Proposal Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Proposal Engineer in the United States is $86,596 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,898
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,732 to $96,699
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,661
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View as table View as graph 25% $77,732 10% $69,661 90% $105,898 75% $96,699 $86,596 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Proposal Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $96,699 $8,058 $1,860 $46
Average $86,596 $7,216 $1,665 $42
25th Percentile $77,732 $6,478 $1,495 $37
Check out Proposal Engineer Job Openings in the United States
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University of Washington - SEATTLE, WA

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Key Factors That Influence Proposal Engineer Salaries

A Proposal 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 Proposal Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Proposal 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): $82,525
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,924
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,256
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,853
  • Expert (over 8 years): $88,379
Levels Salary
Entry Level Proposal Engineer$82,525
Intermediate Level Proposal Engineer$82,924
Senior Level Proposal Engineer$84,256
Specialist Level Proposal Engineer$85,853
Expert Level Proposal Engineer$88,379
$82,525 0 yr
$82,924 < 2 yrs
$84,256 2-4 yrs
$85,853 5-8 yrs
$88,379 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Proposal 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: $109,224
  • San Francisco: $108,150
  • Oakland: $105,751

What Skills Can Increase a Proposal Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 4.73% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Fundraising (Mentioned in 2.67% Job Postings): Fundraising or fund-raising (also known as "development" or "advancement") is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gather money for non-profit organizations, it is sometimes used to refer to the identification and solicitation of investors or other sources of capital for for-profit enterprises. Traditionally, fundraising consisted mostly of asking for donations on the street or at people's doors, and this is experiencing very strong growth in the form of face-to-face fundraising, but new forms of fundraising, such as online fundraising, have emerged in recent years, though these are often based on older methods such as grassroots fundraising.
  • RFI (Mentioned in 1.83% Job Postings): A RFI (request for information) is a common business process whose purpose is to collect written information about the capabilities of various suppliers.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 4.73%
Fundraising 2.67%
RFI 1.83%
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 Proposal Engineer's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$89,194
3%
Program Management
$89,194
3%
Commitment
$89,194
3%
Leadership
$88,328
2%
Verbal Communication
$87,462
1%
Proposal Management
$87,462
1%
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How Education impacts a Proposal Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Proposal 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 Proposal Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $84,249 and $91,990).

Proposal Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Proposal Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 4.6%
Associates 2.5%
Bachelors 44.3%
Masters 44.6%
Doctorate 3.6%
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Proposal Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Proposal 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 Proposal Engineer

Salaries for a Proposal Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $86,905 in 2023 to around $86,201 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Proposal Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Proposal Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$86,905
2024
$86,735
2025
$86,201
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $86,905
2024 $86,735
2025 $86,201
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Proposal Engineer

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

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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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