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Radio frequency engineer lead salary
Average radio frequency engineer lead salary
$100,054
Understanding the Salary of a Radio Frequency Engineer Lead
The Radio Frequency Engineer Lead plays a vital role in the telecommunications industry, specializing in the design and management of RF systems. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $100,054 per year. Factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific industry significantly influence earnings.
For instance, states with high demand for RF engineers, such as California and Texas, typically offer higher salaries. Additionally, professionals with more experience can expect to earn more, with entry-level positions starting at a lower rate.
Furthermore, the highest-paying cities for Radio Frequency Engineers include metropolitan areas known for technological advancements and strong job markets. Understanding these elements can help you make informed career decisions and target opportunities that align with your ambitions.
Overall, pursuing a career as a Radio Frequency Engineer Lead not only provides a competitive salary but also the chance to work on innovative projects that shape the future of communication technology.
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Where can a Radio Frequency Engineer Lead earn more?
Radio frequency engineer lead salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level radio frequency engineer lead | $89,600 | $43.05 |
| Mid-level radio frequency engineer lead | $111,000 | $53.57 |
| Senior-level radio frequency engineer lead | $141,000 | $67.63 |
Average radio frequency engineer lead salary by state
The highest-paying states for radio frequency engineers lead are California, Nevada, and Texas. The lowest average radio frequency engineer lead salary states are Wisconsin, Nebraska, and West Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for radio frequency engineers lead
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $107,922 | $51.89 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $129,769 | $62.39 |
| 3 | California | $119,445 | $57.43 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $98,453 | $47.33 |
| 5 | Texas | $107,354 | $51.61 |
| 6 | Virginia | $105,642 | $50.79 |
| 7 | Washington | $105,628 | $50.78 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $95,931 | $46.12 |
| 9 | Michigan | $92,614 | $44.53 |
| 10 | Idaho | $94,212 | $45.29 |
| 11 | Alaska | $97,106 | $46.69 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $101,331 | $48.72 |
| 13 | Arizona | $97,064 | $46.67 |
| 14 | Delaware | $97,552 | $46.90 |
| 15 | Ohio | $97,951 | $47.09 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $106,578 | $51.24 |
| 17 | Utah | $95,660 | $45.99 |
| 18 | Maryland | $99,131 | $47.66 |
| 19 | Colorado | $94,137 | $45.26 |
| 20 | Alabama | $90,797 | $43.65 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $85,381 | $41.05 |
| 22 | Florida | $92,543 | $44.49 |
| 23 | Kansas | $85,584 | $41.15 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $91,547 | $44.01 |
| 25 | Illinois | $91,212 | $43.85 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $89,081 | $42.83 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $95,531 | $45.93 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $88,642 | $42.62 |
| 29 | Missouri | $90,606 | $43.56 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $90,616 | $43.57 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $86,931 | $41.79 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $87,171 | $41.91 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $80,691 | $38.79 |
| 34 | Georgia | $85,771 | $41.24 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $86,056 | $41.37 |
| 36 | New York | $84,931 | $40.83 |
| 37 | Maine | $84,943 | $40.84 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $82,190 | $39.51 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $74,679 | $35.90 |
| 40 | Oregon | $77,142 | $37.09 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $79,805 | $38.37 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $82,692 | $39.76 |
| 43 | Vermont | $82,312 | $39.57 |
| 44 | Indiana | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| 45 | Montana | $65,353 | $31.42 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $80,728 | $38.81 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $63,628 | $30.59 |
| 48 | Iowa | $76,257 | $36.66 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $76,222 | $36.65 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $72,071 | $34.65 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $65,602 | $31.54 |
Highest paying cities for radio frequency engineers lead
The highest-paying cities for radio frequency engineers lead are Concord, CA, Dallas, TX, and Bellevue, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord, CA | $122,833 | $59.05 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $107,565 | $51.71 |
| 3 | Bellevue, WA | $105,903 | $50.91 |
| 4 | Norfolk, VA | $105,891 | $50.91 |
| 5 | Lowell, MA | $101,114 | $48.61 |
| 6 | Annapolis, MD | $99,348 | $47.76 |
| 7 | Tempe, AZ | $97,191 | $46.73 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs, CO | $95,536 | $45.93 |
| 9 | North Brunswick, NJ | $95,498 | $45.91 |
| 10 | Draper, UT | $95,492 | $45.91 |
| 11 | Tampa, FL | $93,291 | $44.85 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $91,560 | $44.02 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $91,479 | $43.98 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $91,132 | $43.81 |
| 15 | Metairie, LA | $85,863 | $41.28 |
| 16 | Johns Creek, GA | $85,479 | $41.10 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $79,213 | $38.08 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $76,346 | $36.70 |
| 19 | Waukesha, WI | $76,335 | $36.70 |
| 20 | Guaynabo, PR | $43,915 | $21.11 |
Radio frequency engineer lead salary details
A radio frequency engineer lead's salary ranges from $71,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $140,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a radio frequency engineer lead's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $140,000 | $11,667 | $67 |
| 75th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| Average | $100,054 | $8,338 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 10th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
Highest paying radio frequency engineer lead jobs
The highest paying types of radio frequency engineers lead are staff design engineer, asic design engineer, and circuit design engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controls Designer | $91,944 | $7,662 | $44.20 | 79,729 |
| PCB Designer | $74,841 | $6,237 | $35.98 | 72,971 |
| Engineering Trainee | $60,235 | $5,020 | $28.96 | 79,966 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Project Controls Engineer | $86,685 | $7,224 | $41.68 | 38,974 |
| Telecom Engineer | $81,384 | $6,782 | $39.13 | 33,530 |
Top companies hiring radio frequency engineers lead now:
Which companies pay radio frequency engineers lead the most?
