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Chief systems engineer salary
Average chief systems engineer salary
$128,373
Understanding Chief Systems Engineer Salaries
The role of a Chief Systems Engineer is pivotal in guiding engineering teams toward successful project outcomes. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $128,373 per year. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors like geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry sector.
Salary by Location
In states known for technology and engineering, such as California and New York, Chief Systems Engineers can earn even higher salaries, often exceeding the national average. For example, in California, the average salary can reach up to $150,000, making it one of the highest paying states.
Experience Matters
Experience also plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start around $90,000, while those with extensive experience or specialized skills can command salaries over $150,000.
Opportunities for Advancement
For those seeking to progress in their careers, pursuing further education or certifications in systems engineering can enhance job prospects and lead to higher salaries. Stay informed about market trends and salary estimates to make well-informed career decisions.
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Where can a Chief Systems Engineer earn more?
Chief systems engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average chief systems engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for chief systems engineers are Rhode Island, California, and Virginia. The lowest average chief systems engineer salary states are Kentucky, West Virginia, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $158,145 | $76.03 |
| 2 | Virginia | $133,953 | $64.40 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $152,976 | $73.55 |
| 4 | California | $146,308 | $70.34 |
| 5 | Texas | $127,625 | $61.36 |
| 6 | Arizona | $124,647 | $59.93 |
| 7 | Washington | $125,764 | $60.46 |
| 8 | Nevada | $133,492 | $64.18 |
| 9 | Alabama | $125,924 | $60.54 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $123,917 | $59.58 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $124,755 | $59.98 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $120,628 | $57.99 |
| 13 | Delaware | $120,535 | $57.95 |
| 14 | Maryland | $123,975 | $59.60 |
| 15 | Michigan | $116,371 | $55.95 |
| 16 | Maine | $119,431 | $57.42 |
| 17 | Colorado | $115,779 | $55.66 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $116,674 | $56.09 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $125,041 | $60.12 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $115,841 | $55.69 |
| 21 | Alaska | $113,917 | $54.77 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $117,134 | $56.31 |
| 23 | Utah | $106,498 | $51.20 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $108,367 | $52.10 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $101,461 | $48.78 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $109,179 | $52.49 |
| 27 | Georgia | $108,126 | $51.98 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $108,086 | $51.96 |
| 29 | Oregon | $104,108 | $50.05 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $107,346 | $51.61 |
| 31 | Vermont | $100,874 | $48.50 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $108,478 | $52.15 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $104,763 | $50.37 |
| 34 | Florida | $99,724 | $47.94 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $98,334 | $47.28 |
| 36 | Kansas | $101,465 | $48.78 |
| 37 | Idaho | $100,190 | $48.17 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $101,173 | $48.64 |
| 39 | Missouri | $102,282 | $49.17 |
| 40 | New York | $99,119 | $47.65 |
| 41 | Ohio | $97,619 | $46.93 |
| 42 | Illinois | $99,138 | $47.66 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $91,838 | $44.15 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $99,719 | $47.94 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $87,959 | $42.29 |
| 46 | Indiana | $94,882 | $45.62 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $79,397 | $38.17 |
| 48 | Iowa | $82,959 | $39.88 |
| 49 | Montana | $76,315 | $36.69 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $78,988 | $37.98 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $88,714 | $42.65 |
Highest paying cities for chief systems engineers
The highest-paying cities for chief systems engineers are Washington, DC, Burlingame, CA, and Springfield, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $159,657 | $76.76 |
| 2 | Burlingame, CA | $152,235 | $73.19 |
| 3 | Springfield, VA | $134,740 | $64.78 |
| 4 | Plano, TX | $128,141 | $61.61 |
| 5 | Clifton, NJ | $125,222 | $60.20 |
| 6 | Stratford, CT | $124,714 | $59.96 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $124,159 | $59.69 |
| 8 | Huntsville, AL | $123,924 | $59.58 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $117,105 | $56.30 |
| 10 | Nashua, NH | $116,925 | $56.21 |
| 11 | Shreveport, LA | $108,551 | $52.19 |
| 12 | Roy, UT | $105,118 | $50.54 |
| 13 | Saint Charles, MO | $102,815 | $49.43 |
| 14 | Apopka, FL | $101,001 | $48.56 |
| 15 | Rochester, NY | $97,163 | $46.71 |
| 16 | Fort Wayne, IN | $96,399 | $46.35 |
| 17 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $83,545 | $40.17 |
Chief systems engineer salary details
A chief systems engineer's salary ranges from $92,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $178,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief systems engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $178,000 | $14,833 | $86 |
| 75th Percentile | $152,000 | $12,667 | $73 |
| Average | $128,373 | $10,698 | $62 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| 10th Percentile | $92,000 | $7,667 | $44 |
Highest paying chief systems engineer jobs
The highest paying types of chief systems engineers are principal systems engineer, staff design engineer, and lead systems engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Trainee | $60,235 | $5,020 | $28.96 | 79,966 |
| Telecommunication Engineer | $80,789 | $6,732 | $38.84 | 28,331 |
| Systems Supervisor | $86,003 | $7,167 | $41.35 | 70,582 |
| Project Controls Engineer | $86,685 | $7,224 | $41.68 | 38,974 |
| Radio Frequency Engineer | $88,301 | $7,358 | $42.45 | 35,158 |
| Special Project Engineer | $70,934 | $5,911 | $34.10 | 90,999 |
Top companies hiring chief systems engineers now:
Which companies pay chief systems engineers the most?
