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Job outlook for release engineers in the United States
Release engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected release engineer job growth rate is 21% from 2018-2028.
About 284,100 new jobs for release engineers are projected over the next decade.
Release engineer salaries have increased 10% for release engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 7,323 release engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 257,869 active release engineer job openings in the US.
The average release engineer salary is $97,777.
Are release engineer jobs in demand?
Release engineer job and salary trends over time
Release engineer jobs over time
Release engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,323 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 14,452 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 8,079 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 17,775 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 16,713 | 0.01% |
Average release engineer salary over time
Release engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $97,777 | $47.01 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $94,555 | $45.46 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $92,414 | $44.43 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $90,782 | $43.65 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $89,257 | $42.91 | +1.9% |
Release engineer jobs by state
Most common states for release engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 954 | 137% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 4,861 | 66% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 4,678 | 55% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,238 | 47% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 428 | 44% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,630 | 43% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,782 | 43% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 455 | 43% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 252 | 40% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 2,125 | 38% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,185 | 38% |
| 12 | California | 39,536,653 | 14,543 | 37% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 434 | 32% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,508 | 27% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 156 | 27% |
| 16 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 275 | 26% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 451 | 23% |
| 18 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,268 | 22% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,964 | 22% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 364 | 21% |
Most common cities for release engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cranberry | 1 | 4% | $86,773 |
| 2 | Carmel | 1 | 1% | $77,664 |
| 3 | Corona | 1 | 1% | $109,743 |
| 4 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $92,178 |
| 5 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $111,166 |
| 6 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $107,869 |
| 7 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $90,272 |
| 8 | Albuquerque | 1 | 0% | $84,462 |
| 9 | Anaheim | 1 | 0% | $109,980 |
| 10 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $85,867 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $89,009 |
| 12 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $86,953 |
| 13 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $83,767 |
| 14 | Charlotte | 1 | 0% | $84,221 |
| 15 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $79,504 |
| 16 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $78,545 |
| 17 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $83,879 |
| 18 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $85,768 |
Release Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of release engineer experts
Seattle University
University of Minnesota - Duluth
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Weber State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Nova Southeastern University
Duke University
University of South Alabama
What general advice would you give to a Release Engineer?
Julie Brandis: Oregon State University provides support in salary negotiation, also students can work with mentors who are familiar with company hiring practices and wage structures. If you have internship experience, that can help to boost your starting salary.
Christopher Misorski FASM
Brunswick Technical Fellow-Materials Product Development & EngineeringWhat will help Release Engineers increase their earning potential?
Christopher Misorski FASM: Maximizing salary potential at the start of your career is not a clear pathway generally. One way that you can be considered more valuable, and hence worth a better salary, is to have participated in a co-op or internship program with a company in your field. This experience gives employers some confidence that you were able to carry out assignments and thrive in a workplace environment. The employer that you worked for may be inclined to offer you a position upon graduation and you are now worth more because you have already proven to them your abilities. Even if they don’t offer you a job (no appropriate open position may be available) your ability to discuss your experiences with the HR recruiter or hiring manager at another company can instill confidence in your selection as a hire. Just remember, if you tell them you did a project, be prepared to explain it so it doesn’t appear you were just in the background of this project, just going along for the ride.
What general advice would you give to a Release Engineer?
Thomas Congedo PhD: Of course there will always be new software tool developments. But far more important will be developing comprehension of and analytic ability in new reactor and system types - for example, non water-cooled power systems. Again, this is driven by your healthy curiosity.
What Release Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Congedo PhD: That comes from your ability to focus on technical product of the highest quality, always seeking to truly understand the customer’s needs. For example, often a customer will phrase a problem by stating the solution he or she assumes. Taking the time to respectfully draw out the thinking further can make you the customer’s hero, and this makes you the person likely to be selected for the challenging and most rewarded assignments.
Jhon Smith
Associate Professor and Director of MS in Structural EngineeringSeattle University
Civil Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Release Engineer?
Jhon Smith: Do not be afraid to ask questions to your supervisors (although do not take it to an extreme and become demanding—show initiative). You get the fundamentals of engineering at school and you are equipped to use them but it takes a few years to feel comfortable. Engineering is a profession of practice and it is only through practice that you best learn it.
What Release Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jhon Smith: Expand your network, join professional organizations and committees, become valuable in whatever company you work for, never stop learning, seek for opportunities for professional work, get your PE license. After these you will become more valuable naturally and could comfortably ask for a promotion or a salary increase because you’d know you deserve it.
What will help Release Engineers increase their earning potential?