Radio frequency engineer lead salaries at Apple and Qualcomm are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average radio frequency engineer lead salary at companies like Optimos and AT&T; are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $145,510 | $69.96 |
| 2 | Qualcomm | $107,312 | $51.59 |
| 3 | Optimos | $105,823 | $50.88 |
| 4 | AT&T | $105,733 | $50.83 |
| 5 | MITRE | $105,250 | $50.60 |
| 6 | Veoneer | $103,346 | $49.69 |
| 7 | T-Mobile | $102,378 | $49.22 |
| 8 | Boeing | $102,100 | $49.09 |
| 9 | Rivian | $101,642 | $48.87 |
| 10 | Nexius | $101,042 | $48.58 |
| 11 | Telecom | $100,399 | $48.27 |
| 12 | Amdocs | $100,183 | $48.16 |
| 13 | Crown Castle International | $99,837 | $48.00 |
| 14 | Honeywell | $99,529 | $47.85 |
| 15 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $98,956 | $47.58 |
| 16 | Ossia | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| 17 | Arq | $98,809 | $47.50 |
| 18 | Huntington Ingalls Industries | $98,809 | $47.50 |
| 19 | TeleWorld Solutions | $98,394 | $47.30 |
| 20 | Analog Devices | $97,969 | $47.10 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Radio Frequency Engineer Lead salary by industry
The average radio frequency engineer lead salary varies across industries:
- The average radio frequency engineer lead salary in the telecommunication industry is $102,027, the highest of any industry.
- The average radio frequency engineer lead salary in the finance industry is $101,966.
- Radio frequency engineers lead in the technology industry earn an average salary of $97,517, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for radio frequency engineers lead
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telecommunication | $102,027 | $49.05 |
| 2 | Professional | $101,966 | $49.02 |
| 3 | Automotive | $99,954 | $48.05 |
| 4 | Retail | $97,932 | $47.08 |
| 5 | Technology | $97,517 | $46.88 |
High paying radio frequency engineer lead jobs
Radio frequency engineer lead salary trends
The average radio frequency engineer lead salary has risen by $14,924 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average radio frequency engineer lead earned $85,130 annually, but today, they earn $100,054 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for radio frequency engineers lead over the last decade.
Compare radio frequency engineer lead salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average radio frequency engineer lead salary over time
Compare radio frequency engineer lead salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Radio frequency engineer lead salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,000 | $48.10 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $98,200 | $47.22 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $95,600 | $45.94 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $95,100 | $45.71 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $92,300 | $44.38 | +0.9% |
Recently added radio frequency engineer lead salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motive Companies | RF Lead | Sacramento, CA | 06/21/2025 | $52,175 |
| Kyocera External | Lead Radio Frequency/Microwave (Rf/Mw) Engineer (CN | San Diego, CA | 06/21/2025 | $157,331 |
| Kyocera Corp | Lead Radio Frequency/Microwave (Rf/Mw) Engineer (CN | San Diego, CA | 06/20/2025 | $157,331 |
| Motive Infrastructure Solutions | RF Lead | Sacramento, CA | 06/19/2025 | $52,175 |
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | RF Engineer, Senior Lead Secret Clearance | King of Prussia, PA | 06/16/2025 | $101,000 |
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | RF Engineer, Senior Lead Ts/Sci W/Polygraph | Littleton, CO | 06/16/2025 | $101,000 |
| ARKA Group, L.P | RF Ground Campaign Lead (Ts/Sci) {S} | Aurora, CO | 06/13/2025 | $170,000 |
| Stellant Systems | RF Engineer Lead | Topsfield, MA | 06/10/2025 | $135,000 |
| Qualcomm | Lead RF Systems Engineer | San Diego, CA | 06/07/2025 | $162,600 |
| Anduril Industries | Lead RF Integration Engineer-Production | Costa Mesa, CA | 06/07/2025 | $160,000 |
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