As of May 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Philadelphia, PA is $309,049, equivalent to $149 per hour, $5,943 weekly, or $25,754 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Philadelphia, PA vary widely, spanning from $253,005 to $345,844. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($279,714) and 75th percentile ($328,309), while top earners (90th percentile) make $345,844 per year. This $48,595 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Philadelphia Chief Engineer often earn 4.8% higher than national averages. However, Philadelphia currently ranks 225 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $253,005 Philadelphia, PA May 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $279,714 Philadelphia, PA May 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $309,049 Philadelphia, PA May 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $328,309 Philadelphia, PA May 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $345,844 Philadelphia, PA May 01, 2026
25% $279,714 10% $253,005 90% $345,844 75% $328,309 $309,049 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Chief Engineer

Cushman & Wakefield - Philadelphia, PA

Chief Engineer

ABM - Philadelphia, PA

Chief Engineer

ZMC Hotels - Homestead, PA

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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Philadelphia, PA

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Chief Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
279714
328309
309049

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
364909
507900
426785
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chief Engineer in Philadelphia, PA. The base salary for Chief Engineer ranges from $279,714 to $328,309 with the average base salary of $309,049. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $364,909 to $507,900 with the average total cash compensation of $426,785.

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279714
328309

 

About Philadelphia, Pennsylvania    Philadelphia, sometimes known colloquially as Philly, is the largest city in the U.S. state and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most popul....More

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  area prices were up 1.0% from a year ago

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