How Much Does a Chief Engineer Make in Watertown, SD ? (2026 Salary Guide)

Chief Engineer Salary in Watertown, SD

As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Watertown, SD is $264,415, equivalent to $127 per hour, $5,085 weekly, or $22,035 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Watertown, SD vary widely, spanning from $217,883 to $295,717. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($240,058) and 75th percentile ($280,800), while top earners (90th percentile) make $295,717 per year. This $40,742 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, Watertown Chief Engineer often earn 1.8% lower than national averages. However, Watertown currently ranks 750 statewide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

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Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $217,883 Watertown, SD April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $240,058 Watertown, SD April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $264,415 Watertown, SD April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $280,800 Watertown, SD April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $295,717 Watertown, SD April 01, 2026
25% $240,058 10% $217,883 90% $295,717 75% $280,800 $264,415 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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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 Watertown, SD

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    VP of Engineering


    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Chief Engineer


    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Chief Engineering Officer


    Master's Degree or MBA

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

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
240058
280800
264415

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
311468
433524
364282
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Chief Engineer in Watertown, SD. The base salary for Chief Engineer ranges from $240,058 to $280,800 with the average base salary of $264,415. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $311,468 to $433,524 with the average total cash compensation of $364,282.

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240058
280800

 

About Watertown, South Dakota    Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is the f....More

Watertown, South Dakota  area prices were up 0.8% from a year ago

Chief Engineer Salary in popular cities: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen

Recently searched related titles: Vice President Engineering, Vp Engineering, Senior Vice President Engineering

Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role

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