Simulation Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Simulation Engineer in the United States is $80,888 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $94,404
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,949 to $87,963
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,541
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View as table View as graph 25% $74,949 10% $69,541 90% $94,404 75% $87,963 $80,888 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Simulation Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $87,963 $7,330 $1,692 $42
Average $80,888 $6,741 $1,556 $39
25th Percentile $74,949 $6,246 $1,441 $36
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Key Factors That Influence Simulation Engineer Salaries

A Simulation 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.

How Experience Level Affects Simulation Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Simulation 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): $80,368
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,147
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,428
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,031
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,188
Levels Salary
Simulatio... Level Simulation Engineer$80,368
Embedded ... Level Simulation Engineer$95,147
Embedded ... Level Simulation Engineer$116,428
Embedded ... Level Simulation Engineer$142,031
Embedded ... Level Simulation Engineer$161,188
$80,368 0 yr
$95,147 < 2 yrs
$116,428 2-4 yrs
$142,031 5-8 yrs
$161,188 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Simulation 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: $102,025
  • San Francisco: $101,022
  • Oakland: $98,781

What Skills Can Increase a Simulation Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Integrity (Mentioned in 4.18% Job Postings): Is about having strong principles and values, which you demonstrate through your conduct in the work environment. A common integrity definition states that people with integrity do the right thing even when nobody is watching.
  • Open Source (Mentioned in 4.35% Job Postings): Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit
  • Machine Learning (Mentioned in 2.5% Job Postings): Using mathematical models, data, and algorithms to help a computer learn without direct instruction.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Integrity 4.18%
Open Source 4.35%
Machine Learning 2.5%
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 Simulation Engineer's salary.
  • Calibration: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Finance and Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Calibration
$86,551
7%
Finance and Accounting
$86,551
7%
Insight
$84,124
4%
Artificial Intelligence
$84,124
4%
Accountability
$84,124
4%
Flexibility
$83,315
3%
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Simulation Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Simulation 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 March 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Simulation Engineer

Salaries for a Simulation Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $79,693 in 2023 to around $78,067 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Simulation Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Simulation Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$79,693
2024
$79,024
2025
$78,067
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $79,693
2024 $79,024
2025 $78,067
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Simulation Engineer

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

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

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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.)

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