Associate Project Engineer Salary in Foothill Ranch, CA

How much does an Associate Project Engineer make in Foothill Ranch, CA?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Project Engineer in Foothill Ranch, CA is $95,301 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

However, an Associate Project Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,274
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,945 to $104,185
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,427
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $85,945 10% $77,427 90% $112,274 75% $104,185 $95,301 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Project Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $104,185 $8,682 $2,004 $50
Average $95,301 $7,942 $1,833 $46
25th Percentile $85,945 $7,162 $1,653 $41
Check out Associate Project Engineer Job Openings in Foothill Ranch, CA
Server Cashier

U KATSU - Foothill Ranch, CA

Manufacturing Production Associate

Adecco USA, Inc. - Foothill Ranch, CA

Vice President Corporate Controller

Confidential - Foothill Ranch, CA

Service Coordinator

Aston Carter - Foothill Ranch, CA

Search More Associate Project Engineer Jobs in Foothill Ranch, CA

Key Factors That Influence Associate Project Engineer Salaries

An Associate Project 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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Associate Project Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Project 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): $94,647
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $107,788
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $128,484
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $146,967
  • Expert (over 8 years): $172,458
Levels Salary
Associate... Level Associate Project Engineer$94,647
Project E... Level Associate Project Engineer$107,788
Project E... Level Associate Project Engineer$128,484
Project E... Level Associate Project Engineer$146,967
Project E... Level Associate Project Engineer$172,458
$94,647 0 yr
$107,788 < 2 yrs
$128,484 2-4 yrs
$146,967 5-8 yrs
$172,458 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Associate Project 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: $110,144
  • San Francisco: $108,938
  • Oakland: $106,643

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Project Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 7.18% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Cost Control (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
  • Project Engineering (Mentioned in 1.17% Job Postings): Project engineering includes all parts of the design of manufacturing or processing facilities, either new or modifications to and expansions of existing facilities. A "project" consists of a coordinated series of activities or tasks performed by engineers, designers, drafters and others from one or more engineering disciplines or departments. Project tasks consist of such things as performing calculations, writing specifications, preparing bids, reviewing equipment proposals and evaluating or selecting equipment and preparing various lists, such as equipment and materials lists, and creating drawings such as electrical, piping and instrumentation diagrams, physical layouts and other drawings used in design and construction. A small project may be under the direction of a project engineer. Large projects are typically under the direction of a project manager or management team. Some facilities have in house staff to handle small projects, while some major companies have a department that does internal project engineering. Large projects are typically contracted out to engineering companies. Staffing at engineering companies varies according to the work load and duration of employment may only last until an individual's tasks are completed.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 7.18%
Cost Control 1.97%
Project Engineering 1.17%
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 an Associate Project Engineer's salary.
  • Earned Value Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Land Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Earned Value Management
$101,019
6%
Land Development
$100,066
5%
Consulting
$100,066
5%
Budgeting
$100,066
5%
Civil Engineering
$99,113
4%
AutoCAD
$98,160
3%
Get Latest Data

Associate Project Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Project Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Associate Project Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Project Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Project Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$123,891$60.030%
Software & Networking$123,891$60.030%
Financial Services$119,126$57.025%
Energy & Utilities$114,361$55.020%
Internet$114,361$55.020%

Associate Project Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Project 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 August 01, 2026

Find Your Next Associate Project Engineer Job

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

United States
  • Extended Stay America

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Extended Stay America | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Guest Services RepresentativeThe Guest Services Representative (GSR) position must demonstrate and promote a strong commitment to providing the best possib... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Courtyard by Marriott

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Courtyard by Marriott | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Courtyard by Marriott - JobID:F0831530E89AE3D20A95FDB60016C4AF Front Desk Agent / Concierge As a Guest Service Expert at Courtyard by Marriott, you'll:Gree... more

    6 Days Ago

  • LHH

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    LHH | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Payroll & HR SpecialistLHH is seeking an experienced, independent Payroll & HR Specialist to manage full-cycle payroll and support core HR functions for a ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Hoag Health System

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Hoag Health System | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Front Office AssistantThe Front Office Assistant performs a variety of clerical duties and front office operations in support of the patient care activitie... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Sharkey's Cuts for Kids

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Sharkey's Cuts for Kids | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Sharkey's Cuts for KidsSharkey's Cuts for Kids, Lake Forest is a children's salon. If you are a highly motivated individual with high energy, Sharkey's Cut... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Brennan Industries

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Brennan Industries | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Technical Customer Service RepresentativeThe OEM Customer Service Representative serves as the primary point of contact for OEM customers in the industrial... more

    6 Days Ago

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.

Cost of Living In Foothill Ranch, CA

Cost of Living in Foothill Ranch, CA is
42.5% Higher
than the National Average

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 Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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 CompAnalyst