Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior computer systems engineer salary
Average senior computer systems engineer salary
$92,532
Understanding Senior Computer Systems Engineer Salaries
The role of a Senior Computer Systems Engineer involves critical responsibilities, including systems design, implementation, and maintenance. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $92,532 per year, translating to approximately $44 per hour. Salaries can differ significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Salary Variations by State
Senior Computer Systems Engineers can expect varying salaries across the United States. States like California and New York often offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. For instance, in California, salaries can exceed $100,000 annually, reflecting the competitive job market.
Job Opportunities
Additionally, the highest-paying cities for Senior Computer Systems Engineers include San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. These urban centers not only provide lucrative salaries but also abundant job opportunities in technology firms and government sectors. If you're considering a career in this field, understanding salary trends can guide your job search effectively.
Let Zippia find your next senior computer systems engineer job
Let Zippia find your next senior computer systems engineer job
Where can a Senior Computer Systems Engineer earn more?
Average senior computer systems engineer salary by state
The average senior computer systems engineer salary in Idaho, New Jersey, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior computer systems engineer salary states are Nebraska, Florida, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior computer systems engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $100,704 | $48.42 |
| 2 | California | $99,914 | $48.04 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $94,044 | $45.21 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $98,997 | $47.59 |
| 5 | Washington | $92,086 | $44.27 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $92,703 | $44.57 |
| 7 | Maryland | $91,463 | $43.97 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $100,305 | $48.22 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $94,138 | $45.26 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $89,377 | $42.97 |
| 11 | Michigan | $88,952 | $42.77 |
| 12 | Nevada | $91,113 | $43.80 |
| 13 | Delaware | $90,377 | $43.45 |
| 14 | New York | $94,663 | $45.51 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $80,639 | $38.77 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $87,600 | $42.12 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $85,543 | $41.13 |
| 18 | Texas | $82,682 | $39.75 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $80,429 | $38.67 |
| 20 | Virginia | $82,262 | $39.55 |
| 21 | Utah | $79,076 | $38.02 |
| 22 | Vermont | $79,588 | $38.26 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $83,318 | $40.06 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $77,916 | $37.46 |
| 25 | Oregon | $80,786 | $38.84 |
| 26 | Iowa | $80,924 | $38.91 |
| 27 | Ohio | $78,746 | $37.86 |
| 28 | Arizona | $74,014 | $35.58 |
| 29 | Colorado | $75,368 | $36.23 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $77,919 | $37.46 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $72,976 | $35.08 |
| 32 | Illinois | $77,264 | $37.15 |
| 33 | Alaska | $72,107 | $34.67 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $74,437 | $35.79 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $74,551 | $35.84 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $73,576 | $35.37 |
| 37 | Maine | $73,563 | $35.37 |
| 38 | Alabama | $69,913 | $33.61 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $74,932 | $36.02 |
| 40 | Georgia | $72,385 | $34.80 |
| 41 | Kansas | $71,812 | $34.52 |
| 42 | Montana | $72,812 | $35.01 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $72,616 | $34.91 |
| 44 | Florida | $68,978 | $33.16 |
| 45 | Indiana | $70,733 | $34.01 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $60,391 | $29.03 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $69,383 | $33.36 |
| 48 | Missouri | $69,868 | $33.59 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $68,913 | $33.13 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $64,981 | $31.24 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $64,636 | $31.07 |
Highest paying cities for senior computer systems engineers
The highest-paying cities for senior computer systems engineers are San Francisco, CA, Edison, NJ, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $113,218 | $54.43 |
| 2 | Edison, NJ | $100,310 | $48.23 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $94,868 | $45.61 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $94,162 | $45.27 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $93,692 | $45.04 |
| 6 | Bellevue, WA | $92,856 | $44.64 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $91,793 | $44.13 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $89,077 | $42.83 |
| 9 | Dover, NH | $88,890 | $42.74 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $85,521 | $41.12 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $83,290 | $40.04 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $81,966 | $39.41 |
| 13 | Hillsboro, OR | $80,842 | $38.87 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $78,346 | $37.67 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $77,493 | $37.26 |
| 16 | Englewood, CO | $75,308 | $36.21 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,146 | $35.65 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $72,794 | $35.00 |
| 19 | Sunrise, FL | $68,114 | $32.75 |
| 20 | Bentonville, AR | $64,768 | $31.14 |
Senior computer systems engineer salary details
A senior computer systems engineer's salary ranges from $68,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $124,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior computer systems engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $124,000 | $10,333 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| Average | $92,532 | $7,711 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
Highest paying senior computer systems engineer jobs
The highest paying types of senior computer systems engineers are principal systems engineer, senior systems software engineer, and lead systems engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Support | $64,031 | $5,336 | $30.78 | 156,028 |
| Computer Analyst | $75,852 | $6,321 | $36.47 | 75,369 |
| Network Engineer | $83,557 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 72,346 |
| Systems Manager | $107,156 | $8,930 | $51.52 | 145,551 |
| Systems Integration Engineer | $106,065 | $8,839 | $50.99 | 217,599 |
| Systems Support Engineer | $82,561 | $6,880 | $39.69 | 182,434 |
Top companies hiring senior computer systems engineers now:
Which companies pay senior computer systems engineers the most?
