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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Design Engineer in California is $152,855 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.
However, a Lead Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Lead Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $165,720 | $13,810 | $3,187 | $80 |
| Average | $152,855 | $12,738 | $2,940 | $73 |
| 25th Percentile | $138,945 | $11,579 | $2,672 | $67 |
AdAstra - San Francisco, CA
ISAT Total Support - Fremont, CA
The Hiring Method, LLC - Fremont, CA
Zipline - South San Francisco, CA
A Lead Design 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Design 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Product D... Level Lead Design Engineer | $99,525 |
| Product D... Level Lead Design Engineer | $124,411 |
| Lead Desi... Level Lead Design Engineer | $151,909 |
| Product D... Level Lead Design Engineer | $177,959 |
| Product D... Level Lead Design Engineer | $162,885 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Lead Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Lead Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 46% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Insurance and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Lead Design Engineer positions in Transportation or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | $180,369 | $87.0 | 18% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $175,783 | $85.0 | 15% |
| Business Services | $175,783 | $85.0 | 15% |
| Biotechnology | $168,140 | $81.0 | 10% |
| Media | $168,140 | $81.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Lead Design 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $165,720 | $13,810 | $3,187 | $80 |
| Average | $152,855 | $12,738 | $2,940 | $73 |
| 25th Percentile | $138,945 | $11,579 | $2,672 | $67 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Design Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Cerebras Systems
Sunnyvale, CA
Cerebras Systems | Sunnyvale, CA
A leading AI hardware company in Sunnyvale, California is looking for a lead front-end design engineer. In this role, you will focus on chip design and col... more
4 Days Ago
Metriport
San Francisco, CA
Metriport | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. About Us. Medical data exchange is one of the biggest unsolved problems in US healthcare. If you've spent any real time i... more
2 Days Ago
Innogrit
San Jose, CA
Innogrit | San Jose, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Salary: DOE. Job description. Contribute to micro-architecture designs for state-of-the-art high-speed low-power digital ... more
2 Days Ago
Sandis
Campbell, CA
Sandis | Campbell, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our team in Campbell, CA. Our ideal candidate has experience wi... more
2 Days Ago
Higher Talent Group LLC
Irvine, CA
Higher Talent Group LLC | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Design Engineer – Irvine, California. . . About our Client. Our Client is a global provider within a wide range of areas,... more
3 Days Ago
Sandis
Roseville, CA
Sandis | Roseville, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our growing team in Roseville, CA. Our ideal candidate has expe... more
4 Days Ago
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