Communication System Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Communication System Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Communication System Engineer in the United States is $78,740 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $98,359
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,961 to $89,010
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,877
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View as table View as graph 25% $70,961 10% $63,877 90% $98,359 75% $89,010 $78,740 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Communication System Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,010 $7,417 $1,712 $43
Average $78,740 $6,562 $1,514 $38
25th Percentile $70,961 $5,913 $1,365 $34
Check out Communication System Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Controls Security&Fire System Engineer III

Johnson Controls - HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA

Unified Communication Engineer

Amentum - FORT MEADE, MD

System Engineer

Beacon Hill - TUCSON, AZ

System Engineer

Encode - LEXINGTON, MA

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Key Factors That Influence Communication System Engineer Salaries

A Communication System 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 Communication System Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Communication System 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): $76,579
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,903
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $77,984
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $80,119
  • Expert (over 8 years): $82,635
Levels Salary
Entry Level Communication System Engineer$76,579
Intermediate Level Communication System Engineer$76,903
Senior Level Communication System Engineer$77,984
Specialist Level Communication System Engineer$80,119
Expert Level Communication System Engineer$82,635
$76,579 0 yr
$76,903 < 2 yrs
$77,984 2-4 yrs
$80,119 5-8 yrs
$82,635 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $87,181.
  • California: $86,851.
  • Massachusetts: $85,693.

Top Paying Cities for Communication System 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: $99,315
  • San Francisco: $98,339
  • Oakland: $96,158

What Skills Can Increase a Communication System Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.94% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • 5S (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Stands for sort, sustain, set in order, standardized and shine. 5 tips that are designed to achieve clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized workplace for a more systematized work flow.
  • Sustainability (Mentioned in 1.85% Job Postings): Sustainability is a societal goal that broadly aims for humans to safely co-exist on planet Earth over a long time. Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and therefore vary in the literature and over time.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.94%
5S 2.2%
Sustainability 1.85%
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 Communication System Engineer's salary.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Lean: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SOP
$82,677
5%
Process Improvement
$82,677
5%
Lean
$82,677
5%
Scheduling
$82,677
5%
Collaborating with Others
$81,890
4%
Innovation
$81,890
4%
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How Education impacts a Communication System Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Communication System Engineers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Communication System Engineer with a No Diploma is between $82,992 and $88,260).

Communication System Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Communication System Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 16.7%
High School 66.7%
Associates 16.7%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Communication System Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Communication System 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Communication System Engineer

Salaries for a Communication System Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $66,983 in 2023 to around $67,143 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Communication System Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Communication System Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,983
2024
$67,466
2025
$67,143
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,983
2024 $67,466
2025 $67,143
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Communication System Engineer

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

Here are companies hiring for Communication System Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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