Application Performance Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Application Performance Engineer make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Application Performance Engineer in the United States is $103,550 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $114,611
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $96,271 to $109,340
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,644
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View as table View as graph 25% $96,271 10% $89,644 90% $114,611 75% $109,340 $103,550 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Application Performance Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $109,340 $9,112 $2,103 $53
Average $103,550 $8,629 $1,991 $50
25th Percentile $96,271 $8,023 $1,851 $46
Check out Application Performance Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Application Engineer

LayerZero Power Systems, LLC. - Aurora, OH

Application Engineer

Supply Technologies LLC - Dayton, OH

Application Engineer

MGM Transformers - Cincinnati, OH

Application Engineer

Vesuvius USA - Ohio Township, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Application Performance Engineer Salaries

An Application Performance 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 Application Performance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Application Performance 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): $66,451
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $79,329
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,056
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,344
  • Expert (over 8 years): $121,162
Levels Salary
Compensat... Level Application Performance Engineer$66,451
Compensat... Level Application Performance Engineer$79,329
Applicati... Level Application Performance Engineer$104,056
Compensat... Level Application Performance Engineer$126,344
Compensat... Level Application Performance Engineer$121,162
$66,451 0 yr
$79,329 < 2 yrs
$104,056 2-4 yrs
$126,344 5-8 yrs
$121,162 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $114,651.
  • California: $114,216.
  • Massachusetts: $112,693.

Top Paying Cities for Application Performance 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: $130,608
  • San Francisco: $129,178
  • Oakland: $126,455

What Skills Can Increase an Application Performance Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 18.65% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Compensation Analysis (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): A review of employee pay in relation to an organization's pay philosophy. It often takes into account both internal equity and external competitiveness to ensure fair pay that can attract, engage, and retain talent.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 18.65%
Microsoft Office 2.2%
Compensation Analysis 1.61%
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 Application Performance Engineer's salary.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Executive Compensation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting
 $107,692
4%
Executive Compensation
 $106,657
3%
Innovation
 $106,657
3%
Compensation Planning
 $106,657
3%
Economics
 $106,657
3%
Partnering
 $105,621
2%
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Application Performance Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Application Performance Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Application Performance Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Application Performance Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Application Performance Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$129,438$62.025%
Internet$124,260$60.020%
Pharmaceuticals$124,260$60.020%
Energy & Utilities$119,082$57.015%
Healthcare$113,905$55.010%

How Education impacts an Application Performance Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Application Performance 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 an Application Performance Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $99,471 and $104,662).

Application Performance Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Application Performance Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 2.9%
Associates 2.3%
Bachelors 51.5%
Masters 40.4%
Doctorate 2.3%
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Application Performance Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Application Performance 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$96,271
Average $103,550/year
$109,340
$8,023
Average $8,629/month
$9,112
$1,851
Average $1,991/week
$2,103
$46
Average $50/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $109,340 $9,112 $2,103 $53
Average $103,550 $8,629 $1,991 $50
25th Percentile $96,271 $8,023 $1,851 $46

Salaries of jobs related to Application Performance Engineer

Salary Trends for Application Performance Engineer

Salaries for an Application Performance Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $93,310 in 2023 to around $89,370 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Application Performance Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Application Performance Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$93,310
2024
$90,604
2025
$89,370
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $93,310
2024 $90,604
2025 $89,370
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Application Performance Engineer

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

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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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