Power System Protection Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Power System Protection Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Power System Protection Engineer in the United States is $121,240 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

However, a Power System Protection Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $138,084
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $112,533 to $130,057
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $104,606

Key Factors That Influence Power System Protection Engineer Salaries

A Power System Protection 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 Power System Protection Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Power System Protection 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): $82,640
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $100,170
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $121,845
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $145,079
  • Expert (over 8 years): $168,298
Levels Salary
Electrica... Level Power System Protection Engineer$82,640
Electrica... Level Power System Protection Engineer$100,170
Power Sys... Level Power System Protection Engineer$121,845
Electrica... Level Power System Protection Engineer$145,079
Electrica... Level Power System Protection Engineer$168,298

How Do Power System Protection 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 Power System Protection Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $134,237.
  • California: $133,728.
  • Massachusetts: $131,945.

Top Paying Cities for Power System Protection 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: $152,920
  • San Francisco: $151,246
  • Oakland: $148,058

What Skills Can Increase a Power System Protection Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.98% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 2.94% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.98%
Installation 2.94%
CAD 1.59%

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 Power System Protection Engineer's salary.

  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Circuit Design: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • PCB Design: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping $126,090
4%
Circuit Design $124,877
3%
PCB Design $124,877
3%

Power System Protection Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Power System Protection Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Power System Protection Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Power System Protection Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Power System Protection Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$145,488$70.020%
Healthcare$139,426$67.015%
Biotechnology$133,364$64.010%
Insurance$133,364$64.010%
Pharmaceuticals$133,364$64.010%

How Education impacts a Power System Protection Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Power System Protection 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 a Power System Protection Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $112,142 and $117,402).

Power System Protection Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Power System Protection Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 0.3%
Associates 1.2%
Bachelors 43.2%
Masters 41.0%
Doctorate 14.2%

Power System Protection Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Power System Protection 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 September 01, 2026
$112,533
Average $121,240/year
$130,057
$9,378
Average $10,103/month
$10,838
$2,164
Average $2,332/week
$2,501
$54
Average $58/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $130,057 $10,838 $2,501 $63
Average $121,240 $10,103 $2,332 $58
25th Percentile $112,533 $9,378 $2,164 $54

Most common benefits for Power System Protection Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Power System Protection Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Power System Protection Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Power System Protection Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Power System Protection Engineer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Power System Protection Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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