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Structural Designer Salary in the United States

How much does a Structural Designer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Structural Designer in the United States is $126,891 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $146,584
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $118,322 to $137,199
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,520
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Structural Designer Salaries

A Structural Designer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Structural Designer 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 Structural Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $140,494.
  • California: $139,961.
  • Massachusetts: $138,095.

Top Paying Cities for Structural Designers

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: $160,048
  • San Francisco: $158,295
  • Oakland: $154,959

What Skills Can Increase a Structural Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 16.23% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Engineering Services (Mentioned in 1.73% Job Postings): Engineering services" means any service or creative work, the adequate performance of which requires engineering education, training and experience in the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences
  • Renewable Energy (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Using renewable energy sources for more sustainable business operations to drive environmental risk and cost reduction.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 16.23%
Engineering Services 1.73%
Renewable Energy 1.1%
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 Structural Designer's salary.

  • Construction Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Renewable Energy: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Construction Administration $135,773
7%
Business Development $134,504
6%
Renewable Energy $133,236
5%
Get Latest Data

Structural Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Structural Designer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Structural Designer positions in MFG Durable or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Structural Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Structural Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$190,336$92.050%
Business Services$152,269$73.020%

How Education impacts a Structural Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Structural Designers 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 Designer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $118,846 and $126,154).

Structural Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Structural Designer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 43.1%
Associates 0.4%
Bachelors 43.1%
Masters 49.8%
Doctorate 6.7%
View as Graph

Structural Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Structural Designer'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
$118,322
Average $126,891/year
$137,199
$9,860
Average $10,574/month
$11,433
$2,275
Average $2,440/week
$2,638
$57
Average $61/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $137,199 $11,433 $2,638 $66
Average $126,891 $10,574 $2,440 $61
25th Percentile $118,322 $9,860 $2,275 $57

Most common benefits for Structural Designer

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

Common company salaries for Structural Designer

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

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FAQ about Structural Designer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Structural Designer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Structural Designer roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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