Director Of Systems Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Director Of Systems Engineering make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director Of Systems Engineering in the United States is $195,243 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $94.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $222,224
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $176,867 to $209,366
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $160,137
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View as table View as graph 25% $176,867 10% $160,137 90% $222,224 75% $209,366 $195,243 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director Of Systems Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $209,366 $17,447 $4,026 $101
Average $195,243 $16,270 $3,755 $94
25th Percentile $176,867 $14,739 $3,401 $85
Check out Director Of Systems Engineering Job Openings in the United States
Director of Information Systems

Jobot - Mount Vernon, OH

Sr Mgr Systems Engineering

The E.W. Scripps Company - Cincinnati, OH

Director Platform Engineering

OhioHealth - Columbus, OH

Director of Transportation Engineering

1872 Consulting - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Director Of Systems Engineering Salaries

A Director Of Systems 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Director Of Systems Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director Of Systems 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): $167,638
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $141,207
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $153,026
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $172,271
  • Expert (over 8 years): $196,520
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Director Of Systems Engineering$167,638
Software ... Level Director Of Systems Engineering$141,207
Software ... Level Director Of Systems Engineering$153,026
Software ... Level Director Of Systems Engineering$172,271
Director ... Level Director Of Systems Engineering$196,520
$167,638 0 yr
$141,207 < 2 yrs
$153,026 2-4 yrs
$172,271 5-8 yrs
$196,520 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Director Of Systems 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 Director Of Systems Engineerings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $216,173.
  • California: $215,353.
  • Massachusetts: $212,483.

Top Paying Cities for Director Of Systems 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: $246,260
  • San Francisco: $243,564
  • Oakland: $238,431

What Skills Can Increase a Director Of Systems Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 16.12% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Food Service (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home.
  • Cardiac (Mentioned in 1.34% Job Postings): Cardiac means relating to the heart. The adjective cardiac is most often used in a medical context: a doctor who operates on people's hearts is a cardiac surgeon and an irregular heart beat is called "cardiac arrhythmia."
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 16.12%
Food Service 1.71%
Cardiac 1.34%
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 Director Of Systems Engineering's salary.
  • Cardiac: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cardiac
$220,625
13%
Products and Services
$214,767
10%
AWS
$212,815
9%
WAN
$210,862
8%
Clinical Leadership
$206,958
6%
Critical Thinking
$203,053
4%
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How Education impacts a Director Of Systems Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director Of Systems Engineerings 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 Director Of Systems Engineering with a No Diploma is between $186,129 and $204,670).

Director Of Systems Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director Of Systems Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 50.0%
High School 50.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 50.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Director Of Systems Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director Of Systems 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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Director Of Systems Engineering

Salaries for a Director Of Systems Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $187,805 in 2023 to around $182,047 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director Of Systems Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director Of Systems Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$187,805
2024
$183,987
2025
$182,047
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $187,805
2024 $183,987
2025 $182,047
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Director Of Systems Engineering

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Director Of Systems Engineering

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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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