Engineering Trainee Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineering Trainee in the United States is $59,312 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,038
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,978 to $65,973
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,300
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View as table View as graph 25% $51,978 10% $45,300 90% $72,038 75% $65,973 $59,312 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Engineering Trainee Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $65,973 $5,498 $1,269 $32
Average $59,312 $4,943 $1,141 $29
25th Percentile $51,978 $4,331 $1,000 $25
Check out Engineering Trainee Job Openings in the United States
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Marvin - GRAND FORKS, ND

Manufacturing Engineering Technician

Marvin - SIOUX FALLS, SD

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Key Factors That Influence Engineering Trainee Salaries

An Engineering Trainee'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 Trainee Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineering Trainee'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): $57,580
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $57,784
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $59,821
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,473
  • Expert (over 8 years): $63,534
Levels Salary
Entry Level Engineering Trainee$57,580
Intermediate Level Engineering Trainee$57,784
Senior Level Engineering Trainee$59,821
Specialist Level Engineering Trainee$62,473
Expert Level Engineering Trainee$63,534
$57,580 0 yr
$57,784 < 2 yrs
$59,821 2-4 yrs
$62,473 5-8 yrs
$63,534 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Engineering Trainee 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 Trainees. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $65,670.
  • California: $65,421.
  • Massachusetts: $64,549.

Top Paying Cities for Engineering Trainees

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: $74,810
  • San Francisco: $74,075
  • Oakland: $72,432

What Skills Can Increase an Engineering Trainee's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 7.01% 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.
  • Schematic (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.
  • Land Surveying (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): Gathering details through observations, measurements in the field, and data analysis to identify existing conditions and boundaries of a property.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 7.01%
Schematic 3.03%
Land Surveying 1.77%
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 Trainee's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Design Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
 $64,057
8%
Design Engineering
 $63,464
7%
Time Management
 $62,871
6%
Written Communication
 $62,277
5%
Leadership
 $62,277
5%
Analysis
 $62,277
5%
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How Education impacts an Engineering Trainee's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineering Trainees 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 an Engineering Trainee with a No Diploma is between $56,770 and $60,254).

Engineering Trainee Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineering Trainee
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.8%
High School 30.2%
Associates 43.4%
Bachelors 20.8%
Masters 1.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Engineering Trainee Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineering Trainee'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$51,978
Average $59,312/year
$65,973
$4,331
Average $4,943/month
$5,498
$1,000
Average $1,141/week
$1,269
$25
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $65,973 $5,498 $1,269 $32
Average $59,312 $4,943 $1,141 $29
25th Percentile $51,978 $4,331 $1,000 $25

Salaries of jobs related to Engineering Trainee

Salary Trends for Engineering Trainee

Salaries for an Engineering Trainee can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,438 in 2023 to around $53,971 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Engineering Trainee salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Engineering Trainee Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,438
2024
$54,358
2025
$53,971
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,438
2024 $54,358
2025 $53,971
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Engineering Trainee

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

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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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