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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Reliability Engineer in California is $86,849 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.
However, a Reliability Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Reliability Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $91,954 | $7,663 | $1,768 | $44 |
| Average | $86,849 | $7,237 | $1,670 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,831 | $6,653 | $1,535 | $38 |
System One - Long Beach, CA
Sigma Design - Costa Mesa, CA
AbbVie - Irvine, CA
Pivotal Systems - Fremont, CA
A Reliability 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 Reliability 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 |
|---|---|
| Reliabili... Level Reliability Engineer | $86,474 |
| Reliabili... Level Reliability Engineer | $103,415 |
| Reliabili... Level Reliability Engineer | $124,700 |
| Reliabili... Level Reliability Engineer | $151,827 |
| Reliabili... Level Reliability Engineer | $179,138 |
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 Reliability 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 Reliability Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Reliability Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Reliability Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | $104,219 | $50.0 | 20% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $104,219 | $50.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $99,877 | $48.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $95,534 | $46.0 | 10% |
| MFG Durable | $95,534 | $46.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Reliability 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 | $91,954 | $7,663 | $1,768 | $44 |
| Average | $86,849 | $7,237 | $1,670 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,831 | $6,653 | $1,535 | $38 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Reliability Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Swift Solar
San Carlos, CA
Swift Solar | San Carlos, CA
Job Description. Job Description. About the company. At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe solar can prov... more
8 Days Ago
DensityAI
Mountain View, CA
DensityAI | Mountain View, CA
Job Description. Job Description. About the role. Own the reliability of the advanced packages and systems that turn our AI accelerator silicon into produc... more
5 Days Ago
Peak Energy
Burlingame, CA
Peak Energy | Burlingame, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Staff Reliability Engineer. Location. Burlingame, CA. Department. ESS Engineering. Reports To. Staff Reliabili... more
6 Days Ago
Aviso, LLC
Fremont, CA
Aviso, LLC | Fremont, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Position Overview. An innovative and growing medical technology company is seeking a. Reliability Quality Engineer. to en... more
6 Days Ago
Waabi
San Francisco, CA
Waabi | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Waabi, founded by AI visionary Raquel Urtasun, is the leader in Physical AI. With a world-class team, we're unlocking the... more
6 Days Ago
The Hiring Method, LLC
Fremont, CA
The Hiring Method, LLC | Fremont, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Location. Fremont, CA. Work Setting. 100% onsite engineering and semiconductor reliability environment. Relocation. Avail... more
6 Days Ago
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