How much do engineers make?
Updated March 2025
U.S. engineers earn a median of roughly $120,395 per year, but pay varies widely by discipline. Engineering Manager and Senior Engineer sit at the top (median over $153,216), while fields like civil engineer are nearer $99,590. Experience, industry, and location each move pay by tens of thousands of dollars.
Median
$120,395
All engineering
Top discipline
$167,740
Engineering Manager
Top 10% reach
$239,200
90th percentile
Disciplines
22
Tracked here
Engineering salary by discipline
Sortable — verified benchmarks and labeled estimates side by side.
| Engineering role | Pay band (10th–90th) | Median | 90th pct | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Manager Architecture & Engineering | $167,740 | $239,200 | Verified | ||
| Senior Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $153,216 | $190,407 | Estimate | ||
| Petroleum Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $141,280 | $228,790 | Verified | ||
| Aerospace Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $134,830 | $205,850 | Verified | ||
| Software Engineer Software & Technology | $133,080 | $211,450 | Verified | ||
| Data Engineer Emerging | $133,080 | $211,450 | Estimate | ||
| AI Engineer Emerging | $133,080 | $211,450 | Estimate | ||
| Machine Learning Engineer Emerging | $133,080 | $211,450 | Estimate | ||
| Cloud Engineer Emerging | $133,080 | $211,450 | Estimate | ||
| DevOps Engineer Emerging | $133,080 | $211,450 | Estimate | ||
| Nuclear Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $127,520 | $187,430 | Verified | ||
| Chemical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $121,860 | $182,150 | Verified | ||
| Systems Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $117,750 | $183,510 | Estimate | ||
| Robotics Engineer Emerging | $117,750 | $183,510 | Estimate | ||
| Electrical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $111,910 | $175,460 | Verified | ||
| Materials Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $108,310 | $172,000 | Verified | ||
| Biomedical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $106,950 | $165,060 | Verified | ||
| Environmental Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $104,170 | $161,910 | 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 | ||
| Entry-Level Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $93,901 | $120,395 | Estimate |
- Verified
Engineering Manager
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$167,740
90th
$239,200
View details - Estimate
Senior Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$153,216
90th
$190,407
View details - Verified
Petroleum Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$141,280
90th
$228,790
View details - 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 - Estimate
Data Engineer
Emerging
Median
$133,080
90th
$211,450
View details - Estimate
AI Engineer
Emerging
Median
$133,080
90th
$211,450
View details - Estimate
Machine Learning Engineer
Emerging
Median
$133,080
90th
$211,450
View details - Estimate
Cloud Engineer
Emerging
Median
$133,080
90th
$211,450
View details - Estimate
DevOps Engineer
Emerging
Median
$133,080
90th
$211,450
View details - Verified
Nuclear Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$127,520
90th
$187,430
View details - Verified
Chemical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$121,860
90th
$182,150
View details - Estimate
Systems Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$117,750
90th
$183,510
View details - Estimate
Robotics Engineer
Emerging
Median
$117,750
90th
$183,510
View details - Verified
Electrical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$111,910
90th
$175,460
View details - Verified
Materials Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$108,310
90th
$172,000
View details - Verified
Biomedical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$106,950
90th
$165,060
View details - Verified
Environmental Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$104,170
90th
$161,910
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 - Estimate
Entry-Level Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$93,901
90th
$120,395
View details
By experience
Entry-level engineers typically earn 25–40% below the median; senior and staff engineers earn well above it.
Explore →By industry
Oil & gas, semiconductors, and aerospace pay above consumer and civil-infrastructure work.
Explore →By location
Coastal tech hubs pay a 15–45% premium; the South and Mountain West run below the national median.
Explore →Source details
National figures are BLS OEWS May 2024 occupation wages. Emerging roles (AI, data, robotics) are mapped estimates and labeled as such in the table.
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →