What are the main factors that influence a Systems Design Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Systems Design Engineer's salary?

A Systems Design Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $84,221 for beginners, reaching about $87,089 at mid-level, and approach $87,773 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Systems Design Engineer?

Systems Design Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Systems Design Engineer roles are District of Columbia $93,249, California $92,895, Massachusetts $91,657. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Systems Design Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Systems Design Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Electronics Design Engineer III: $120,800; Electrical Design Engineer III: $120,770; Hardware Design Engineer III: $114,300; Senior Equipment Design Engineer: $109,400; Electronics Design Engineer II: $99,600.

How do different companies affect a Systems Design Engineer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Systems Design Engineer roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Systems Design Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems Design Engineer in the United States is $84,221 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,413
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,390 to $92,696
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,260

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered HR

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Systems Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$92,696	$7,725	$1,783	$45
Average	$84,221	$7,018	$1,620	$40
25th Percentile	$76,390	$6,366	$1,469	$37

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Systems Design Engineer Job Openings in the United States

Circuit Design Engineer IV Secret Clearance

Lockheed Martin - LOUVIERS, CO

AI Systems Engineer Stf

Lockheed Martin - MOORESTOWN, NJ

Sr Systems Engineer II

Exelon - KENNETT SQUARE, PA

Electrical Design Engineer

Constellation Energy - READING, PA

Search More Systems Design Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Systems Design Engineer Salaries

A Systems 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 Systems Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems 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): $84,221
Early Career (1-2 years): $85,038
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $87,089
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,499
Expert (over 8 years): $87,773

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Systems Design Engineer	$84,221
Intermediate Level Systems Design Engineer	$85,038
Senior Level Systems Design Engineer	$87,089
Specialist Level Systems Design Engineer	$87,499
Expert Level Systems Design Engineer	$87,773

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Systems 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 Systems Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $93,249.
California: $92,895.
Massachusetts: $91,657.

District of Columbia $93,249 California $92,895 Massachusetts $91,657 Washington $91,320 New Jersey $91,287 Alaska $91,169 Connecticut $90,006 New York $89,535

Hawaii $88,027 Rhode Island $87,320 Maryland $86,840 Minnesota $86,183 Colorado $85,930 Illinois $85,846 Oregon $85,526 Delaware $85,290

New Hampshire $85,142 Virginia $84,810 Pennsylvania $83,842 Nevada $83,353 North Dakota $83,193 Michigan $82,940 Wisconsin $82,848 Vermont $82,662

Texas $82,149 Maine $82,115 Arizona $82,064 Ohio $82,006 Georgia $81,231 Indiana $80,843 Wyoming $80,767 Utah $80,650

Iowa $80,599 Kansas $80,195 Louisiana $80,077 North Carolina $80,035 Missouri $80,018 Florida $79,689 Montana $79,513 Nebraska $79,344

Kentucky $79,251 South Carolina $78,915 Tennessee $78,704 Idaho $78,620 New Mexico $78,005 Oklahoma $77,870 Alabama $77,373 South Dakota $76,540

Arkansas $76,085 West Virginia $75,841 Mississippi $75,108

Top Paying Cities for Systems 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: $106,227
San Francisco: $105,183
Oakland: $102,850