Chief systems engineer salaries at TA Instruments and Galaxy Technologies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief systems engineer salary at companies like Northwell Health and Infinity Systems Engineering are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TA Instruments | $127,512 | $61.30 |
| 2 | Galaxy Technologies | $126,595 | $60.86 |
| 3 | Northwell Health | $124,889 | $60.04 |
| 4 | Infinity Systems Engineering | $123,635 | $59.44 |
| 5 | Cognosante | $122,038 | $58.67 |
| 6 | Science | $121,997 | $58.65 |
| 7 | Ses Inc | $121,997 | $58.65 |
| 8 | Rebellion Defense | $121,969 | $58.64 |
| 9 | Rocket Lab | $121,741 | $58.53 |
| 10 | Enterprise Information Services | $118,411 | $56.93 |
| 11 | SAIC | $117,289 | $56.39 |
| 12 | FCA US LLC | $117,113 | $56.30 |
| 13 | ANSER | $116,846 | $56.18 |
| 14 | BAE Systems | $115,662 | $55.61 |
| 15 | Waters | $115,367 | $55.46 |
| 16 | Crown Equipment | $115,052 | $55.31 |
| 17 | Axient | $114,326 | $54.96 |
| 18 | Tata Technologies | $113,480 | $54.56 |
| 19 | CACI International | $111,858 | $53.78 |
| 20 | Peraton | $110,902 | $53.32 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief systems engineer salary trends
The average chief systems engineer salary has risen by $19,148 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief systems engineer earned $109,225 annually, but today, they earn $128,373 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chief systems engineers over the last decade.
Compare chief systems engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief systems engineer salary over time
Compare chief systems engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief systems engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $128,000 | $61.72 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $126,000 | $60.59 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $123,000 | $58.94 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $122,000 | $58.64 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $118,000 | $56.94 | +0.9% |
Recently added chief systems engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAIC (Science Applications Int | Chief Systems Engineer/Architect Lead | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $200,001 |
| ZP Group | Chief Systems Engineer-Space Systems | El Segundo, CA | 06/23/2025 | $180,000 |
| Axient | Chief Systems Engineer | Boulder, CO | 06/14/2025 | $130,000 |
| Alutiiq LLC | Chief Systems Engineer | Boulder, CO | 06/07/2025 | $130,000 |
| Aerovironment | Chief Engineer, Systems | Petaluma, CA | 05/30/2025 | $176,000 |
| Caci International | Chief Systems Engineer | Sterling, VA | 05/27/2025 | $119,800 |
| Msccn | Chief Systems Engineer/Architect | Frederick, MD | 05/26/2025 | $80,000 |
| Axient | Chief Systems Engineer | Boulder, CO | 05/25/2025 | $130,000 |
| MCSG Technologies | Chief Systems Engineer-CFT L1-Boulder Ground Innovation Facility-Operations Suport Services | Boulder, CO | 05/22/2025 | $130,000 |
| Potomacwave Consulting | Chief Systems Engineer/Architect | Frederick, MD | 05/22/2025 | $80,000 |
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