Outside Plant Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Outside Plant Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Outside Plant Engineer in the United States is $71,476 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,664
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,341 to $74,192
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,935
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View as table View as graph 25% $63,341 10% $55,935 90% $76,664 75% $74,192 $71,476 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Outside Plant Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $74,192 $6,183 $1,427 $36
Average $71,476 $5,956 $1,375 $34
25th Percentile $63,341 $5,278 $1,218 $30
Check out Outside Plant Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Ammonia Refrigeration Plant Engineer

ABM Industries - SCHAUMBURG, IL

Outside Plant Technician with Security Clearance

TekSynap - ARLINGTON, VA

Inside/Outside Plant Manager with Security Clearance

ValidaTek - ARLINGTON, VA

Search More Outside Plant Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Outside Plant Engineer Salaries

An Outside Plant 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 Outside Plant Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Outside Plant 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): $70,626
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $71,356
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $71,955
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,075
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,155
Levels Salary
Entry Level Outside Plant Engineer$70,626
Intermediate Level Outside Plant Engineer$71,356
Senior Level Outside Plant Engineer$71,955
Specialist Level Outside Plant Engineer$72,075
Expert Level Outside Plant Engineer$72,155
$70,626 0 yr
$71,356 < 2 yrs
$71,955 2-4 yrs
$72,075 5-8 yrs
$72,155 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Outside Plant 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: $90,153
  • San Francisco: $89,266
  • Oakland: $87,286

What Skills Can Increase an Outside Plant Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 7.37% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Semiconductors (Mentioned in 2.41% Job Postings): Semiconductors are substances with properties somewhere between them. ICs(integrated circuits) and electronic discrete components such as diodes and transistors are made of semiconductors.
  • Dialysis (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Utilizing knowledge of dialysis principles and procedures to treat individuals who suffer from kidney failure to regain normal kidney function.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 7.37%
Semiconductors 2.41%
Dialysis 1.6%
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 an Outside Plant Engineer's salary.
  • Corrective Maintenance: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Pneumatics: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Corrective Maintenance
$85,771
20%
Pneumatics
$84,342
18%
Innovation
$80,053
12%
Preventive Maintenance
$80,053
12%
Semiconductors
$79,338
11%
Customer Focus
$78,624
10%
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How Education impacts an Outside Plant Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Outside Plant Engineers enter the field with a Associate'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 an Outside Plant Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $71,760 and $76,475).

Outside Plant Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Outside Plant Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 14.7%
Associates 10.1%
Bachelors 51.9%
Masters 19.4%
Doctorate 3.1%
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Outside Plant Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Outside Plant 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

Salary Trends for Outside Plant Engineer

Salaries for an Outside Plant Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,416 in 2023 to around $79,754 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Outside Plant Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Outside Plant Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$81,416
2024
$80,732
2025
$79,754
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $81,416
2024 $80,732
2025 $79,754
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Outside Plant Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Outside Plant Engineer

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

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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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