San Jose, CA $106,227

San Francisco, CA $105,183

Oakland, CA $102,850

New York, NY $97,603

Queens Village, NY $96,971

Paramus, NJ $96,298

Passaic, NJ $96,213

Bergenfield, NJ $96,129

Stamford, CT $96,003

Huntington, NY $95,919

Newark, NJ $95,371

Bridgeport, CT $95,203

New Brunswick, NJ $94,925

Vallejo, CA $94,748

Middlesex, NJ $94,698

Somerset, NJ $94,622

Petaluma, CA $94,428

Santa Cruz, CA $94,100

Boston, MA $93,931

Monterey, CA $93,510

Fairbanks, AK $93,451

Los Angeles, CA $93,291

Washington, DC $93,249

Seattle, WA $93,097

Santa Rosa, CA $93,080

Juneau, AK $92,836

Orange, CA $92,558

Anchorage, AK $92,407

Anaheim, CA $92,348

Santa Ana, CA $92,221

Nassau, NY $92,171

Long Beach, CA $92,137

Danbury, CT $92,112

Santa Maria, CA $91,826

Everett, WA $91,809

Bremerton, WA $91,396

Trenton, NJ $91,236

Sacramento, CA $91,202

San Diego, CA $91,160

Brockton, MA $91,127

Tacoma, WA $91,093

Santa Barbara, CA $90,975

Lowell, MA $90,638

New Suffolk, NY $90,604

Nashua, NH $90,503

Lompoc, CA $90,369

Ventura, CA $90,284

Stockton, CA $90,259

New Haven, CT $90,091

Atlantic City, NJ $89,872

Hartford, CT $89,686

Modesto, CA $89,644

Poughkeepsie, NY $89,459

New Britain, CT $89,417

Olympia, WA $89,299

Kennewick, WA $89,299

New London, CT $89,282

Norwich, CT $89,257

Lawrence, MA $89,215

Bakersfield, CA $88,979

Riverside, CA $88,861

New Bedford, MA $88,861

Richland, WA $88,777

Portsmouth, NH $88,709

Vineland, NJ $88,693

San Bernardino, CA $88,625

Boulder, CO $88,389

Worcester, MA $88,322

Portland, OR $88,246

Saint Paul, MN $88,145

Minneapolis, MN $88,145

Philadelphia, PA $88,027

Honolulu, HI $87,581

Springfield, MA $87,286

Providence, RI $87,278

Chicago, IL $87,033

Bellingham, WA $86,932

Baltimore, MD $86,840

Chico, CA $86,629

Wilmington, DE $86,486

Pittsfield, MA $86,402

Manchester, NH $86,242

Spokane, WA $85,871

Denver, CO $85,863

Albany, NY $85,467

Troy, NY $85,433

Schenectady, NY $85,256

Burlington, VT $85,071

Portland, ME $84,776

Salem, OR $84,709

Yakima, WA $84,692

Ann Arbor, MI $84,667

Rochester, MN $84,431

Fresno, CA $84,389

Reno, NV $84,389

Milwaukee, WI $84,313

Detroit, MI $84,229

Allentown, PA $84,204

Carson City, NV $84,195

Houston, TX $84,069

Colorado Springs, CO $84,060

Syracuse, NY $84,018

Eugene, OR $83,858

Bismarck, ND $83,757

Gary, IN $83,757

Galveston, TX $83,757

Springfield, OR $83,690

Medford, OR $83,488

Fort Collins, CO $83,454

Austin, TX $83,387

Mesa, AZ $83,210

Phoenix, AZ $83,193

Dallas, TX $83,168

Reading, PA $83,117

Saint Cloud, MN $83,084

Concord, NH $83,008

Madison, WI $82,974

Utica, NY $82,747

Raleigh, NC $82,679

Las Vegas, NV $82,671

Rochester, NY $82,612

Des Moines, IA $82,603

Atlanta, GA $82,469

Battle Creek, MI $82,443

Salt Lake City, UT $82,418

Lancaster, PA $82,292

Champaign, IL $82,275

Harrisburg, PA $82,174

Durham, NC $82,098

Kansas City, MO $82,090

Kansas City, KS $82,073

Fort Worth, TX $82,064

Boca Raton, FL $82,031

Cleveland, OH $82,022

Columbus, OH $82,006

Pittsburgh, PA $81,997

Richmond, VA $81,963

Indianapolis, IN $81,947

Cincinnati, OH $81,837

Petersburg, VA $81,711

Billings, MT $81,525

Lansing, MI $81,525

Huntsville, AL $81,525

Lebanon, PA $81,517

Dayton, OH $81,509

Pueblo, CO $81,509

Appleton, WI $81,483

Buffalo, NY $81,450

Racine, WI $81,408

Charlotte, NC $81,399

Saint Louis, MO $81,374

Springfield, IL $81,340

Elkhart, IN $81,323

York, PA $81,323

Gastonia, NC $81,315

Benton Harbor, MI $81,315

Beaumont, TX $81,264

Lorain, OH $81,248

Toledo, OH $81,214

Binghamton, NY $81,172

Rock Hill, SC $81,163

Rockford, IL $81,121

Fargo, ND $81,079

Elyria, OH $81,079

Flagstaff, AZ $81,020

Fort Lauderdale, FL $80,970

Miami, FL $80,919

Duluth, MN $80,784

Bangor, ME $80,675

Cedar Rapids, IA $80,582

Louisville, KY $80,540

Grand Rapids, MI $80,523

Hialeah, FL $80,515

Casper, WY $80,397

Scranton, PA $80,296

New Orleans, LA $80,271

Virginia Beach, VA $80,262

Akron, OH $80,220

Peoria, IL $80,111

Sarasota, FL $80,094

Green Bay, WI $80,035

Baton Rouge, LA $79,993

Charleston, SC $79,976

Nashville, TN $79,951

Jamestown, NY $79,934

Davenport, IA $79,934

Tucson, AZ $79,892

Cheyenne, WY $79,866

Saint Petersburg, FL $79,841

Tampa, FL $79,824

Omaha, NE $79,807

Port Arthur, TX $79,774

Evansville, IN $79,774

Bradenton, FL $79,740

Santa Fe, NM $79,588

Orlando, FL $79,504

Clearwater, FL $79,412

Canton, OH $79,235

La Crosse, WI $79,235

Grand Forks, ND $79,209

Albuquerque, NM $79,184

Tulsa, OK $79,184

Newport News, VA $79,176

High Point, NC $79,150

Ogden, UT $79,117

Corpus Christi, TX $79,049

Laramie, WY $78,999

Norfolk, VA $78,999

Rock Island, IL $78,948

Saginaw, MI $78,931

Jacksonville, FL $78,923

Salisbury, NC $78,906

Memphis, TN $78,889

Moline, IL $78,847

Fort Myers, FL $78,822

Waterloo, IA $78,712

Spartanburg, SC $78,628

Lincoln, NE $78,586

Fort Wayne, IN $78,569

Birmingham, AL $78,477

Cedar Falls, IA $78,460

Provo, UT $78,451

Springfield, OH $78,443

San Antonio, TX $78,426

Greensboro, NC $78,392

South Bend, IN $78,384

