Chip Design Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chip Design Engineer in the United States is $81,761 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,076
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,798 to $87,160
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,639
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View as table View as graph 25% $72,798 10% $64,639 90% $92,076 75% $87,160 $81,761 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Chip Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $87,160 $7,263 $1,676 $42
Average $81,761 $6,813 $1,572 $39
25th Percentile $72,798 $6,067 $1,400 $35
Check out Chip Design Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Design Engineer

giftHEALTH Inc - Columbus, OH

Design Engineer

ISAT Total Support - Columbus, OH

Design Engineer

Goken - Columbus, OH

Design Engineer

Goken - Columbus, OH

Search More Chip Design Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Chip Design Engineer Salaries

A Chip 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.

Top Paying Cities for Chip 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: $103,125
  • San Francisco: $101,996
  • Oakland: $99,846

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 9.11% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 3.06% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
  • Client Service (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Client services are the processes and interactions organizations and members of their staff have with their clients.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 9.11%
Business Development 3.06%
Client Service 2.12%
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 Chip Design Engineer's salary.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Tax Return: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting
$95,660
17%
Communicates Effectively
$89,119
9%
Tax Return
$89,119
9%
Coordination
$86,666
6%
Leadership
$86,666
6%
Insight
$86,666
6%
Get Latest Data

Chip Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chip Design 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, Insurance, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Chip Design Engineer positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Chip Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Chip Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$89,937$43.010%

How Education impacts a Chip Design Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chip 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 Chip Design Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $84,813 and $91,574).

Chip Design Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chip Design Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 2.4%
Associates 3.2%
Bachelors 41.1%
Masters 18.6%
Doctorate 34.0%
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Chip Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chip 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 Chip Design Engineer

Salaries for a Chip Design Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $71,695 in 2023 to around $71,170 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Chip Design Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Chip Design Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$71,695
2024
$71,868
2025
$71,170
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $71,695
2024 $71,868
2025 $71,170
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Chip Design Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Chip Design Engineer Job

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

United States
  • 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

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Alto Health Care Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Alto Health Care Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Position Overview. We are currently seeking experienced and compassionate Registered Nurses (RNs) to join our network of healthcare professionals. As a Reg... more

    4 Days Ago

  • AMN Healthcare, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    AMN Healthcare, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Job Description & Requirements Gastroenterology Physician StartDate: ASAP Available Shifts: 32 Days of Paid Time Off A nationally recognized organization c... more

    4 Days Ago

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FAQ about Chip Design Engineer

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

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Chip Design 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.

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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