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Senior subject matter expert salary
Average senior subject matter expert salary
$101,260
Understanding the Senior Subject Matter Expert Salary
The Senior Subject Matter Expert position commands an average salary of $101,260 annually, translating to about $49 per hour. These professionals play a vital role in organizations by providing expertise in specific domains, contributing to strategy and decision-making processes. Their responsibilities often include training staff, developing policies, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Salary can vary significantly based on geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, individuals with extensive experience or those in leadership roles can expect to earn at the higher end of the salary spectrum.
To maximize earning potential, it’s essential to stay updated on industry trends and continuously develop relevant skills. Many professionals transition into this role after gaining experience in related fields, making it a valuable career advancement opportunity.
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Where can a Senior Subject Matter Expert earn more?
Senior subject matter expert salary estimates from across the web
Average senior subject matter expert salary by state
The average senior subject matter expert salary in California, Washington, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior subject matter expert salary states are Missouri, Iowa, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior subject matter experts
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $130,401 | $62.69 |
| 2 | Washington | $115,527 | $55.54 |
| 3 | Tennessee | $101,378 | $48.74 |
| 4 | Maryland | $114,829 | $55.21 |
| 5 | Nevada | $107,867 | $51.86 |
| 6 | Virginia | $103,166 | $49.60 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $108,366 | $52.10 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $102,817 | $49.43 |
| 9 | Utah | $98,849 | $47.52 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $101,326 | $48.71 |
| 11 | Michigan | $100,757 | $48.44 |
| 12 | Ohio | $98,232 | $47.23 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $105,090 | $50.52 |
| 14 | Texas | $97,967 | $47.10 |
| 15 | Alabama | $95,573 | $45.95 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $102,282 | $49.17 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $95,357 | $45.84 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $101,862 | $48.97 |
| 19 | Georgia | $97,122 | $46.69 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $97,702 | $46.97 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $98,631 | $47.42 |
| 22 | Arizona | $98,240 | $47.23 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $97,141 | $46.70 |
| 24 | New York | $101,263 | $48.68 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $94,976 | $45.66 |
| 26 | Oregon | $95,706 | $46.01 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $96,717 | $46.50 |
| 28 | Florida | $94,669 | $45.51 |
| 29 | Idaho | $91,775 | $44.12 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $95,112 | $45.73 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $94,427 | $45.40 |
| 32 | Colorado | $95,375 | $45.85 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $98,691 | $47.45 |
| 34 | Alaska | $94,975 | $45.66 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $89,870 | $43.21 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $89,645 | $43.10 |
| 37 | Vermont | $95,943 | $46.13 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $94,880 | $45.62 |
| 39 | Indiana | $92,287 | $44.37 |
| 40 | Maine | $89,459 | $43.01 |
| 41 | Illinois | $94,665 | $45.51 |
| 42 | Delaware | $91,055 | $43.78 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $91,500 | $43.99 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $89,521 | $43.04 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $91,342 | $43.91 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $87,697 | $42.16 |
| 47 | Iowa | $88,350 | $42.48 |
| 48 | Kansas | $87,235 | $41.94 |
| 49 | Missouri | $89,006 | $42.79 |
| 50 | Montana | $85,765 | $41.23 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $83,718 | $40.25 |
Highest paying cities for senior subject matter experts
The highest-paying cities for senior subject matter experts are San Francisco, CA, Renton, WA, and Annapolis, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $138,290 | $66.49 |
| 2 | Renton, WA | $116,091 | $55.81 |
| 3 | Annapolis, MD | $115,002 | $55.29 |
| 4 | Norfolk, VA | $103,409 | $49.72 |
| 5 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $102,221 | $49.14 |
| 6 | New Haven, CT | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $101,402 | $48.75 |
| 8 | Livonia, MI | $100,828 | $48.48 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $97,981 | $47.11 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $97,202 | $46.73 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $97,022 | $46.65 |
| 12 | Peachtree City, GA | $96,894 | $46.58 |
| 13 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $96,854 | $46.56 |
| 14 | Colorado Springs, CO | $95,730 | $46.02 |
| 15 | Hillsboro, OR | $95,706 | $46.01 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $95,413 | $45.87 |
| 17 | Hoover, AL | $95,127 | $45.73 |
| 18 | Hoffman Estates, IL | $95,011 | $45.68 |
| 19 | Plymouth, MN | $94,992 | $45.67 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $89,065 | $42.82 |
Senior subject matter expert salary details
A senior subject matter expert's salary ranges from $79,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $128,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior subject matter expert's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $114,000 | $9,500 | $55 |
| Average | $101,260 | $8,438 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
Highest paying senior subject matter expert jobs
The highest paying types of senior subject matter experts are senior leader, senior technical consultant, and subject matter expert.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Module Lead | $80,263 | $6,689 | $38.59 | 99,170 |
| Systems Consultant | $99,659 | $8,305 | $47.91 | 134,337 |
| Technical Analyst | $74,045 | $6,170 | $35.60 | 190,370 |
| Systems Analyst | $75,383 | $6,282 | $36.24 | 141,289 |
| Information Technology Analyst | $83,078 | $6,923 | $39.94 | 145,565 |
| Lead Consultant | $103,221 | $8,602 | $49.63 | 78,252 |
Top companies hiring senior subject matter experts now:
Which companies pay senior subject matter experts the most?
