camden Wyoming, DE $168,046 Cheswold, DE $167,480

Clayton, DE $167,059 Dagsboro, DE $170,650 Delmar, DE $167,738 Ellendale, DE $169,518 Felton, DE $169,518 Fenwick Island, DE $170,650 Frankford, DE $170,650 Frederica, DE $169,518

Georgetown, DE $169,518 Greenwood, DE $169,518 Harbeson, DE $169,518 Harrington, DE $169,518 Hartly, DE $166,978 Houston, DE $169,518 Kenton, DE $167,059 Laurel, DE $167,738

Yorklyn, DE $166,089

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

Understanding how a Lead Systems 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 January 01, 2026

$151,289

Average $163,792/year

$171,785

$12,607

Average $13,649/month

$14,315

$2,909

Average $3,150/week

$3,304

$73

Average $79/hour

$83

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$171,785	$14,315	$3,304	$83
Average	$163,792	$13,649	$3,150	$79
25th Percentile	$151,289	$12,607	$2,909	$73

Salaries of jobs related to Lead Systems Engineer

Find Your Next Lead Systems Engineer Job

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

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about