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Senior Cost Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Cost Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Cost Engineer in the United States is $140,479 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $68.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $181,804
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $129,525 to $162,110
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $119,552
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Senior Cost Engineer Salaries

A Senior Cost 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 Senior Cost Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Cost 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): $57,098
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $79,044
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $87,797
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $136,530
  • Expert (over 8 years): $141,240
Levels Salary
Annuities... Level Senior Cost Engineer$57,098
Annuities... Level Senior Cost Engineer$79,044
Annuities... Level Senior Cost Engineer$87,797
Annuity S... Level Senior Cost Engineer$136,530
Senior Co... Level Senior Cost Engineer$141,240
View as Graph

How Do Senior Cost 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 Senior Cost Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $155,538.
  • California: $154,948.
  • Massachusetts: $152,883.

Top Paying Cities for Senior Cost 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: $177,186
  • San Francisco: $175,246
  • Oakland: $171,553

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Cost Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 8.17% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Oncology (Mentioned in 1.46% Job Postings): Designing, constructing, and repairing dental prosthetics and restorative and orthodontic devices to help patients correct dental conditions.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 8.17%
Oncology 1.46%
PowerPoint 1.18%
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 a Senior Cost Engineer's salary.

  • Client Relationship: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Salesforce: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Client Relationship $169,980
21%
Salesforce $169,980
21%
Innovation $165,765
18%
Get Latest Data

Senior Cost Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Cost Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Senior Cost Engineer positions in Insurance or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Cost Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Cost Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$210,718$101.050%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$147,503$71.05%

How Education impacts a Senior Cost Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Cost 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 Senior Cost Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $113,298 and $119,358).

Senior Cost Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Cost Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.8%
High School 9.5%
Associates 11.9%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 23.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Senior Cost Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Cost 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
$129,525
Average $140,479/year
$162,110
$10,794
Average $11,707/month
$13,509
$2,491
Average $2,702/week
$3,118
$62
Average $68/hour
$78
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $162,110 $13,509 $3,118 $78
Average $140,479 $11,707 $2,702 $68
25th Percentile $129,525 $10,794 $2,491 $62

Most common benefits for Senior Cost Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Senior Cost Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Senior Cost Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Senior Cost Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Cost Engineer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Cost 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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