Senior subject matter expert salaries at Citi and VMware are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior subject matter expert salary at companies like STARRY and AT&T; are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citi | $126,548 | $60.84 |
| 2 | VMware | $116,932 | $56.22 |
| 3 | STARRY | $112,273 | $53.98 |
| 4 | AT&T | $111,909 | $53.80 |
| 5 | Micron Technology | $111,420 | $53.57 |
| 6 | Shore Point Distributing Company, Inc. | $110,619 | $53.18 |
| 7 | System One | $109,929 | $52.85 |
| 8 | SHINE Systems | $106,207 | $51.06 |
| 9 | Data | $104,745 | $50.36 |
| 10 | Nes Holdings | $104,573 | $50.28 |
| 11 | Systems Planning and Analysis | $104,357 | $50.17 |
| 12 | Odyssey Systems | $104,067 | $50.03 |
| 13 | Technogen | $103,289 | $49.66 |
| 14 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $103,280 | $49.65 |
| 15 | Alcatel Networks Inc | $103,253 | $49.64 |
| 16 | All Native Systems LLC | $102,955 | $49.50 |
| 17 | Integration Innovation | $102,934 | $49.49 |
| 18 | Torch Technologies | $102,767 | $49.41 |
| 19 | USM Business Systems | $102,604 | $49.33 |
| 20 | SirionLabs | $102,232 | $49.15 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior subject matter expert salary trends
The average senior subject matter expert salary has risen by $16,306 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior subject matter expert earned $84,954 annually, but today, they earn $101,260 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for senior subject matter experts over the last decade.
Compare senior subject matter expert salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior subject matter expert salary over time
Compare senior subject matter expert salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior subject matter expert salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $101,000 | $48.68 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $97,900 | $47.08 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $95,700 | $46.01 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $95,200 | $45.77 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $94,100 | $45.22 | +1.6% |
Recently added senior subject matter expert salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It-Professional Services | Senior Security Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME)-Remote | WFH | Columbia, MD | 06/29/2025 | $114,000 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Senior Program Manager and Instructional Design Subject-Matter Expert-Remote | WFH | McLean, VA | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | SR. IT Subject Matter Expert | Albany, NY | 06/27/2025 | $169,229 |
| Viderity | Edi/Xml Senior Subject Matter Expert (SME) | Fort Belvoir, VA | 06/27/2025 | $105,000 |
| DB E.C.O | Senior Subject Matter Expert-Rail Operations and Maintenance | Ione, WA | 06/26/2025 | $160,000 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | SR. IT Subject Matter Expert | Trenton, NJ | 06/24/2025 | $169,229 |
| Noblis | Senior Subject Matter Expert-Systems Engineering and Requirements | Washington, DC | 06/14/2025 | $124,000 |
| E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc. | Senior Manufacturing Subject Matter Expert (SME) | Los Angeles, CA | 06/10/2025 | $130,000 |
| Leidos | Network Operations Engineer-SR. Subject Matter Expert | Greenbelt, MD | 05/28/2025 | $112,450 |
| Perspecta | IT Subject Matter Expert-Senior | Washington, DC | 05/28/2025 | $135,000 |
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