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As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Circuit Design Engineer in California is $80,229 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.
However, a Circuit Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Circuit Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $88,855 | $7,405 | $1,709 | $43 |
| Average | $80,229 | $6,686 | $1,543 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,165 | $6,097 | $1,407 | $35 |
Array Labs - Redwood City, CA
Furientis - Los Angeles, CA
TalentCORE, Inc. - San Diego, CA
Skorpios Technologies Inc - Temecula, CA
A Circuit 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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 Circuit Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Circuit Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Circuit Design Engineer positions in MFG Durable or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Circuit Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $104,297 | $50.0 | 30% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $96,274 | $46.0 | 20% |
| Telecom | $88,251 | $42.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Circuit 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $88,855 | $7,405 | $1,709 | $43 |
| Average | $80,229 | $6,686 | $1,543 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,165 | $6,097 | $1,407 | $35 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Circuit Design Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Rigetti Computing
Fremont, CA
Rigetti Computing | Fremont, CA
Data ScientistAs a Data Scientist in the quantum integrated circuit design team, you will play a critical role in our design, fabrication and test flywheel... more
4 Days Ago
TalentCORE, Inc.
San Diego, CA
TalentCORE, Inc. | San Diego, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Job Summary. Opportunity to join a leading Space and Defense Manufacturer developing and manufacturing advanced space sys... more
1 Day Ago
Sandis
Campbell, CA
Sandis | Campbell, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our team in Campbell, CA. Our ideal candidate has experience wi... more
1 Day Ago
Higher Talent Group LLC
Irvine, CA
Higher Talent Group LLC | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Design Engineer – Irvine, California. . . About our Client. Our Client is a global provider within a wide range of areas,... more
1 Day Ago
Sandis
Roseville, CA
Sandis | Roseville, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our growing team in Roseville, CA. Our ideal candidate has expe... more
2 Days Ago
Idler
San Francisco, CA
Idler | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. About idler. idler is a frontier data research lab. We build the evals and environments that the world's leading frontier... more
2 Days Ago
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