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Engineering Professional Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineering Professional make in the United States?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineering Professional in the United States is $107,962 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $120,342
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $100,135 to $114,442
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $93,009
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs
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Key Factors That Influence Engineering Professional Salaries

An Engineering Professional'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 Engineering Professional Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineering Professional'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): $78,057
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,268
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $108,506
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,360
  • Expert (over 8 years): $158,577
Levels Salary
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professional$78,057
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professional$90,268
Engineeri... Level Engineering Professional$108,506
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professional$137,360
Engineer ... Level Engineering Professional$158,577
View as Graph

How Do Engineering Professional 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 Engineering Professionals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $119,536.
  • California: $119,082.
  • Massachusetts: $117,495.

Top Paying Cities for Engineering Professionals

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: $136,172
  • San Francisco: $134,682
  • Oakland: $131,843

What Skills Can Increase an Engineering Professional's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • API (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): An application programming interface is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software.
  • Java (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Using Java in the development and maintenance of application programs and systems.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.08%
API 2.09%
Java 1.71%
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 an Engineering Professional's salary.

  • DevOps: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • JavaScript: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Test Automation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
DevOps $118,758
10%
JavaScript $116,599
8%
Test Automation $115,519
7%
Get Latest Data

Engineering Professional Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Engineering Professional roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Engineering Professional positions in Financial Services or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Engineering Professional as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Engineering Professional

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$151,147$73.040%
Aerospace & Defense$140,351$67.030%
Media$131,714$63.022%
Healthcare$129,554$62.020%
Retail & Wholesale$125,236$60.016%

How Education impacts an Engineering Professional's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineering Professionals enter the field with a Bachelor'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 an Engineering Professional with a Bachelor's Degree is between $105,951 and $111,242).

Engineering Professional Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineering Professional
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.6%
Associates 3.5%
Bachelors 36.5%
Masters 41.6%
Doctorate 15.5%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Engineering Professional'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 November 01, 2026
$100,135
Average $107,962/year
$114,442
$8,345
Average $8,997/month
$9,537
$1,926
Average $2,076/week
$2,201
$48
Average $52/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $114,442 $9,537 $2,201 $55
Average $107,962 $8,997 $2,076 $52
25th Percentile $100,135 $8,345 $1,926 $48

Most common benefits for Engineering Professional

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

Common company salaries for Engineering Professional

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

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FAQ about Engineering Professional

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

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Engineering Professional roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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