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Senior lead project engineer salary
Average senior lead project engineer salary
$102,402
Understanding Senior Lead Project Engineer Salaries
The Senior Lead Project Engineer position is integral in various industries, overseeing complex engineering projects. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is $102,402 per year, translating to about $49 per hour. Salaries vary based on geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, professionals in high-demand areas like California and New York often earn significantly more.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with extensive experience can command higher salaries. Additionally, the industry impacts earnings; sectors such as technology and construction often offer competitive compensation packages.
Maximizing Earnings Potential
To maximize salary potential, Senior Lead Project Engineers should consider roles in industries that are known for higher pay and seek opportunities for professional development, such as certifications or advanced degrees. By staying informed about salary trends and industry demands, engineers can make strategic career decisions that enhance their earning potential.
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Where can a Senior Lead Project Engineer earn more?
Average senior lead project engineer salary by state
The average senior lead project engineer salary in Washington, Louisiana, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior lead project engineer salary states are Indiana, Nebraska, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior lead project engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $129,932 | $62.47 |
| 2 | Nevada | $118,083 | $56.77 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $111,744 | $53.72 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $107,683 | $51.77 |
| 5 | Arizona | $114,872 | $55.23 |
| 6 | Idaho | $103,356 | $49.69 |
| 7 | California | $114,194 | $54.90 |
| 8 | Montana | $105,032 | $50.50 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $113,884 | $54.75 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $123,057 | $59.16 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | $105,811 | $50.87 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $106,393 | $51.15 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $122,734 | $59.01 |
| 14 | Ohio | $102,180 | $49.13 |
| 15 | Michigan | $100,997 | $48.56 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $100,751 | $48.44 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $102,400 | $49.23 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $105,964 | $50.94 |
| 19 | Missouri | $101,327 | $48.71 |
| 20 | Illinois | $105,657 | $50.80 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $100,601 | $48.37 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $98,201 | $47.21 |
| 23 | Colorado | $99,800 | $47.98 |
| 24 | Georgia | $97,731 | $46.99 |
| 25 | Utah | $97,503 | $46.88 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $98,109 | $47.17 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $94,267 | $45.32 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $106,160 | $51.04 |
| 29 | Maine | $96,547 | $46.42 |
| 30 | Virginia | $97,242 | $46.75 |
| 31 | New York | $100,514 | $48.32 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $97,658 | $46.95 |
| 33 | Alaska | $94,373 | $45.37 |
| 34 | Delaware | $95,438 | $45.88 |
| 35 | Alabama | $93,934 | $45.16 |
| 36 | Texas | $95,195 | $45.77 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $88,460 | $42.53 |
| 38 | Florida | $96,903 | $46.59 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $86,808 | $41.73 |
| 40 | Maryland | $94,747 | $45.55 |
| 41 | Kansas | $86,467 | $41.57 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $93,690 | $45.04 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $88,576 | $42.58 |
| 44 | Indiana | $87,865 | $42.24 |
| 45 | Iowa | $90,512 | $43.52 |
| 46 | Oregon | $85,545 | $41.13 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $90,547 | $43.53 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $81,862 | $39.36 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $88,583 | $42.59 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $88,856 | $42.72 |
| 51 | Vermont | $83,919 | $40.35 |
Highest paying cities for senior lead project engineers
The highest-paying cities for senior lead project engineers are Bellevue, WA, Fremont, CA, and Raleigh, NC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue, WA | $130,492 | $62.74 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $122,030 | $58.67 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $102,989 | $49.51 |
| 4 | Saint Louis, MO | $101,624 | $48.86 |
| 5 | Farmington Hills, MI | $101,059 | $48.59 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $100,691 | $48.41 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $100,146 | $48.15 |
| 8 | Peachtree City, GA | $97,581 | $46.91 |
| 9 | Fort Worth, TX | $94,483 | $45.42 |
Senior lead project engineer salary details
A senior lead project engineer's salary ranges from $78,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $133,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior lead project engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56 |
| Average | $102,402 | $8,534 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
Highest paying senior lead project engineer jobs
The highest paying types of senior lead project engineers are senior staff engineer, senior principal engineer, and principal engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design Engineer | $77,134 | $6,428 | $37.08 | 138,173 |
| Principal Engineer | $130,213 | $10,851 | $62.60 | 312,683 |
| Staff Engineer | $107,530 | $8,961 | $51.70 | 277,011 |
| Project Engineering Manager | $110,534 | $9,211 | $53.14 | 171,897 |
| Process Engineer | $82,443 | $6,870 | $39.64 | 66,937 |
| Lead Design Engineer | $108,490 | $9,041 | $52.16 | 118,073 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for senior lead project engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Daisy Huang
Assistant Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Top companies hiring senior lead project engineers now:
Which companies pay senior lead project engineers the most?
