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Entry Level Design Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Level Design Engineer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Design Engineer in the United States is $118,222 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

However, an Entry Level Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $140,305
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $106,941 to $129,781
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,670
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Entry Level Design Engineer Salaries

An Entry Level Design 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 Entry Level Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Level Design 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): $78,879
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,131
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $119,005
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $98,624
  • Expert (over 8 years): $132,278
Levels Salary
Sales Ana... Level Entry Level Design Engineer$78,879
Sales Ana... Level Entry Level Design Engineer$95,131
Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Design Engineer$119,005
Sales Ana... Level Entry Level Design Engineer$98,624
Sales Ana... Level Entry Level Design Engineer$132,278
View as Graph

How Do Entry Level Design Engineer 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 Entry Level Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $130,895.
  • California: $130,399.
  • Massachusetts: $128,661.

Top Paying Cities for Entry Level Design 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: $149,113
  • San Francisco: $147,481
  • Oakland: $144,373

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Level Design Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 17.05% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Sales Support (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): The tasks, roles, and technology that exist within our organization to help our sales force close deals.
  • Tableau (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Using business intelligence software to perform data analysis, data visualization, and the BI process of an organization.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 17.05%
Sales Support 2.07%
Tableau 1.27%
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 Entry Level Design Engineer's salary.

  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Sales Support: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination $139,502
18%
Sales Support $138,320
17%
Team Management $137,138
16%
Get Latest Data

Entry Level Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Level Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Entry Level Design Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Level Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Entry Level Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$177,333$85.050%

How Education impacts an Entry Level Design Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Level Design Engineers 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 Entry Level Design Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $119,268 and $127,678).

Entry Level Design Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Level Design Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 0.9%
Associates 4.7%
Bachelors 49.5%
Masters 42.1%
Doctorate 1.9%
View as Graph

Entry Level Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Level Design 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 October 01, 2026
$106,941
Average $118,222/year
$129,781
$8,912
Average $9,852/month
$10,815
$2,057
Average $2,274/week
$2,496
$51
Average $57/hour
$62
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $129,781 $10,815 $2,496 $62
Average $118,222 $9,852 $2,274 $57
25th Percentile $106,941 $8,912 $2,057 $51

Most common benefits for Entry Level Design Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Entry Level Design Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Entry Level Design Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Entry Level Design Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Level Design Engineer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Level Design Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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