Satellite Systems Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Satellite Systems Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Satellite Systems Engineer in the United States is $89,310 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

However, a Satellite Systems Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,550
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $78,154 to $96,764
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,998

Key Factors That Influence Satellite Systems Engineer Salaries

A Satellite Systems 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 Satellite Systems Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Satellite Systems 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): $79,420
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,084
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,616
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,507
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,080
Levels Salary
Product D... Level Satellite Systems Engineer$79,420
Satellite... Level Satellite Systems Engineer$90,084
Product D... Level Satellite Systems Engineer$112,616
Product D... Level Satellite Systems Engineer$137,507
Product D... Level Satellite Systems Engineer$161,080

Top Paying Cities for Satellite Systems 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: $112,646
  • San Francisco: $111,413
  • Oakland: $109,065

What Skills Can Increase a Satellite Systems Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 4.33% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 2.55% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Design Thinking (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Developing software solutions to understand and target customer needs in a repetitive process.
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 4.33%
Agile 2.55%
Design Thinking 1.75%

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 Satellite Systems Engineer's salary.

  • Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Product Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Information Architecture: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Storytelling $97,348
9%
Product Strategy $97,348
9%
Information Architecture $97,348
9%

Satellite Systems Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Satellite Systems Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Hospitality & Leisure and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Satellite Systems Engineer positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Satellite Systems Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Satellite Systems Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$125,034$60.040%
Construction$116,103$56.030%
Internet$111,637$54.025%
Aerospace & Defense$107,172$52.020%
MFG Durable$102,706$49.015%

How Education impacts a Satellite Systems Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Satellite Systems 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 Satellite Systems Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $88,377 and $92,682).

Satellite Systems Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Satellite Systems Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 4.4%
Associates 7.7%
Bachelors 51.7%
Masters 31.5%
Doctorate 4.4%

Satellite Systems Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Satellite Systems 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
$78,154
Average $89,310/year
$96,764
$6,513
Average $7,442/month
$8,064
$1,503
Average $1,717/week
$1,861
$38
Average $43/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $96,764 $8,064 $1,861 $47
Average $89,310 $7,442 $1,717 $43
25th Percentile $78,154 $6,513 $1,503 $38

Most common benefits for Satellite Systems Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Satellite Systems Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Satellite Systems Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Satellite Systems Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Satellite Systems Engineer?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Satellite Systems Engineer 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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