Systems Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does a Systems Engineering make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Systems Engineering in the United States is $61,325 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,239
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,981 to $67,561
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39,652
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View as table View as graph 25% $49,981 10% $39,652 90% $73,239 75% $67,561 $61,325 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Systems Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $67,561 $5,630 $1,299 $32
Average $61,325 $5,110 $1,179 $29
25th Percentile $49,981 $4,165 $961 $24
Check out Systems Engineering Job Openings in the United States
SENIOR MANAGER SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Nutanix - Cleveland, OH

SENIOR MANAGER SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Nutanix - Columbus, OH

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

CyberCoders - Dayton, OH

Engine Systems Engineering Model Leader

GE Aerospace - Evendale, OH

Search More Systems Engineering Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Systems Engineering Salaries

A Systems Engineering'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 Systems Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems Engineering'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): $62,751
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $63,732
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $64,918
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $65,155
  • Expert (over 8 years): $65,313
Levels Salary
Entry Level Systems Engineering$62,751
Intermediate Level Systems Engineering$63,732
Senior Level Systems Engineering$64,918
Specialist Level Systems Engineering$65,155
Expert Level Systems Engineering$65,313
$62,751 0 yr
$63,732 < 2 yrs
$64,918 2-4 yrs
$65,155 5-8 yrs
$65,313 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Systems Engineerings

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: $77,349
  • San Francisco: $76,588
  • Oakland: $74,890

What Skills Can Increase a Systems Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 17.61% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Career Development (Mentioned in 3.09% Job Postings): Refers to the process an individual may undergo to evolve their occupational status. It is the process of making decisions for long term learning, to align personal needs of physical or psychological fulfillment with career advancement opportunities.
  • Ethernet (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): Ethernet is the traditional technology for connecting devices in a wired local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). It enables devices to communicate with each other via a protocol, which is a set of rules or common network language.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 17.61%
Career Development 3.09%
Ethernet 1.65%
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 Systems Engineering's salary.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership
$76,656
25%
Planning
$69,297
13%
Problem Solving
$65,617
7%
Communication Skills
$65,004
6%
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How Education impacts a Systems Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Systems Engineerings enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Systems Engineering with a No Diploma is between $49,631 and $58,475).

Systems Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Systems Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 50.0%
High School 50.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Systems Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Systems Engineering'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 Systems Engineering

Salaries for a Systems Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $64,015 in 2023 to around $63,989 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Systems Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Systems Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$64,015
2024
$64,618
2025
$63,989
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $64,015
2024 $64,618
2025 $63,989
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Systems Engineering

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

Here are companies hiring for Systems Engineering and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Systems Engineering Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Systems Engineering job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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