Senior lead project engineer salaries at ASML Holding and Moffatt & Nichol are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior lead project engineer salary at companies like Corning Incorporated and Panasonic are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASML Holding | $118,451 | $56.95 |
| 2 | Moffatt & Nichol | $106,078 | $51.00 |
| 3 | Corning Incorporated | $105,318 | $50.63 |
| 4 | Panasonic | $104,920 | $50.44 |
| 5 | The Aerospace Corporation | $103,476 | $49.75 |
| 6 | Kion Group | $103,258 | $49.64 |
| 7 | ABB | $99,687 | $47.93 |
| 8 | HNTB | $99,333 | $47.76 |
| 9 | Emerson | $93,753 | $45.07 |
| 10 | Lockheed Martin | $86,995 | $41.82 |
| 11 | Raytheon Technologies | $85,420 | $41.07 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Lead Project Engineer salary by industry
The average senior lead project engineer salary varies across industries:
- The average senior lead project engineer salary in the finance industry is $116,717, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior lead project engineer salary in the finance industry is $110,204.
- Senior lead project engineers in the energy industry earn an average salary of $98,275, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior lead project engineers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $116,717 | $56.11 |
| 2 | Professional | $110,204 | $52.98 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $107,358 | $51.61 |
| 4 | Technology | $106,718 | $51.31 |
| 5 | Retail | $100,926 | $48.52 |
| 6 | Energy | $98,275 | $47.25 |
High paying senior lead project engineer jobs
Senior lead project engineer salary trends
The average senior lead project engineer salary has risen by $13,481 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior lead project engineer earned $88,921 annually, but today, they earn $102,402 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for senior lead project engineers over the last decade.
Compare senior lead project engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior lead project engineer salary over time
Compare senior lead project engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior lead project engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $102,000 | $49.23 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $101,000 | $48.72 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $100,000 | $48.17 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $98,900 | $47.53 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $97,100 | $46.66 | +1.0% |
Recently added senior lead project engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc. | SR. MES Engineer II-Pas-X Project Lead | Novato, CA | 06/18/2025 | $140,000 |
| Jeppesen | Senior/Lead Project Engineer-Flight Simulation Labs | Berkeley, MO | 05/27/2025 | $140,250 |
| Boeing | Senior/Lead Project Engineer-Flight Simulation Labs | Berkeley, MO | 05/23/2025 | $140,250 |
| Caltrol | Automation Projects Engineer Senior or Lead SR) | Irvine, CA | 05/21/2025 | $130,000 |
| Jeppesen | Lead or Senior Project Engineer | Saint Charles, MO | 04/29/2025 | $140,250 |
| Boeing | Lead or Senior Project Engineer | Saint Charles, MO | 04/24/2025 | $140,250 |
| Moog | Senior Project Lead Engineer (Aerospace Actuators)) | Torrance, CA | 04/22/2025 | $130,000 |
| Bae Systems | Project Engineer Senior (Electrical Proposal Lead/Execution) | Westminster, CO | 04/08/2025 | $146,670 |
| HNTB Corporation | Senior Project Engineer-Gold Star Bridge Dsdc Lead | Hartford, CT | 04/06/2025 | $118,462 |
| HNTB Corporation | Senior Project Engineer-Gold Star Bridge Dsdc Lead | Rocky Hill, NJ | 04/06/2025 | $118,462 |
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