The salary of a Senior Engineer in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Senior Engineer in the United States is $110,800. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $98,000 to a high of $127,612, with most professionals earning between $104,100 and $119,600.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $119,600 | $9,967 | $2,300 | $58 |
| Average | $110,800 | $9,233 | $2,131 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,100 | $8,675 | $2,002 | $50 |
An entry-level Senior Engineer with less than 1 year of experience earns about $107,800. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $108,300. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $109,300. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $113,427, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $115,791.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Senior Engineer | $107,800 |
| Intermediate Level Senior Engineer | $108,300 |
| Senior Level Senior Engineer | $109,300 |
| Specialist Level Senior Engineer | $113,427 |
| Expert Level Senior Engineer | $115,791 |
| Entry Level | 3% |
| Mid Level | 2% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Senior Engineer compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $117,909 in 2023 to approximately $118,066 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Senior Engineer salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Senior Engineer information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Senior Engineer job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Senior Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $110,800 | 71.9% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $8,476 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $4,654 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $2,216 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 5.4% | ||
| Pension | $5,983 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $13,637 | 8.8% | ||
| Total Compensation | $154,118 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.2% |
| High School | 2.6% |
| Associates | 3.5% |
| Bachelors | 36.5% |
| Masters | 41.6% |
| Doctorate | 15.5% |
What Am I Worth?
A base salary of 300k is uncommon for engineers. For a Senior Engineer, the salary ranges from approximately 102,200 to 121,600, with a mid-point around 111,400. Achieving 300k typically involves higher-level positions, such as director roles, often supplemented by bonuses and stock options.
Not so fast. Despite a starting salary of more than 3 times that of an engineer, specialist doctors only surpass engineers in lifetime earnings at the age of 43. That's right: from the age of 22 to 42, engineers, with salaries ranging from $102,200 to $121,600, are in a more favorable financial position than even specialist physicians.
Engineers typically do not make $200,000 a year, as the salary data for Senior Engineers shows a range from $102,200 to $121,600. Positions like AI Software Engineer or Data Engineer may offer higher salaries, but reaching $200,000 is uncommon for this role. Consider exploring specialized fields or advanced positions for higher earning potential.
As of January 23, 2025, Senior Engineers in the USA earn between $102,200 and $121,600 annually, with a mid-salary of $111,400. This translates to approximately $49.16 to $58.50 per hour, or $1,935 to $2,013 per week, and $8,850 to $9,400 per month.
The highest-paid engineers in the USA are typically found in specialized fields such as computer and IT engineering, with average salaries reaching up to USD 140,830 and USD 132,930, respectively. For a Senior Engineer, the salary ranges from USD 102,200 to USD 121,600, with a mid-salary of USD 111,400, reflecting competitive compensation in the engineering sector.
Engineering is a lucrative field, with Senior Engineers earning between $102,200 and $121,600, with a median salary of $111,400. This financial potential contributes to the profession's ability to produce a significant number of millionaires, making it one of the top fields for wealth accumulation.
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.
