Communications Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Communications Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Communications Engineer in the United States is $70,206 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,840
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,895 to $73,155
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,419
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View as table View as graph 25% $60,895 10% $52,419 90% $75,840 75% $73,155 $70,206 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Communications Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $73,155 $6,096 $1,407 $35
Average $70,206 $5,850 $1,350 $34
25th Percentile $60,895 $5,075 $1,171 $29
Check out Communications Engineer Job Openings in the United States
DSP Communications Engineer

Ed Wallach Search Group - DENVER, CO

Communications Network Engineer

TEKsystems c/o Allegis Group - WHIDBEY ISLAND NAVAL AIR, WA

Communications Network Engineer Mid

TEKsystems c/o Allegis Group - OXNARD, CA

Communications Network Engineer Senior

Navstar Inc. - VIENNA, VA

Search More Communications Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Communications Engineer Salaries

A Communications 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 Communications Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Communications 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): $70,206
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,932
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $71,527
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $71,646
  • Expert (over 8 years): $71,726
Levels Salary
Entry Level Communications Engineer$70,206
Intermediate Level Communications Engineer$70,932
Senior Level Communications Engineer$71,527
Specialist Level Communications Engineer$71,646
Expert Level Communications Engineer$71,726
$70,206 0 yr
$70,932 < 2 yrs
$71,527 2-4 yrs
$71,646 5-8 yrs
$71,726 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Communications 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: $88,551
  • San Francisco: $87,680
  • Oakland: $85,735

What Skills Can Increase a Communications Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 7.37% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Semiconductors (Mentioned in 2.41% Job Postings): Semiconductors are substances with properties somewhere between them. ICs(integrated circuits) and electronic discrete components such as diodes and transistors are made of semiconductors.
  • Dialysis (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Utilizing knowledge of dialysis principles and procedures to treat individuals who suffer from kidney failure to regain normal kidney function.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 7.37%
Semiconductors 2.41%
Dialysis 1.6%
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 Communications Engineer's salary.
  • Corrective Maintenance: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Pneumatics: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Corrective Maintenance
$84,247
20%
Pneumatics
$82,843
18%
Innovation
$78,630
12%
Preventive Maintenance
$78,630
12%
Semiconductors
$77,928
11%
Customer Focus
$77,226
10%
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How Education impacts a Communications Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Communications Engineers enter the field with a Associate'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 Communications Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $71,760 and $76,475).

Communications Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Communications Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 14.7%
Associates 10.1%
Bachelors 51.9%
Masters 19.4%
Doctorate 3.1%
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Communications Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Communications 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 Communications Engineer

Salaries for a Communications Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $80,932 in 2023 to around $79,280 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Communications Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Communications Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$80,932
2024
$80,252
2025
$79,280
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $80,932
2024 $80,252
2025 $79,280
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Communications Engineer

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

Here are companies hiring for Communications 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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