Structural Design Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Structural Design Engineer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Structural Design Engineer in the United States is $78,558 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,980
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,794 to $83,490
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,368
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View as table View as graph 25% $74,794 10% $71,368 90% $87,980 75% $83,490 $78,558 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Structural Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $83,490 $6,957 $1,606 $40
Average $78,558 $6,546 $1,511 $38
25th Percentile $74,794 $6,233 $1,438 $36
Check out Structural Design Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Structural Engineer

Harrison Consulting Solutions - Columbus, OH

Design Engineer

giftHEALTH Inc - Columbus, OH

Design Engineer

ISAT Total Support - Columbus, OH

Design Engineer - ADAS

Goken - Columbus, OH

Search More Structural Design Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Structural Design Engineer Salaries

A Structural Design 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 Structural Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Structural Design 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): $78,195
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $88,699
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,879
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $135,386
  • Expert (over 8 years): $158,602
Levels Salary
Structura... Level Structural Design Engineer$78,195
Product D... Level Structural Design Engineer$88,699
Product D... Level Structural Design Engineer$110,879
Product D... Level Structural Design Engineer$135,386
Product D... Level Structural Design Engineer$158,602
$78,195 0 yr
$88,699 < 2 yrs
$110,879 2-4 yrs
$135,386 5-8 yrs
$158,602 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Structural Design 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: $99,085
  • San Francisco: $98,000
  • Oakland: $95,935

What Skills Can Increase a Structural Design Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 17.02% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 0.88% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • CNC (Mentioned in 0.49% Job Postings): Numerical control is the automated control of machining tools by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material to meet specifications by following coded programmed instructions
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 17.02%
Continuous Improvement 0.88%
CNC 0.49%
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 Structural Design Engineer's salary.
  • Square: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Brand Design: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Square
$82,486
5%
Networking
$82,486
5%
Brand Design
$81,700
4%
Leadership
$80,129
2%
Innovation
$80,129
2%
Team Operations
$80,129
2%
Get Latest Data

Structural Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Structural Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Structural Design Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Structural Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Structural Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$90,341$43.015%
Pharmaceuticals$87,985$42.012%
Biotechnology$86,413$42.010%
Energy & Utilities$84,842$41.08%
Aerospace & Defense$82,486$40.05%

How Education impacts a Structural Design Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Structural Design 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 Structural Design Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $76,251 and $80,097).

Structural Design Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Structural Design Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 5.3%
Associates 10.6%
Bachelors 56.2%
Masters 25.2%
Doctorate 2.5%
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Structural Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Structural Design 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Structural Design Engineer

Salaries for a Structural Design Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,750 in 2023 to around $81,120 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Structural Design Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Structural Design Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$81,750
2024
$81,877
2025
$81,120
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $81,750
2024 $81,877
2025 $81,120
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Structural Design Engineer

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

Here are companies hiring for Structural Design Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Structural Design Engineer Job

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

United States
  • Goken

    Columbus, OH

    Goken | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio (USA) with Engineering Centers in Pune, India and Yokohama, Japan, Goken is a global Engine... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Hazen and Sawyer

    Columbus, OH

    Hazen and Sawyer | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a full time Senior-Level Structural Engineer for our Columbus office. As part of our Structur... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Wade Trim

    Columbus, OH

    Wade Trim | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. What We Offer. . Our excellent salary and benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and lo... more

    7 Days Ago

  • The Misch Group

    Columbus, OH

    The Misch Group | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. We are seeking a full-time electrical engineer or electrical designer with at least 3 years of experience to... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Pop-Up Talent

    Columbus, OH

    Pop-Up Talent | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Electrical Design/Controls Engineer – Experienced. Gahanna, OH 43230. MJ Engineering & Consulting, Inc. is a full-service... more

    8 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    4 Days Ago

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FAQ about Structural Design Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Structural Design Engineer?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Structural Design Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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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