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Design Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Design Engineering make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Engineering in the United States is $128,937 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $144,177
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $118,072 to $136,914
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,180
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Design Engineering Salaries

A Design Engineering'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 Design Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Design Engineering'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): $82,674
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $104,028
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $129,691
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $164,044
  • Expert (over 8 years): $194,369
Levels Salary
Digital D... Level Design Engineering$82,674
Digital D... Level Design Engineering$104,028
Design En... Level Design Engineering$129,691
Digital D... Level Design Engineering$164,044
Digital D... Level Design Engineering$194,369
View as Graph

How Do Design Engineering 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 Design Engineerings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $142,759.
  • California: $142,218.
  • Massachusetts: $140,322.

Top Paying Cities for Design Engineerings

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: $162,628
  • San Francisco: $160,848
  • Oakland: $157,458

What Skills Can Increase a Design Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.53% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Perl (Mentioned in 4.05% Job Postings): Perl is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language originally developed for text manipulation. It borrows many features from C and Shell script and is used for system administration, networking, and other applications that involve user interfaces
  • Algorithms (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Algorithms act as an exact list of instructions that conduct specified actions step by step in either hardware- or software-based routines.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.53%
Perl 4.05%
Algorithms 2.43%
See More Skills

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 Design Engineering's salary.

  • Perl: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • ARM: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Cadence: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Perl $140,541
9%
ARM $140,541
9%
Cadence $139,252
8%
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Design Engineering Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Design Engineering roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Design Engineering positions in Media or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Engineering as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Design Engineering

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$167,618$81.030%
Internet$154,724$74.020%
Biotechnology$148,278$71.015%
Energy & Utilities$141,831$68.010%
Pharmaceuticals$141,831$68.010%

Design Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Design Engineering'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 September 01, 2026
$118,072
Average $128,937/year
$136,914
$9,839
Average $10,745/month
$11,410
$2,271
Average $2,480/week
$2,633
$57
Average $62/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,914 $11,410 $2,633 $66
Average $128,937 $10,745 $2,480 $62
25th Percentile $118,072 $9,839 $2,271 $57

Most common benefits for Design Engineering

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Design Engineering

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

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FAQ about Design Engineering

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Design Engineering?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Design Engineering roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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