Chief Project Engineer Salary in the United States
How much does a Chief Project Engineer make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Project Engineer in the United States is $79,699 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.
However, a Chief Project Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $106,314
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,724 to $93,630
Key Factors That Influence Chief Project Engineer Salaries
A Chief Project 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 Chief Project Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Project 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): $76,583
Early Career (1-2 years): $77,206
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $81,470
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,894
Expert (over 8 years): $89,041
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Chief Project Engineer
$76,583
Intermediate Level Chief Project Engineer
$77,206
Senior Level Chief Project Engineer
$81,470
Specialist Level Chief Project Engineer
$87,894
Expert Level Chief Project Engineer
$89,041
$76,5830 yr
$77,206< 2 yrs
$81,4702-4 yrs
$87,8945-8 yrs
$89,041> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Chief Project 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 Chief Project Engineers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $88,243.
California: $87,908.
Massachusetts: $86,737.
District of Columbia$88,243
California$87,908
Massachusetts$86,737
Washington$86,418
New Jersey$86,386
Alaska$86,275
Connecticut$85,175
New York$84,728
Hawaii$83,302
Rhode Island$82,632
Maryland$82,178
Minnesota$81,556
Colorado$81,317
Illinois$81,238
Oregon$80,935
Delaware$80,712
New Hampshire$80,571
Virginia$80,257
Pennsylvania$79,341
Nevada$78,878
North Dakota$78,727
Michigan$78,488
Wisconsin$78,400
Vermont$78,225
Texas$77,739
Maine$77,707
Arizona$77,659
Ohio$77,603
Georgia$76,870
Indiana$76,503
Wyoming$76,432
Utah$76,320
Iowa$76,272
Kansas$75,890
Louisiana$75,778
North Carolina$75,738
Missouri$75,722
Florida$75,412
Montana$75,244
Nebraska$75,085
Kentucky$74,997
South Carolina$74,678
Tennessee$74,479
Idaho$74,399
New Mexico$73,818
Oklahoma$73,690
Alabama$73,220
South Dakota$72,431
Arkansas$72,000
West Virginia$71,769
Mississippi$71,076
Top Paying Cities for Chief Project 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: $100,525
San Francisco: $99,424
Oakland: $97,329
San Jose, CA$100,525
San Francisco, CA$99,424
Oakland, CA$97,329
New York, NY$91,765
Paramus, NJ$90,649
Queens Village, NY$90,645
Passaic, NJ$90,570
Bergenfield, NJ$90,562
Stamford, CT$90,387
Huntington, NY$90,354
Newark, NJ$89,765
Bridgeport, CT$89,597
Vallejo, CA$89,439
New Brunswick, NJ$89,407
Petaluma, CA$89,359
Middlesex, NJ$89,208
Somerset, NJ$89,152
Santa Cruz, CA$89,048
Boston, MA$88,562
Monterey, CA$88,282
Seattle, WA$88,100
Santa Rosa, CA$88,084
Los Angeles, CA$88,060
Juneau, AK$87,853
Washington, DC$87,765
Orange, CA$87,481
Santa Ana, CA$87,271
Long Beach, CA$87,191
Anaheim, CA$87,175
Anchorage, AK$87,135
Santa Maria, CA$86,896
Everett, WA$86,880
Danbury, CT$86,600
Bremerton, WA$86,490
Tacoma, WA$86,203
New Suffolk, NY$86,201
Sacramento, CA$86,179
Santa Barbara, CA$86,091
Trenton, NJ$86,004
San Diego, CA$86,004
Brockton, MA$85,916
Fairbanks, AK$85,721
Lompoc, CA$85,517
Lowell, MA$85,453
Ventura, CA$85,438
Nashua, NH$85,422
Stockton, CA$85,414
Modesto, CA$84,832
Poughkeepsie, NY$84,657
Olympia, WA$84,505
Kennewick, WA$84,505
New Haven, CT$84,473
Lawrence, MA$84,186
Hartford, CT$84,107
Riverside, CA$84,091
New Bedford, MA$84,011
Richland, WA$84,011
Bakersfield, CA$83,900
San Bernardino, CA$83,868
New Britain, CT$83,860
Atlantic City, NJ$83,860
New London, CT$83,828
Norwich, CT$83,804
Portsmouth, NH$83,788
Boulder, CO$83,619
Portland, OR$83,509
Worcester, MA$83,501
Minneapolis, MN$83,254
Philadelphia, PA$83,142
Honolulu, HI$82,879
Saint Paul, MN$82,841
Vineland, NJ$82,824
Providence, RI$82,592
Chicago, IL$82,361
