Engineer salary by degree
EstimateA bachelor's degree is the standard entry credential in engineering. Relative to the engineering median of $116,537, a master's adds roughly 5–8% and a PhD 10–15% on average — though discipline, role, and experience matter far more than degree level alone.
| Degree | Est. median | Typical roles |
|---|---|---|
| Associate degree | $109,545 | Technician-track and some entry roles |
| Bachelor's degree | $116,537 | The standard entry credential for most engineering roles |
| Master's degree | $124,695 | Specialization, some management and R&D roles |
| PhD | $132,852 | Research, advanced R&D, and specialized fields |
Source details
These are estimates applying a degree-level factor to the BLS engineering median. BLS does not publish wages by degree for each engineering title; treat as directional.
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →