Licensed Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Engineer in the United States is $81,642 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,579
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,514 to $87,367
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,935
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View as table View as graph 25% $75,514 10% $69,935 90% $92,579 75% $87,367 $81,642 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Licensed Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $87,367 $7,281 $1,680 $42
Average $81,642 $6,804 $1,570 $39
25th Percentile $75,514 $6,293 $1,452 $36
Check out Licensed Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Licensed Engineer Salaries

A Licensed 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 Licensed Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed 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): $81,221
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,928
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,905
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,902
  • Expert (over 8 years): $164,999
Levels Salary
Licensed ... Level Licensed Engineer$81,221
Engineer ... Level Licensed Engineer$93,928
Engineer ... Level Licensed Engineer$112,905
Engineer ... Level Licensed Engineer$142,902
Engineer ... Level Licensed Engineer$164,999
$81,221 0 yr
$93,928 < 2 yrs
$112,905 2-4 yrs
$142,902 5-8 yrs
$164,999 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Licensed 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: $102,975
  • San Francisco: $101,848
  • Oakland: $99,702

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.26% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Carpentry (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters traditionally worked with natural wood and did the rougher work such as framing, but today many other materials are also used and sometimes the finer trades of cabinetmaking and furniture building are considered carpentry. In the United States, 98.5% of carpenters are male, and it was the fourth most male-dominated occupation in the country in 1999. In 2006 in the United States, there were about 1.5 million carpentry positions. Carpenters are usually the first tradesmen on a job and the last to leave. Carpenters normally framed post-and-beam buildings until the end of the 19th century; now this old fashioned carpentry is called timber framing. Carpenters learn this trade by being employed through an apprenticeship training—normally 4 years—and qualify by successfully completing that country's competence test in places such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. It is also common that the skill can be learned by gaining work experience other than a formal training program, which may be the case in many places.
  • Python (Mentioned in 1.69% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.26%
Carpentry 2.27%
Python 1.69%
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 Licensed Engineer's salary.
  • JavaScript: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • API: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
JavaScript
$90,623
11%
AWS
$90,623
11%
API
$89,807
10%
Python
$88,990
9%
Linux
$88,990
9%
Java
$88,990
9%
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Licensed Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Licensed Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Licensed Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Licensed Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$102,053$49.025%
Energy & Utilities$97,971$47.020%
Aerospace & Defense$93,889$45.015%
Internet$93,889$45.015%
Chemicals$89,807$43.010%

How Education impacts a Licensed Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Licensed 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 Licensed Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $73,281 and $76,434).

Licensed Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Licensed Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 5.4%
Associates 6.4%
Bachelors 57.2%
Masters 26.5%
Doctorate 3.9%
view as graph

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

Understanding how a Licensed 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

Salary Trends for Licensed Engineer

Salaries for a Licensed Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $83,055 in 2023 to around $81,361 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Licensed Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$83,055
2024
$82,759
2025
$81,361
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $83,055
2024 $82,759
2025 $81,361
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Licensed Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Licensed Engineer Job

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

United States
  • AMN Healthcare, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    AMN Healthcare, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Job Description & Requirements Gastroenterology Physician StartDate: ASAP Available Shifts: 32 Days of Paid Time Off A nationally recognized organization c... more

    3 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    6 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    7 Days Ago

  • The Curare Group, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Hospital is seeking a Board Certified/Board Eligible Pediatrician to join a well-respected and growing practice located an hour from Columbus. Only Pediatr... more

    7 Days Ago

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FAQ about Licensed Engineer

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Licensed Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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