Section Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Section Engineer in the United States is $161,415 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $78.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $165,467
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $154,542 to $163,536
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $148,284
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View as table View as graph 25% $154,542 10% $148,284 90% $165,467 75% $163,536 $161,415 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Section Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $163,536 $13,628 $3,145 $79
Average $161,415 $13,451 $3,104 $78
25th Percentile $154,542 $12,879 $2,972 $74
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Key Factors That Influence Section Engineer Salaries

A Section 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 Section Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Section 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): $120,107
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $137,401
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $161,259
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $84,963
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,319
Levels Salary
Project E... Level Section Engineer$120,107
Project E... Level Section Engineer$137,401
Section E... Level Section Engineer$161,259
Project E... Level Section Engineer$84,963
Project E... Level Section Engineer$120,319
$120,107 0 yr
$137,401 < 2 yrs
$161,259 2-4 yrs
$84,963 5-8 yrs
$120,319 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Section 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: $203,593
  • San Francisco: $201,591
  • Oakland: $197,120

What Skills Can Increase a Section Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 7.83% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 2.73% 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.
  • Land Development (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Land development is the alteration of landscape in any number of ways such as: Changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 7.83%
Installation 2.73%
Land Development 1.47%
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 Section Engineer's salary.
  • Systems Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Quality Control: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Data Collection: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Systems Engineering
$167,872
4%
Quality Control
$166,257
3%
Data Collection
$164,643
2%
Coordination
$164,643
2%
Initiative
$164,643
2%
Presentation
$164,643
2%
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How Education impacts a Section Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Section Engineers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Section Engineer with a No Diploma is between $138,898 and $147,916).

Section Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Section Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.7%
High School 13.3%
Associates 13.3%
Bachelors 46.7%
Masters 33.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Section Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Section 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Section Engineer

Salaries for a Section Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $169,931 in 2023 to around $161,138 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Section Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Section Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$169,931
2024
$166,097
2025
$161,138
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $169,931
2024 $166,097
2025 $161,138
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Section Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Section Engineer Job

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

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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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