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Senior PLANNING ENGINEER Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior PLANNING ENGINEER make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior PLANNING ENGINEER in the United States is $107,959 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

However, a Senior PLANNING ENGINEER's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $121,122
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $100,884 to $114,849
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,443
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Senior PLANNING ENGINEER Salaries

A Senior PLANNING 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 Senior PLANNING ENGINEER Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior PLANNING 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): $77,298
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $89,391
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,452
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $136,009
  • Expert (over 8 years): $157,032
Levels Salary
Engineer ... Level Senior PLANNING ENGINEER$77,298
Engineer ... Level Senior PLANNING ENGINEER$89,391
Senior PL... Level Senior PLANNING ENGINEER$107,452
Engineer ... Level Senior PLANNING ENGINEER$136,009
Engineer ... Level Senior PLANNING ENGINEER$157,032
View as Graph

How Do Senior PLANNING 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 Senior PLANNING ENGINEERs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $119,532.
  • California: $119,079.
  • Massachusetts: $117,492.

Top Paying Cities for Senior PLANNING 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: $136,169
  • San Francisco: $134,678
  • Oakland: $131,840

What Skills Can Increase a Senior PLANNING ENGINEER's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • API (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): An application programming interface is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software.
  • Java (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Using Java in the development and maintenance of application programs and systems.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.08%
API 2.09%
Java 1.71%
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 Senior PLANNING ENGINEER's salary.

  • DevOps: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • JavaScript: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Test Automation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
DevOps $118,755
10%
JavaScript $116,596
8%
Test Automation $115,516
7%
Get Latest Data

Senior PLANNING ENGINEER Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior PLANNING ENGINEER roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Senior PLANNING ENGINEER positions in Financial Services or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior PLANNING ENGINEER as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior PLANNING ENGINEER

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$151,143$73.040%
Aerospace & Defense$140,347$67.030%
Media$131,710$63.022%
Healthcare$129,551$62.020%
Retail & Wholesale$125,232$60.016%

How Education impacts a Senior PLANNING ENGINEER's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior PLANNING 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 Senior PLANNING ENGINEER with a Bachelor's Degree is between $105,951 and $111,242).

Senior PLANNING ENGINEER Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior PLANNING ENGINEER
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.6%
Associates 3.5%
Bachelors 36.5%
Masters 41.6%
Doctorate 15.5%
View as Graph

Senior PLANNING ENGINEER Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior PLANNING 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 September 01, 2026
$100,884
Average $107,959/year
$114,849
$8,407
Average $8,997/month
$9,571
$1,940
Average $2,076/week
$2,209
$49
Average $52/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $114,849 $9,571 $2,209 $55
Average $107,959 $8,997 $2,076 $52
25th Percentile $100,884 $8,407 $1,940 $49

Most common benefits for Senior PLANNING ENGINEER

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

Common company salaries for Senior PLANNING ENGINEER

Here are companies hiring for Senior PLANNING ENGINEER and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Senior PLANNING ENGINEER

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior PLANNING ENGINEER?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior PLANNING ENGINEER roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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