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Hourly Wage for Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineer I make hourly?

As of May 18, 2021, the average hourly rate for an Engineer I in the United States is $38, which translates to an annual salary of about $79,688.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $43 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35 to $41 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $35 10% $33 90% $43 75% $41 $38 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $85,135 $7,095 $1,637 $41
Average $79,688 $6,641 $1,532 $38
25th Percentile $73,549 $6,129 $1,414 $35
Check out Engineer I Job Openings in the United States
Engineer

Lincoln Electric - Euclid, OH

Engineer

HII Mission Technologies - Wright-Patterson Air Force Bas, OH

Engineer

HII Mission Technologies - Wright-Patterson Air Force Bas, OH

Engineer

Lincoln Electric - Euclid, OH

Search More Engineer I Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Engineer I Salaries

An Engineer I'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 Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineer I'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:

  • Engineer I (0-2 years): $79,688
  • Engineer II (2-4 years): $92,156
  • Engineer III (4-7 years): $110,776
  • Engineer IV (7+ years): $140,132
  • Engineer V (7-10 years): $161,867
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Engineer I0-2 years$79,688
Engineer II2-4 years$92,156
Engineer III4-7 years$110,776
Engineer IV7+ years$140,132
Engineer V7-10 years$161,867
$79,688 Engineer ...
$92,156 Engineer ...
$110,776 Engineer ...
$140,132 Engineer ...
$161,867 Engineer ...
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Engineer I 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 Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $88,231.
  • California: $87,896.
  • Massachusetts: $86,724.

Top Paying Cities for Engineer Is

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: $100,510
  • San Francisco: $99,522
  • Oakland: $97,315

What Skills Can Increase an Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.26% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Carpentry (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters traditionally worked with natural wood and did the rougher work such as framing, but today many other materials are also used and sometimes the finer trades of cabinetmaking and furniture building are considered carpentry. In the United States, 98.5% of carpenters are male, and it was the fourth most male-dominated occupation in the country in 1999. In 2006 in the United States, there were about 1.5 million carpentry positions. Carpenters are usually the first tradesmen on a job and the last to leave. Carpenters normally framed post-and-beam buildings until the end of the 19th century; now this old fashioned carpentry is called timber framing. Carpenters learn this trade by being employed through an apprenticeship training—normally 4 years—and qualify by successfully completing that country's competence test in places such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. It is also common that the skill can be learned by gaining work experience other than a formal training program, which may be the case in many places.
  • Python (Mentioned in 1.69% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.26%
Carpentry 2.27%
Python 1.69%
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 an Engineer I's salary.
  • Python: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Python
$86,860
9%
Computer Science
$85,266
7%
Consulting
$82,876
4%
Presentation
$82,079
3%
Collaboration
$82,079
3%
Innovation
$82,079
3%
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How Education impacts an Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineer Is enter the field with a Associate'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 an Engineer I with a Associate's Degree is between $73,281 and $76,434).

Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineer I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 5.4%
Associates 6.4%
Bachelors 57.2%
Masters 26.5%
Doctorate 3.9%
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Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineer I'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 May 18, 2021

Salary Trends for Engineer I

Salaries for an Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,458 in 2023 to around $79,797 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Engineer I salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Engineer I Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$81,458
2024
$81,168
2025
$79,797
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $81,458
2024 $81,168
2025 $79,797
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Engineer I

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

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FAQ about Engineer I

1. What are the responsibilities of Engineer I?

Utilizes engineering methodologies, principles, and tools to develop or improve technical products, systems, or processes that meet specified requirements and standards. Researches and identifies optimal materials and processes to ensure product quality, performance, and manufacturability. Utilizes CAD software and engineering methodologies to create blueprints, drawings, or models and communicate designs and specifications to stakeholders. Collaborates with stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure specifications are captured. Oversees prototype testing to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs, collect feedback, and draw meaningful insight for product improvements. Maintains detailed documentation of test results, processes, and specifications for future needs. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Engineer I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Carpentry: Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters traditionally worked with natural wood and did the rougher work such as framing, but today many other materials are also used and sometimes the finer trades of cabinetmaking and furniture building are considered carpentry. In the United States, 98.5% of carpenters are male, and it was the fourth most male-dominated occupation in the country in 1999. In 2006 in the United States, there were about 1.5 million carpentry positions. Carpenters are usually the first tradesmen on a job and the last to leave. Carpenters normally framed post-and-beam buildings until the end of the 19th century; now this old fashioned carpentry is called timber framing. Carpenters learn this trade by being employed through an apprenticeship training—normally 4 years—and qualify by successfully completing that country's competence test in places such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. It is also common that the skill can be learned by gaining work experience other than a formal training program, which may be the case in many places.

3.)

Python: Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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