Senior Resident Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Resident Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Resident Engineer in the United States is $87,194 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,488
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,621 to $94,676
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,995

Key Factors That Influence Senior Resident Engineer Salaries

A Senior Resident 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 Senior Resident Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Resident 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): $65,983
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,316
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,643
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $106,416
  • Expert (over 8 years): $118,504
Levels Salary
Construct... Level Senior Resident Engineer$65,983
Construct... Level Senior Resident Engineer$77,316
Senior Re... Level Senior Resident Engineer$86,643
Construct... Level Senior Resident Engineer$106,416
Construct... Level Senior Resident Engineer$118,504

How Do Senior Resident Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Resident Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $96,541.
  • California: $96,175.
  • Massachusetts: $94,893.

Top Paying Cities for Senior Resident 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: $109,977
  • San Francisco: $108,773
  • Oakland: $106,481

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Resident Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 9.97% 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.
  • Telecommunications (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio or optical. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that feasible with the human voice.
  • Administrative Support (Mentioned in 1.24% Job Postings): Administrative support means technical assistance, studies, surveys, or securing volunteers to assist the department in fulfilling its administrative responsibilities.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 9.97%
Telecommunications 1.77%
Administrative Support 1.24%

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 Senior Resident Engineer's salary.

  • Space Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Procurement: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Space Planning $95,041
9%
Presentation $92,425
6%
Procurement $91,553
5%

Senior Resident Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Resident Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Senior Resident Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Resident Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Resident Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$113,352$54.030%
Pharmaceuticals$108,992$52.025%
Financial Services$104,632$50.020%
Internet$102,888$49.018%
Biotechnology$100,273$48.015%

How Education impacts a Senior Resident Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Resident 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 Senior Resident Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $80,395 and $87,443).

Senior Resident Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Resident Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 19.8%
Associates 15.3%
Bachelors 53.2%
Masters 10.8%
Doctorate 0.0%

Senior Resident Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Resident 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 September 01, 2026
$76,621
Average $87,194/year
$94,676
$6,385
Average $7,266/month
$7,890
$1,473
Average $1,677/week
$1,821
$37
Average $42/hour
$46
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $94,676 $7,890 $1,821 $46
Average $87,194 $7,266 $1,677 $42
25th Percentile $76,621 $6,385 $1,473 $37

Most common benefits for Senior Resident Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Senior Resident Engineer

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

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FAQ about Senior Resident Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Resident Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Resident Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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