Combat Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Combat Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Combat Engineer in the United States is $108,597 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $121,815
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,465 to $115,516
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,972
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View as table View as graph 25% $101,465 10% $94,972 90% $121,815 75% $115,516 $108,597 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Combat Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $115,516 $9,626 $2,221 $56
Average $108,597 $9,050 $2,088 $52
25th Percentile $101,465 $8,455 $1,951 $49
Check out Combat Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Junior Combat Systems Engineer

Decision Technologies Inc - DAHLGREN, VA

Senior Navy Combat Systems Engineer

ELS Inc - WASHINGTON, DC

AEGIS Mid or Jr Engineer Combat Sys Eng or Ship Integration

International Systems Management Corp. - WASHINGTON, DC

DOD Secret Naval Combat Systems Engineer

Associates Systems LLC - GEORGE, VA

Search More Combat Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Combat Engineer Salaries

A Combat 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 Combat Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Combat 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): $104,831
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,374
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,460
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,123
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,955
Levels Salary
Entry Level Combat Engineer$104,831
Intermediate Level Combat Engineer$105,374
Senior Level Combat Engineer$106,460
Specialist Level Combat Engineer$110,123
Expert Level Combat Engineer$111,955
$104,831 0 yr
$105,374 < 2 yrs
$106,460 2-4 yrs
$110,123 5-8 yrs
$111,955 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Combat 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: $136,973
  • San Francisco: $135,627
  • Oakland: $132,619

What Skills Can Increase a Combat Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • API (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): An application programming interface is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software.
  • Java (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Using Java in the development and maintenance of application programs and systems.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.08%
API 2.09%
Java 1.71%
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 Combat Engineer's salary.
  • DevOps: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • JavaScript: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Test Automation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
DevOps
$119,457
10%
JavaScript
$117,285
8%
Test Automation
$116,199
7%
AWS
$116,199
7%
Java
$115,113
6%
Team Development
$115,113
6%
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How Education impacts a Combat Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Combat Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Combat Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $105,951 and $111,242).

Combat Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Combat Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.6%
Associates 3.5%
Bachelors 36.5%
Masters 41.6%
Doctorate 15.5%
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Combat Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Combat 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

Salary Trends for Combat Engineer

Salaries for a Combat Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $115,055 in 2023 to around $113,965 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Combat Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Combat Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$115,055
2024
$115,209
2025
$113,965
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $115,055
2024 $115,209
2025 $113,965
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Combat Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Combat Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Combat Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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

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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.

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