Jhon Smith: Professional skills such as being able to communicate clearly, being flexible, open-minded, eager to take on challenges, adept and working with others and taking ownership of the projects tasks given to you. Staying grounded to the fundamental concepts you learn in school so every time you run a sophisticated piece of software to do design you must be able to use those fundamentals to check the results.
What will help Release Engineers increase their earning potential?
Richard Davis: Engineering offers career opportunities across various industries, from technology and healthcare to infrastructure and environmental sustainability. With technological advancements and the increasing complexity of global challenges, such as climate change, food and clean water, and urbanization, engineers are in high demand to develop innovative solutions. For example, environmental engineers are crucial in developing sustainable solutions to reduce pollution and conserve resources. Engineering provides opportunities for creativity and problem-solving, making it a rewarding career choice for those who enjoy tackling complex problems. The global focus on sustainability and renewable energy presents exciting prospects for engineers to contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact society and the environment.
What general advice would you give to a Release Engineer?
Mishah Salman Ph.D.: An underappreciated skill that I think will become more sought-after is the ability to validate computer-made decisions and their shortcomings. With the growing prominence of AI use in design, problem solving, and decision making, the engineering field will need experts to error-check decisions made using these technologies. Sometimes there are unexplored gaps that these technologies overlook, and sometimes there are biases or inappropriate assumptions baked into AI-based results. Humans are inherently imaginative and creative. We excel at picking up on things that computer algorithms may miss. Talented experts that recognize and address these issues will remain invaluable in the workforce. Another indispensable skill that is often overlooked in engineering is effective interpersonal communication. Whether in a teamwork context, a leadership role, or a client interaction, competent communication is crucial. This can take the form of conversation, live presentations, written correspondence, and beyond. People that hone their communication skills are often recognized, and tend to be the individuals that are promoted to more senior roles.
What Release Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mansooreh Mollaghasemi Ph.D.: Concurrent with building technical skills, they must build soft skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. These skills are often the differentiators between good and great engineers.
What will help Release Engineers increase their earning potential?
Megumi Usui: Even after obtaining a degree, it is crucial to recognize that continuous learning is a fundamental aspect of professional development in the workplace. One must cultivate an open-minded attitude and demonstrate a willingness to acquire new knowledge and skills at any time and in any context. Effective communication with colleagues and clients is essential for successful collaboration and project execution. It is important to understand that the professional environment is significantly different from the academic setting. In a company, the focus is delivering work that meets the expectations and standards set by the employer and satisfies the needs of clients, rather than merely fulfilling personal criteria. Furthermore, it is imperative to produce high-quality work consistently. Mediocre performance is unacceptable, and organizations will not hesitate to seek replacements if the work delivered does not meet their standards. Ensuring that your work is thorough, precise, and aligns with the company's objectives is critical for maintaining the position and advancing their career.
What general advice would you give to a Release Engineer?
Michael Denn: 1. Become the expert in whatever you do. 2. Understand how your work fits into the bigger picture and keep that in mind when you do your work. 3. Keep learning! Your engineering degree is not the end of your education! 4. Take stretch assignments and opportunities whenever you can.
What Release Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Denn: 1. The time needed to progress from an idea to a quality prototype is continually decreasing. That trend will likely continue. Skills that support short development times, such as computer modeling, simulations and rapid prototyping, will continue to be valued. 2. One skill that will always be valuable is the ability to acquire new knowledge and apply it to the task at hand.
What will help Release Engineers increase their earning potential?
Michael Denn: The answers to this question are largely the same as the answer to question 1. However, here are some additional points: 1. Excel in your job. Become the person everyone goes to for whatever type of work you do. 2. Develop and maintain a career plan. Make sure your assignments and tasks align with your plan. When you have the opportunity to change positions, keep you plan in mind.
Junping Sun Ph.D.
ProfessorNova Southeastern University
Computer Software And Media Applications
What Release Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Junping Sun Ph.D.: Computer Science and its applications in various fields are very dynamic and constantly evolving, and anyone in the fields needs to prepare to be adaptive by lifelong learning.
What general advice would you give to a Release Engineer?
Dr. Jimmie Lenz D.B.A.: A primary reason is the value placed on the quantitative nature of an engineering degree and the fact that this is primarily applied learning and skills, as opposed to the theoretical nature of some other areas of quantitative study. Being able to start working as soon as they start is very attractive to employers, as well as the broad knowledge of software, artificial intelligence, and data science that most engineers leave school with.
Edmund Spencer
Associate ProfessorUniversity of South Alabama
Electrical, Electronics, And Communications Engineering
What Release Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Edmund Spencer: Look for jobs that have the highest technical content, and try to develop entrepreneurial skills early.