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The Director of Manufacturing Engineering plays a pivotal role in optimizing production lines and managing engineering teams. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $160,810 annually, equating to about $77 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry sector.
Different states offer varying salary potentials. For instance, states with a high concentration of manufacturing firms, such as California and Texas, typically provide higher salaries. Additionally, local cost of living may impact overall earnings.
Experience level also affects salary. Entry-level positions may start around $100,000, while seasoned professionals can earn well over $200,000 as they advance in their careers. This upward trajectory emphasizes the importance of ongoing professional development and skill enhancement.
For those considering a career as a Director of Manufacturing Engineering, understanding the salary landscape is crucial. By evaluating the factors influencing earnings, prospective candidates can make informed decisions about their career paths.
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The highest-paying states for directors of manufacturing engineering are Washington, Alaska, and California. The lowest average director of manufacturing engineering salary states are Iowa, Colorado, and Illinois.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $203,424 | $97.80 |
| 2 | Alaska | $194,999 | $93.75 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $177,078 | $85.13 |
| 4 | California | $188,072 | $90.42 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $174,230 | $83.76 |
| 6 | Oregon | $169,889 | $81.68 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $149,093 | $71.68 |
| 8 | Idaho | $163,979 | $78.84 |
| 9 | Nevada | $184,886 | $88.89 |
| 10 | Alabama | $148,027 | $71.17 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $155,878 | $74.94 |
| 12 | Virginia | $169,946 | $81.70 |
| 13 | Montana | $167,427 | $80.49 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $147,501 | $70.91 |
| 15 | Indiana | $154,087 | $74.08 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $156,942 | $75.45 |
| 17 | Texas | $153,425 | $73.76 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $152,990 | $73.55 |
| 19 | Ohio | $151,831 | $73.00 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $151,678 | $72.92 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $143,347 | $68.92 |
| 22 | Maine | $152,033 | $73.09 |
| 23 | New York | $156,907 | $75.44 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $145,475 | $69.94 |
| 25 | Michigan | $146,224 | $70.30 |
| 26 | Utah | $142,868 | $68.69 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $134,533 | $64.68 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $147,125 | $70.73 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $145,555 | $69.98 |
| 30 | Arizona | $143,558 | $69.02 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $147,228 | $70.78 |
| 32 | Vermont | $139,520 | $67.08 |
| 33 | Georgia | $147,392 | $70.86 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $133,622 | $64.24 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $133,979 | $64.41 |
| 36 | Delaware | $139,239 | $66.94 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $140,293 | $67.45 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $133,767 | $64.31 |
| 39 | Kansas | $140,846 | $67.71 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $136,405 | $65.58 |
| 41 | Colorado | $131,328 | $63.14 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $124,603 | $59.91 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $136,020 | $65.39 |
| 44 | Iowa | $131,735 | $63.33 |
| 45 | Florida | $137,593 | $66.15 |
| 46 | Maryland | $133,922 | $64.39 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $130,672 | $62.82 |
| 48 | New Jersey | $134,864 | $64.84 |
| 49 | Illinois | $130,203 | $62.60 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $128,217 | $61.64 |
| 51 | Missouri | $128,284 | $61.67 |
The highest-paying cities for directors of manufacturing engineering are Hayward, CA, Reno, NV, and Waltham, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hayward, CA | $203,818 | $97.99 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $199,730 | $96.02 |
| 3 | Waltham, MA | $157,416 | $75.68 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $157,346 | $75.65 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $156,548 | $75.26 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $155,059 | $74.55 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $143,289 | $68.89 |
| 8 | Newark, DE | $139,481 | $67.06 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City, OK | $134,544 | $64.68 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $131,705 | $63.32 |
| 11 | Springfield, MO | $128,677 | $61.86 |
A director of manufacturing engineering's salary ranges from $113,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $227,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $227,000 | $18,917 | $109 |
| 75th Percentile | $193,000 | $16,083 | $93 |
| Average | $160,810 | $13,401 | $77 |
| 25th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| 10th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
The highest paying types of directors of manufacturing engineering are engineering director, senior engineering manager, and vice president of engineering.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research And Development Director | $137,944 | $11,495 | $66.32 | 102,901 |
| Research And Development Manager | $117,507 | $9,792 | $56.49 | 125,447 |
| Engineering/Maintenance Manager | $99,907 | $8,326 | $48.03 | 125,639 |
| Engineering Operations Manager | $122,682 | $10,223 | $58.98 | 125,798 |
| Engineering Program Manager | $122,604 | $10,217 | $58.94 | 148,543 |
| Engineering Supervisor | $97,535 | $8,128 | $46.89 | 57,046 |
Top companies hiring directors of manufacturing engineering now:
Director of manufacturing engineering salaries at Apple and Quidel are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of manufacturing engineering salary at companies like Barracuda Networks and Tesla are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $208,150 | $100.07 |
| 2 | Quidel | $181,131 | $87.08 |
| 3 | Barracuda Networks | $175,607 | $84.43 |
| 4 | Tesla | $174,603 | $83.94 |
| 5 | Brose North America, Inc. | $173,617 | $83.47 |
| 6 | Hellas Construction | $170,806 | $82.12 |
| 7 | Rivian | $168,358 | $80.94 |
| 8 | Honeywell | $165,716 | $79.67 |
| 9 | Romeo Power, Inc. | $164,632 | $79.15 |
| 10 | Flex Construction | $164,423 | $79.05 |
| 11 | Cresilon | $164,423 | $79.05 |
| 12 | ColdQuanta | $164,423 | $79.05 |
| 13 | FCC Commercial Furniture | $162,768 | $78.25 |
| 14 | Sovos Brands | $162,598 | $78.17 |
| 15 | First Solar | $162,234 | $78.00 |
| 16 | OSI Optoelectronics | $162,040 | $77.90 |
| 17 | L'Oréal | $161,693 | $77.74 |
| 18 | Faurecia Interior Systems Inc | $160,908 | $77.36 |
| 19 | Vicarious Surgical | $160,800 | $77.31 |
| 20 | The Hershey Company | $159,433 | $76.65 |
The average director of manufacturing engineering salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $167,890 | $80.72 |
| 2 | Technology | $160,957 | $77.38 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $154,688 | $74.37 |
| 4 | Health Care | $154,370 | $74.22 |
| 5 | Retail | $150,515 | $72.36 |
The average director of manufacturing engineering salary has risen by $29,402 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of manufacturing engineering earned $131,408 annually, but today, they earn $160,810 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for directors of manufacturing engineering over the last decade.
Compare director of manufacturing engineering salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare director of manufacturing engineering salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $161,000 | $77.31 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $156,000 | $74.88 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $151,000 | $72.78 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $148,000 | $71.21 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $145,000 | $69.66 | +1.4% |
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