Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a System Engineering Manager in Iowa is $145,318 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.
However, a System Engineering Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
System Engineering Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $157,599 | $13,133 | $3,031 | $76 |
| Average | $145,318 | $12,110 | $2,795 | $70 |
| 25th Percentile | $134,522 | $11,210 | $2,587 | $65 |
PMX Industries Inc. - Cedar Rapids, IA
Nova Talent Solutions - Ames, IA
Zobility - Holstein, IA
Vanguard - Charlotte, IA
A System Engineering Manager'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a System Engineering Manager'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Software ... Level System Engineering Manager | $160,004 |
| Software ... Level System Engineering Manager | $134,824 |
| System En... Level System Engineering Manager | $146,067 |
| Software ... Level System Engineering Manager | $164,361 |
| Software ... Level System Engineering Manager | $187,569 |
What Am I Worth?
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 System Engineering Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For System Engineering Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, System Engineering Manager positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view System Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $188,913 | $91.0 | 30% |
| Energy & Utilities | $174,381 | $84.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $174,381 | $84.0 | 20% |
| Software & Networking | $174,381 | $84.0 | 20% |
| Internet | $159,849 | $77.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a System Engineering Manager'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $157,599 | $13,133 | $3,031 | $76 |
| Average | $145,318 | $12,110 | $2,795 | $70 |
| 25th Percentile | $134,522 | $11,210 | $2,587 | $65 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current System Engineering Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Constellation Energy
Eldridge, IA
Constellation Energy | Eldridge, IA
Who We Are As the largest private-sector power producer in the world and the nation's largest producer of clean and reliable energy, Constellation is focus... more
3 Days Ago
TIG Distributing Inc
Marshalltown, IA
TIG Distributing Inc | Marshalltown, IA
Job Description. Job Description. Description. Job Summary. The Quality Engineering Manager is responsible for managing quality, design, continuous improve... more
7 Days Ago
Olsson
Cedar Rapids, IA
Olsson | Cedar Rapids, IA
Job Description. Job Description. Company Description. We are Olsson. We engineer and design solutions that improve the world around us. As a company, we p... more
6 Days Ago
Global Recruitment Solutions
Storm Lake, IA
Global Recruitment Solutions | Storm Lake, IA
About the job Plant Maintenance & Engineering ManagerThe Plant Maintenance & Engineering Manager is responsible for leading all maintenance, engineering, a... more
7 Days Ago
Adams Thermal Systems
LARCHWOOD, IA
Adams Thermal Systems | LARCHWOOD, IA
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF POSITION. Responsible for the operation of the Engineering Test Lab, including. completion of engineering tests, maintenance and cali... more
21 Days Ago
Adams Thermal Systems
ALVORD, IA
Adams Thermal Systems | ALVORD, IA
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF POSITION. Responsible for the operation of the Engineering Test Lab, including. completion of engineering tests, maintenance and cali... more
21 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
