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As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior IT Engineer in California is $93,081 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.
However, a Senior IT Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Senior IT Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $102,097 | $8,508 | $1,963 | $49 |
| Average | $93,081 | $7,757 | $1,790 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,724 | $6,894 | $1,591 | $40 |
SpaceXAI - Palo Alto, CA
Zipline - San Francisco, CA
Knightscope - Sunnyvale, CA
Vitesse Systems a Lyntris company - Newark, CA
A Senior IT 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 Senior IT 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 |
|---|---|
| Informati... Level Senior IT Engineer | $77,121 |
| Senior IT... Level Senior IT Engineer | $92,418 |
| Informati... Level Senior IT Engineer | $120,006 |
| Informati... Level Senior IT Engineer | $147,431 |
| Informati... Level Senior IT Engineer | $171,544 |
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 Senior IT 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 Senior IT Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 36% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 17% above the average. In contrast, Senior IT Engineer positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior IT Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $108,905 | $52.0 | 17% |
| Biotechnology | $106,112 | $51.0 | 14% |
| Energy & Utilities | $103,320 | $50.0 | 11% |
| Insurance | $101,458 | $49.0 | 9% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $98,666 | $47.0 | 6% |
Understanding how a Senior IT 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 | $102,097 | $8,508 | $1,963 | $49 |
| Average | $93,081 | $7,757 | $1,790 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,724 | $6,894 | $1,591 | $40 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Senior IT Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Halcyon Financial Technology
San Francisco, CA
Halcyon Financial Technology | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Description. We are hiring for a full-time. Senior IT Support Engineer. in The San Francisco Bay Area. This role require... more
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Oscar Health
Los Angeles, CA
Oscar Health | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Hi, we're Oscar. We're hiring a Senior IT Engineer to join our Engineering Team. Oscar is the first health insurance comp... more
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SpaceXAI
Palo Alto, CA
SpaceXAI | Palo Alto, CA
Job Description. Job Description. SpaceXAI's mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of... more
5 Days Ago
K2 Space
Los Angeles, CA
K2 Space | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach ... more
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Halcyon Financial Technology
Palo Alto, CA
Halcyon Financial Technology | Palo Alto, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Description. We are hiring for a full-time. Senior IT Support Engineer. in The San Francisco Bay Area with an emphasis on... more
5 Days Ago
Commure
Mountain View, CA
Commure | Mountain View, CA
Job Description. Job Description. At Commure, we're building the AI Operating System for healthcare, the foundation that defines how care is delivered, doc... more
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