Bellingham, WA$82,266
Springfield, MA$82,202
Baltimore, MD$82,178
Chico, CA$81,979
Pittsfield, MA$81,764
Manchester, NH$81,612
Spokane, WA$81,262
Denver, CO$81,254
Albany, NY$80,879
Troy, NY$80,847
Nassau, NY$80,762
Schenectady, NY$80,680
Wilmington, DE$80,616
Burlington, VT$80,504
Salem, OR$80,472
Portland, ME$80,225
Yakima, WA$80,146
Rochester, MN$79,899
Reno, NV$79,859
Fresno, CA$79,859
Milwaukee, WI$79,787
Detroit, MI$79,707
Ann Arbor, MI$79,694
Allentown, PA$79,683
Colorado Springs, CO$79,548
Syracuse, NY$79,508
Carson City, NV$79,508
Houston, TX$79,397
Eugene, OR$79,357
Gary, IN$79,261
Springfield, OR$79,197
Bismarck, ND$79,181
Galveston, TX$79,126
Medford, OR$79,006
Fort Collins, CO$78,974
Concord, NH$78,934
Austin, TX$78,910
Mesa, AZ$78,743
Reading, PA$78,735
Phoenix, AZ$78,727
Dallas, TX$78,703
Saint Cloud, MN$78,627
Madison, WI$78,520
Utica, NY$78,305
Rochester, NY$78,177
Des Moines, IA$78,169
Raleigh, NC$78,161
Atlanta, GA$78,042
Battle Creek, MI$78,018
Salt Lake City, UT$77,994
Lancaster, PA$77,874
Harrisburg, PA$77,763
Kansas City, MO$77,683
Champaign, IL$77,667
Kansas City, KS$77,667
Fort Worth, TX$77,659
Columbus, OH$77,646
Boca Raton, FL$77,627
Pittsburgh, PA$77,595
Richmond, VA$77,563
Indianapolis, IN$77,548
Cleveland, OH$77,540
Las Vegas, NV$77,444
Cincinnati, OH$77,444
Petersburg, VA$77,324
Huntsville, AL$77,205
Lansing, MI$77,151
Lebanon, PA$77,141
Pueblo, CO$77,133
Appleton, WI$77,109
Buffalo, NY$77,077
Dayton, OH$77,053
Racine, WI$77,037
Charlotte, NC$77,029
Saint Louis, MO$77,006
York, PA$76,958
Elkhart, IN$76,958
Gastonia, NC$76,943
Billings, MT$76,923
Beaumont, TX$76,902
Lorain, OH$76,886
Benton Harbor, MI$76,870
Toledo, OH$76,854
Binghamton, NY$76,814
Rock Hill, SC$76,806
Rockford, IL$76,766
Springfield, IL$76,735
Elyria, OH$76,727
Fargo, ND$76,727
Flagstaff, AZ$76,671
Fort Lauderdale, FL$76,623
Duluth, MN$76,575
Miami, FL$76,575
Cheyenne, WY$76,519
Grand Forks, ND$76,519
Bangor, ME$76,344
Cedar Rapids, IA$76,256
Durham, NC$76,223
Louisville, KY$76,217
Grand Rapids, MI$76,201
Hialeah, FL$76,193
Casper, WY$76,081
Scranton, PA$75,985
New Orleans, LA$75,961
Virginia Beach, VA$75,954
Akron, OH$75,914
Peoria, IL$75,810
Sarasota, FL$75,794
Nashville, TN$75,738
Omaha, NE$75,738
Green Bay, WI$75,738
Baton Rouge, LA$75,698
Charleston, SC$75,683
Jamestown, NY$75,643
Davenport, IA$75,643
Tucson, AZ$75,603
Saint Petersburg, FL$75,555
Tampa, FL$75,539
Evansville, IN$75,491
Port Arthur, TX$75,491
Bradenton, FL$75,459
Santa Fe, NM$75,316
Orlando, FL$75,172
Clearwater, FL$75,149
Canton, OH$74,981
La Crosse, WI$74,981
Albuquerque, NM$74,933
Newport News, VA$74,925
High Point, NC$74,901
Ogden, UT$74,870
Corpus Christi, TX$74,806
Norfolk, VA$74,758
Laramie, WY$74,758
Rock Island, IL$74,710
Saginaw, MI$74,694
Jacksonville, FL$74,686
Salisbury, NC$74,670
Boise, ID$74,654
Moline, IL$74,615
Fort Myers, FL$74,591
Memphis, TN$74,575
Tulsa, OK$74,535
Waterloo, IA$74,487
Spartanburg, SC$74,407
Lincoln, NE$74,368
Fort Wayne, IN$74,352
Provo, UT$74,344
Cedar Falls, IA$74,248
San Antonio, TX$74,216
Greensboro, NC$74,184
South Bend, IN$74,176
Savannah, GA$74,089
Muskegon, MI$74,057
Birmingham, AL$74,049
Winston Salem, NC$74,010
Lake Charles, LA$73,818
Anderson, IN$73,802
Lexington, KY$73,778
Augusta, GA$73,754
Greenville, SC$73,754
Lima, OH$73,690
Wichita, KS$73,682
Tuscaloosa, AL$73,682
Columbia, SC$73,610
Springfield, OH$73,594
Asheville, NC$73,467
Bloomington, IN$73,411
Knoxville, TN$73,124
Shreveport, LA$73,116
Wilmington, NC$73,013
Roanoke, VA$73,013
Topeka, KS$72,869
Frankfort, KY$72,860
Oklahoma City, OK$72,805
Chillicothe, OH$72,774
Longview, TX$72,766
Melbourne, FL$72,758
Sioux Falls, SD$72,630
Mobile, AL$72,622
Terre Haute, IN$72,590
Altoona, PA$72,542
Amarillo, TX$72,487
Killeen, TX$72,463
Fayetteville, AR$72,399
Chattanooga, TN$72,375
Sioux City, IA$72,303
Idaho Falls, ID$72,287
Lynchburg, VA$72,224
Gainesville, FL$72,120
Portsmouth, OH$72,080
Little Rock, AR$72,064
Lafayette, LA$72,032
Youngstown, OH$72,032