Senior computer systems engineer salaries at Nikola Motor and Oracle are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior computer systems engineer salary at companies like Telecom and Delta Dental Ins are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikola Motor | $118,271 | $56.86 |
| 2 | Oracle | $107,950 | $51.90 |
| 3 | Telecom | $103,544 | $49.78 |
| 4 | Delta Dental Ins | $100,891 | $48.51 |
| 5 | ICU Medical | $100,788 | $48.46 |
| 6 | EMC | $99,782 | $47.97 |
| 7 | Avid Bioservices | $96,845 | $46.56 |
| 8 | ATCS | $95,418 | $45.87 |
| 9 | Pace Inc | $95,303 | $45.82 |
| 10 | HSN | $93,769 | $45.08 |
| 11 | Integration Innovation | $92,093 | $44.28 |
| 12 | Peregrine Pharmaceuticals | $91,986 | $44.22 |
| 13 | Light | $91,221 | $43.86 |
| 14 | Edifecs | $91,098 | $43.80 |
| 15 | Flex Construction | $90,326 | $43.43 |
| 16 | Embark Trucks | $90,326 | $43.43 |
| 17 | Peraton | $90,260 | $43.39 |
| 18 | Real Soft Inc | $88,112 | $42.36 |
| 19 | STA Group | $87,898 | $42.26 |
| 20 | Commissioning Agents | $87,522 | $42.08 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior computer systems engineer salary trends
The average senior computer systems engineer salary has risen by $16,885 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior computer systems engineer earned $75,647 annually, but today, they earn $92,532 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for senior computer systems engineers over the last decade.
Compare senior computer systems engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior computer systems engineer salary over time
Compare senior computer systems engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior computer systems engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $92,500 | $44.49 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $89,500 | $43.02 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $87,500 | $42.05 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $86,400 | $41.56 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $85,000 | $40.84 | +2.4% |
Recently added senior computer systems engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sql Database Administrator In Fort Belvoir, Virginia | Senior Computer Systems Engineer/Architect | Columbia, MD | 06/29/2025 | $117,000 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. | Senior Computer Systems Validation Engineer | Severn, MD | 06/25/2025 | $85,000 |
| Northrop Grumman | Principal/SR. Principal Research Computing Systems Engineer (Rc1036) | Annapolis, MD | 06/15/2025 | $131,100 |
| at&T | Senior Engineer/Senior Computer Systems Engineer/Architect (Government) | Bellevue, NE | 06/03/2025 | $78,800 |
| E&M Technologies | Senior Computer Systems Engineer/Architect (System Architect-Cyber) | Offutt Air Force Base, NE | 06/01/2025 | $130,000 |
| Scout Motors | Senior Body Systems Engineer, CAD/Sheetmetal | Novi, MI | 05/09/2025 | $140,000 |
| Northrop Grumman | SR. Principal Research Computing Systems Engineer (Rc1036) | Linthicum, MD | 04/29/2025 | $131,100 |
| Delta Dental Ins | Senior Cloud Computing Systems Engineer | Alpharetta, GA | 04/28/2025 | $149,760 |
| Sql Database Administrator In Fort Belvoir, Virginia | Senior Computer Systems Engineer/Architect | Columbia, MD | 04/28/2025 | $117,000 |
| at&T | Senior Engineer/Senior Computer Systems Engineer/Architect (Government) | Bellevue, WA | 04/24/2025 | $78,800 |
Senior computer systems engineer salary FAQs
Search for senior computer systems engineer jobs