Compressor Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Compressor Engineer in the United States is $78,288 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,013
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,304 to $84,949
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,766

Key Factors That Influence Compressor Engineer Salaries

A Compressor 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 Compressor Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Compressor 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): $77,799
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $91,740
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,021
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,329
  • Expert (over 8 years): $145,352
Levels Salary
Compresso... Level Compressor Engineer$77,799
Mechanica... Level Compressor Engineer$91,740
Mechanica... Level Compressor Engineer$106,021
Mechanica... Level Compressor Engineer$126,329
Mechanica... Level Compressor Engineer$145,352

How Do Compressor 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 Compressor Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $86,681.
  • California: $86,352.
  • Massachusetts: $85,201.

Top Paying Cities for Compressor 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: $98,745
  • San Francisco: $97,664
  • Oakland: $95,606

What Skills Can Increase a Compressor Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.4% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 2.53% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 1.76% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.4%
Hydraulics 2.53%
Installation 1.76%

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 Compressor Engineer's salary.

  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Algorithms: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Vision $85,334
9%
Algorithms $84,551
8%
Artificial Intelligence $84,551
8%

Compressor Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Compressor Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Compressor Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Compressor Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Compressor Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$105,689$51.035%
Internet$101,775$49.030%
Biotechnology$97,860$47.025%
Financial Services$93,946$45.020%
Pharmaceuticals$90,032$43.015%

How Education impacts a Compressor Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Compressor Engineers enter the field with a Associate'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 Compressor Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $75,071 and $78,478).

Compressor Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Compressor Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 1.2%
Associates 2.3%
Bachelors 68.5%
Masters 25.1%
Doctorate 2.8%

Compressor Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Compressor 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 September 01, 2026
$73,304
Average $78,288/year
$84,949
$6,109
Average $6,524/month
$7,079
$1,410
Average $1,506/week
$1,634
$35
Average $38/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $84,949 $7,079 $1,634 $41
Average $78,288 $6,524 $1,506 $38
25th Percentile $73,304 $6,109 $1,410 $35

Most common benefits for Compressor Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Compressor Engineer

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

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FAQ about Compressor Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Compressor Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Compressor Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 35% above the market median.

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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