Daytona Beach, FL$71,984
Clarksville, TN$71,977
Pensacola, FL$71,969
Temple, TX$71,963
Hopkinsville, KY$71,729
Erie, PA$71,714
Florence, SC$71,682
Charleston, WV$71,554
Great Falls, MT$71,514
Macon, GA$71,403
Tallahassee, FL$71,395
Fayetteville, NC$71,379
Waco, TX$71,363
Helena, MT$71,307
Pine Bluff, AR$71,277
Vincennes, IN$71,180
Lubbock, TX$71,148
Alamogordo, NM$71,100
Twin Falls, ID$71,028
Rapid City, SD$71,004
Jackson, MS$70,861
Huntington, WV$70,855
Greenville, MS$70,853
Parkersburg, WV$70,771
Montgomery, AL$70,757
Wichita Falls, TX$70,677
Springfield, MO$70,677
Biloxi, MS$70,638
Monroe, LA$70,558
Johnstown, PA$70,502
Sumter, SC$70,470
Columbus, GA$70,462
Pascagoula, MS$70,311
Abilene, TX$70,311
Kingsport, TN$70,104
Albany, GA$70,104
Gulfport, MS$70,080
Alexandria, LA$69,817
Fort Smith, AR$69,617
El Paso, TX$69,402
Las Cruces, NM$69,044
Harlingen, TX$68,841
Pocatello, ID$68,828
Florence, AL$68,725
Brownsville, TX$68,709
Mcallen, TX$68,541
Dothan, AL$68,430
Columbus, MS$67,956
Altus, OK$67,585
Lawton, OK$67,434
Pierre, SD$67,147
What Skills Can Increase a Chief Project Engineer's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.97% 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.
Patient Education (Mentioned in 2.28% Job Postings): Patient education is the process by which health professionals and others impart information to patients and their caregivers that will alter their health behaviors or improve their health status.
Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
4.97%
Patient Education
2.28%
Quality Assurance
1.47%
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 Chief Project Engineer's salary.
Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Team Management
$84,481
6%
Communication Skills
$82,887
4%
Accountability
$82,090
3%
Facilitation
$82,090
3%
Customer Service
$82,090
3%
Integrity
$82,090
3%
Get Latest Data
Chief Project Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Chief Project Engineer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare,
offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely,
Chief Project Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Chief Project Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Chief Project Engineer
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$87,669
$42.0
10%
How Education impacts a Chief Project Engineer's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Chief Project 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 Chief Project Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$84,167
and $89,031).
Understanding how a Chief Project 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 August 01, 2026
$70,724
Average$79,699/year
$93,630
$5,894
Average$6,642/month
$7,803
$1,360
Average$1,533/week
$1,801
$34
Average$38/hour
$45
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$93,630
$7,803
$1,801
$45
Average
$79,699
$6,642
$1,533
$38
25th Percentile
$70,724
$5,894
$1,360
$34
Salaries of jobs related to Chief Project Engineer
Salaries for a Chief Project Engineer can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $69,677 in 2023
to around $69,245 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Chief Project Engineer salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Chief Project Engineer Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$69,677
2024
$69,640
2025
$69,245
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$69,677
2024
$69,640
2025
$69,245
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Chief Project Engineer
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Chief Project Engineer
Here are companies hiring for Chief Project Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Chief Project Engineer
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Project Engineer?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Project Engineer roles,
with salaries approximately 10% 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.