Winston Salem, NC $78,376

Boise, ID $78,350

Savannah, GA $78,291

Muskegon, MI $78,140

Lima, OH $78,039

Lake Charles, LA $78,005

Anderson, IN $77,988

Lexington, KY $77,963

Augusta, GA $77,938

Greenville, SC $77,938

Wichita, KS $77,862

Tuscaloosa, AL $77,862

Columbia, SC $77,786

Bloomington, IN $77,576

Roanoke, VA $77,525

Asheville, NC $77,415

Knoxville, TN $77,272

Shreveport, LA $77,264

Wilmington, NC $77,154

Frankfort, KY $76,994

Oklahoma City, OK $76,935

Chillicothe, OH $76,902

Longview, TX $76,893

Topeka, KS $76,868

Mobile, AL $76,742

Terre Haute, IN $76,708

Erie, PA $76,700

Altoona, PA $76,657

Melbourne, FL $76,632

Amarillo, TX $76,599

Killeen, TX $76,573

Fayetteville, AR $76,506

Sioux Falls, SD $76,447

Chattanooga, TN $76,396

Idaho Falls, ID $76,388

Gainesville, FL $76,211

Portsmouth, OH $76,169

Little Rock, AR $76,152

Lynchburg, VA $76,152

Lafayette, LA $76,118

Youngstown, OH $76,118

Temple, TX $76,085

Daytona Beach, FL $76,068

Clarksville, TN $76,060

Pensacola, FL $76,051

Hopkinsville, KY $75,798

Charleston, WV $75,790

Florence, SC $75,748

Sioux City, IA $75,697

Macon, GA $75,453

Tallahassee, FL $75,445

Fayetteville, NC $75,428

Waco, TX $75,411

Wichita Falls, TX $75,411

Pine Bluff, AR $75,377

Vincennes, IN $75,217

Lubbock, TX $75,184

Great Falls, MT $75,133

Alamogordo, NM $75,125

Abilene, TX $75,057

Rapid City, SD $74,948

Monroe, LA $74,948

Albany, GA $74,897

Huntington, WV $74,889

Jackson, MS $74,880

Greenville, MS $74,872

Parkersburg, WV $74,788

Montgomery, AL $74,771

Johnstown, PA $74,754

Springfield, MO $74,687

Biloxi, MS $74,645

Sumter, SC $74,468

Columbus, GA $74,459

Twin Falls, ID $74,409

Pascagoula, MS $74,299

Kingsport, TN $74,080

Gulfport, MS $74,055

Alexandria, LA $73,777

Fort Smith, AR $73,567

El Paso, TX $73,339

Helena, MT $73,230

Las Cruces, NM $72,960

Harlingen, TX $72,724

Pocatello, ID $72,649

Florence, AL $72,623

Brownsville, TX $72,606

Dothan, AL $72,472

Mcallen, TX $72,430

Columbus, MS $71,806

Altus, OK $71,419

Lawton, OK $71,259

Pierre, SD $70,956

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 7.02% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Azure (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Microsoft Azure, often referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing service operated by Microsoft for application management via Microsoft-managed data centers.
Cisco (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): Cisco Systems, Inc., commonly known as Cisco, is an American-based multinational technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	7.02%
Azure	2.71%
Cisco	1.62%

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 Systems Design Engineer's salary.

IT Infrastructure: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Python: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
IT Infrastructure	$92,643	10%
Python	$92,643	10%
AWS	$92,643	10%
Risk Management	$92,643	10%
Team Development	$91,800	9%
Collaboration	$91,800	9%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Systems Design Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Systems Design Engineers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Systems Design Engineer with a No Diploma is between $68,885 and $75,174).

Systems Design Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Systems Design Engineer

No Diploma 1.3%

High School 14.3%

Associates 10.4%

Bachelors 61.0%

Masters 13.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	1.3%
High School	14.3%
Associates	10.4%
Bachelors	61.0%
Masters	13.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

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

Understanding how a Systems 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 January 01, 2026

$76,390

Average $84,221/year

$92,696

$6,366

Average $7,018/month

$7,725

$1,469

Average $1,620/week

$1,783

$37

Average $40/hour

$45

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$92,696	$7,725	$1,783	$45
Average	$84,221	$7,018	$1,620	$40
25th Percentile	$76,390	$6,366	$1,469	$37

Salaries of jobs related to Systems Design Engineer

Salary Trends for Systems Design Engineer

Salaries for a Systems Design Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $85,573 in 2023 to around $85,347 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Systems Design Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Systems Design Engineer Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$85,573

2024

$85,851

2025

$85,347

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$85,573
2024	$85,851
2025	$85,347
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Systems Design Engineer

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Systems Design Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Systems Design Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

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.

For Employers

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.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about