The U.S. Engineering Pay Reference
Know what engineers earn.
Engineers in the United States earn a median of $120,395 per year. Look up pay by role, state, and metro — every figure labeled with its source.
U.S. median across verified engineering roles · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
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Real numbers, clearly labeled. Nothing made up. How we calculate this →
Engineering salary by role
Median and top-end pay across engineering disciplines.
| Engineering role | Pay band (10th–90th) | Median | 90th pct | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $134,830 | $205,850 | Verified | ||
| Software Engineer Software & Technology | $133,080 | $211,450 | Verified | ||
| Chemical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $121,860 | $182,150 | Verified | ||
| Electrical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $111,910 | $175,460 | Verified | ||
| Biomedical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $106,950 | $165,060 | Verified | ||
| Mechanical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $102,320 | $161,240 | Verified | ||
| Industrial Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $101,140 | $157,140 | Verified | ||
| Civil Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $99,590 | $160,990 | Verified |
- Verified
Aerospace Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$134,830
90th
$205,850
View details - Verified
Software Engineer
Software & Technology
Median
$133,080
90th
$211,450
View details - Verified
Chemical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$121,860
90th
$182,150
View details - Verified
Electrical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$111,910
90th
$175,460
View details - Verified
Biomedical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$106,950
90th
$165,060
View details - Verified
Mechanical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$102,320
90th
$161,240
View details - Verified
Industrial Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$101,140
90th
$157,140
View details - Verified
Civil Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$99,590
90th
$160,990
View details
By state
All 51 states →Estimated engineering pay by state.
| State | Pay band (10th–90th) | Median | 90th pct | vs U.S. | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California 25 cities · 12 occupations | $154,208 | $220,838 | +28% | Estimate | ||
| Washington 13 cities · 13 occupations | $150,511 | $215,967 | +25% | Estimate | ||
| New York 13 cities · 13 occupations | $141,848 | $203,309 | +18% | Estimate | ||
| District of Columbia 1 city · 10 occupations | $138,532 | $194,910 | +15% | Estimate | ||
| Massachusetts 7 cities · 12 occupations | $134,435 | $190,816 | +12% | Estimate | ||
| Maryland 6 cities · 12 occupations | $129,604 | $198,357 | +8% | Estimate | ||
| New Mexico 4 cities · 11 occupations | $129,370 | $184,871 | +7% | Estimate | ||
| Colorado 7 cities · 11 occupations | $129,051 | $199,294 | +7% | Estimate |
- Estimate
California
25 cities · 12 occupations
Median
$154,208
+28%90th
$220,838
View details - Estimate
Washington
13 cities · 13 occupations
Median
$150,511
+25%90th
$215,967
View details - Estimate
New York
13 cities · 13 occupations
Median
$141,848
+18%90th
$203,309
View details - Estimate
District of Columbia
1 city · 10 occupations
Median
$138,532
+15%90th
$194,910
View details - Estimate
Massachusetts
7 cities · 12 occupations
Median
$134,435
+12%90th
$190,816
View details - Estimate
Maryland
6 cities · 12 occupations
Median
$129,604
+8%90th
$198,357
View details - Estimate
New Mexico
4 cities · 11 occupations
Median
$129,370
+7%90th
$184,871
View details - Estimate
Colorado
7 cities · 11 occupations
Median
$129,051
+7%90th
$199,294
View details
By city
All metros →Estimated engineering pay by metro.
| Metro | Pay band (10th–90th) | Median | 90th pct | vs U.S. | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose California | $198,002 | $235,611 | +64% | Estimate | ||
| San Francisco California | $165,321 | $231,077 | +37% | Estimate | ||
| Seattle Washington | $156,767 | $220,294 | +30% | Estimate | ||
| New York City New York | $148,991 | $208,192 | +24% | Estimate | ||
| Boulder Colorado | $144,540 | $220,238 | +20% | Estimate | ||
| Washington, D.C. District of Columbia | $144,482 | $203,111 | +20% | Estimate | ||
| Santa Maria California | $142,013 | $197,882 | +18% | Estimate | ||
| Midland Texas | $141,344 | $209,471 | +17% | Estimate |
- Estimate
San Jose
California
Median
$198,002
+64%90th
$235,611
View details - Estimate
San Francisco
California
Median
$165,321
+37%90th
$231,077
View details - Estimate
Seattle
Washington
Median
$156,767
+30%90th
$220,294
View details - Estimate
New York City
New York
Median
$148,991
+24%90th
$208,192
View details - Estimate
Boulder
Colorado
Median
$144,540
+20%90th
$220,238
View details - Estimate
Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia
Median
$144,482
+20%90th
$203,111
View details - Estimate
Santa Maria
California
Median
$142,013
+18%90th
$197,882
View details - Estimate
Midland
Texas
Median
$141,344
+17%90th
$209,471
View details
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