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Chief design engineer salary
Average chief design engineer salary
$91,363
Chief Design Engineer Salary Overview
The average salary for a Chief Design Engineer is $91,363 per year, translating to about $44 per hour. This figure can vary based on experience, geographic location, and industry. For instance, Chief Design Engineers in technology and aerospace sectors often command higher wages due to the complexity and demand for innovative solutions.
Salary by State
States like California and Texas typically offer the highest salaries for Chief Design Engineers, with averages significantly above the national mean. In California, the average salary can reach over $110,000, reflecting the high cost of living and competitive market. Conversely, states with lower living costs, such as Alabama, may average around $80,000.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a critical role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start at approximately $70,000, while seasoned professionals with specialized skills can earn upwards of $120,000. Additional certifications and advanced degrees may further enhance earning potential.
Conclusion
Understanding the salary landscape for Chief Design Engineers is essential for career planning. By exploring job opportunities and staying informed about industry trends, you can strategically navigate your career path in design engineering.
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Where can a Chief Design Engineer earn more?
Chief design engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average chief design engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for chief design engineers are Nevada, Washington, and California. The lowest average chief design engineer salary states are South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief design engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $113,106 | $54.38 |
| 2 | California | $111,802 | $53.75 |
| 3 | Oregon | $105,289 | $50.62 |
| 4 | Nevada | $114,636 | $55.11 |
| 5 | New York | $100,928 | $48.52 |
| 6 | Arizona | $93,688 | $45.04 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $103,146 | $49.59 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $100,747 | $48.44 |
| 9 | Illinois | $95,275 | $45.81 |
| 10 | Texas | $90,228 | $43.38 |
| 11 | Idaho | $94,003 | $45.19 |
| 12 | Maryland | $96,039 | $46.17 |
| 13 | Colorado | $93,030 | $44.73 |
| 14 | Ohio | $94,813 | $45.58 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $91,784 | $44.13 |
| 16 | Utah | $86,632 | $41.65 |
| 17 | Alaska | $95,782 | $46.05 |
| 18 | Georgia | $89,140 | $42.86 |
| 19 | Michigan | $82,849 | $39.83 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $89,029 | $42.80 |
| 21 | Virginia | $86,182 | $41.43 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $81,275 | $39.07 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $93,042 | $44.73 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $82,909 | $39.86 |
| 25 | Delaware | $82,046 | $39.45 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $85,247 | $40.98 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $85,735 | $41.22 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $84,756 | $40.75 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $80,995 | $38.94 |
| 30 | Alabama | $79,993 | $38.46 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $79,439 | $38.19 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $81,637 | $39.25 |
| 33 | Kansas | $82,032 | $39.44 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $84,249 | $40.50 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $76,670 | $36.86 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $79,449 | $38.20 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $76,371 | $36.72 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $77,127 | $37.08 |
| 39 | Indiana | $77,548 | $37.28 |
| 40 | Montana | $75,424 | $36.26 |
| 41 | Florida | $77,386 | $37.20 |
| 42 | Iowa | $75,840 | $36.46 |
| 43 | Missouri | $78,439 | $37.71 |
| 44 | Maine | $76,215 | $36.64 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $75,218 | $36.16 |
| 46 | Vermont | $70,494 | $33.89 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $74,058 | $35.60 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $72,255 | $34.74 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $58,176 | $27.97 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $70,776 | $34.03 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $67,276 | $32.34 |
Highest paying cities for chief design engineers
The highest-paying cities for chief design engineers are Kirkland, WA, Carson, CA, and Cypress, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkland, WA | $113,866 | $54.74 |
| 2 | Carson, CA | $107,599 | $51.73 |
| 3 | Cypress, CA | $107,225 | $51.55 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $103,174 | $49.60 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $102,797 | $49.42 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $101,273 | $48.69 |
| 7 | Endicott, NY | $99,665 | $47.92 |
| 8 | Reynoldsburg, OH | $95,116 | $45.73 |
| 9 | Bainbridge, GA | $85,329 | $41.02 |
| 10 | Etna, WY | $84,735 | $40.74 |
| 11 | Olathe, KS | $81,642 | $39.25 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $78,907 | $37.94 |
| 13 | Plainfield, IN | $77,398 | $37.21 |
| 14 | Grafton, WI | $72,285 | $34.75 |
Chief design engineer salary details
A chief design engineer's salary ranges from $60,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $137,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief design engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
| Average | $91,363 | $7,614 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
Highest paying chief design engineer jobs
The highest paying types of chief design engineers are senior principal engineer, principal engineer, and team lead engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Engineer | $89,645 | $7,470 | $43.10 | 157,888 |
| Tool Engineer | $101,135 | $8,428 | $48.62 | 98,936 |
| Project Engineer | $75,050 | $6,254 | $36.08 | 176,689 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Principal Engineer | $130,213 | $10,851 | $62.60 | 312,683 |
| Staff Engineer | $107,530 | $8,961 | $51.70 | 277,011 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for chief design engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill
Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technology, Northern Michigan University
Top companies hiring chief design engineers now:
Which companies pay chief design engineers the most?
Chief design engineer salaries at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Tdk are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief design engineer salary at companies like Regal Beloit and BAE Systems are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $132,239 | $63.58 |
| 2 | Tdk | $101,015 | $48.56 |
| 3 | Regal Beloit | $93,411 | $44.91 |
| 4 | BAE Systems | $92,185 | $44.32 |
| 5 | Safran | $90,592 | $43.55 |
| 6 | Astronics | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| 7 | TS Tech Americas | $86,882 | $41.77 |
| 8 | M.C. Dean | $79,507 | $38.22 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief design engineer salary trends
The average chief design engineer salary has risen by $11,076 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief design engineer earned $80,287 annually, but today, they earn $91,363 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for chief design engineers over the last decade.
Compare chief design engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief design engineer salary over time
Compare chief design engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief design engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $91,400 | $43.92 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $89,600 | $43.08 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $88,500 | $42.57 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $87,000 | $41.84 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $85,300 | $41.02 | +0.7% |
Recently added chief design engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanson Professional Services | Chief Engineer, Site Design and Development Projects | Jacksonville, FL | 06/03/2025 | $150,000 |
| General Dynamics | Chief Engineer/Service Design Lead | Fort Meade, MD | 05/27/2025 | $161,158 |
| NES Associates | Chief Engineer/Service Design Lead | Fort Meade, MD | 05/26/2025 | $161,158 |
| Grand Valley State University | Secretary-Padnos College of Engineering Innovation Design Center | Grand Rapids, MI | 05/16/2025 | $38,317 |
| Arcadis | National Stormwater Design Group Chief Engineer | Atlanta, GA | 04/28/2025 | $116,000 |
| Innovation Dynamics Inc. | Chief Engineer-Mechanical Design & Mechatronics | Farmington Hills, MI | 02/10/2025 | $125,220 |
| Arcadis | National Stormwater Design Group Chief Engineer | Atlanta, GA | 12/01/2024 | $116,000 |
| Ana United States | National Stormwater Design Group Chief Engineer | Atlanta, GA | 11/26/2024 | $116,000 |
| Curtiss-Wright Corporation | Chief Design Engineer | East Farmingdale, NY | 10/24/2024 | $136,000 |
| Oshkosh Corp | Chief Engineer-Design | Enon, OH | 10/15/2024 | $102,800 |
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