Communication Systems Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Communication Systems Engineer in the United States is $89,826 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $108,562
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,278 to $99,633
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,584
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View as table View as graph 25% $80,278 10% $71,584 90% $108,562 75% $99,633 $89,826 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Communication Systems Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $99,633 $8,303 $1,916 $48
Average $89,826 $7,486 $1,727 $43
25th Percentile $80,278 $6,690 $1,544 $39
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Key Factors That Influence Communication Systems Engineer Salaries

A Communication Systems 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.

How Experience Level Affects Communication Systems Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Communication Systems 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): $87,174
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $87,572
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $88,898
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $92,381
  • Expert (over 8 years): $94,431
Levels Salary
Entry Level Communication Systems Engineer$87,174
Intermediate Level Communication Systems Engineer$87,572
Senior Level Communication Systems Engineer$88,898
Specialist Level Communication Systems Engineer$92,381
Expert Level Communication Systems Engineer$94,431
$87,174 0 yr
$87,572 < 2 yrs
$88,898 2-4 yrs
$92,381 5-8 yrs
$94,431 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Communication Systems 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: $113,298
  • San Francisco: $112,184
  • Oakland: $109,696

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coordination (Mentioned in 5.14% Job Postings): Ability to plan, execute, and adjust job duties to achieve business goals.
  • Care Management (Mentioned in 7.15% Job Postings): A set of activities intended to improve patient care and reduce the need for medical services by enhancing coordination of care, eliminate duplication, and helping patients and caregivers more effectively manage health conditions.
  • Utilization Management (Mentioned in 2.9% Job Postings): Utilization management (UM) or utilization review is the use of managed care techniques such as prior authorization that allow payers, particularly health insurance companies to manage the cost of health care benefits by assessing its appropriateness before it is provided using evidence-based criteria or guidelines. Critics have argued if cost cutting by insurers is the focus of their use of UM criteria, it could lead to healthcare rationing by overzealous denial of care as well as retrospective denial of payment, delays in care, or unexpected financial risks to patients.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Coordination 5.14%
Care Management 7.15%
Utilization Management 2.9%
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 Systems Engineer's salary.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership
$94,318
5%
Verbal Communication
$93,419
4%
Initiative
$93,419
4%
Quality Improvement
$93,419
4%
Clinical Services
$93,419
4%
Managed Care
$93,419
4%
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Communication Systems Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Communication Systems 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 Systems Engineer

Salaries for a Communication Systems Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $88,672 in 2023 to around $86,693 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Communication Systems Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Communication Systems Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$88,672
2024
$87,909
2025
$86,693
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $88,672
2024 $87,909
2025 $86,693
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Communication Systems Engineer

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

Here are companies hiring for Communication Systems 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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