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A Senior Telecom Engineer is responsible for designing and managing telecommunications systems. In the United States, the average salary for this role is approximately $82,846 per year. Salaries vary significantly based on factors such as experience, geographic location, and the specific sector.
Senior Telecom Engineers earn higher salaries in states like California and New York, where the demand for telecommunications expertise is robust. For instance, in California, the average salary can reach $95,000, reflecting the cost of living and industry competition.
With advancements in technology and the growing need for enhanced communication systems, professionals in this field can expand their skills and move into specialized roles. Engaging with professional networks and pursuing certifications can also lead to higher earning potential.
Understanding the factors affecting salaries in the Senior Telecom Engineer role can help professionals make informed decisions about their careers. By targeting specific industries and locations, engineers can maximize their earning potential and career satisfaction.
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The average senior telecom engineer salary in Idaho, Connecticut, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior telecom engineer salary states are Alabama, Maine, and Michigan.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $95,076 | $45.71 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $95,213 | $45.78 |
| 3 | California | $94,876 | $45.61 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $95,043 | $45.69 |
| 5 | Colorado | $86,412 | $41.54 |
| 6 | Idaho | $99,776 | $47.97 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $83,959 | $40.36 |
| 8 | Illinois | $89,809 | $43.18 |
| 9 | Nevada | $87,510 | $42.07 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $87,993 | $42.30 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $91,873 | $44.17 |
| 12 | Delaware | $81,893 | $39.37 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $78,526 | $37.75 |
| 14 | Oregon | $81,207 | $39.04 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $81,547 | $39.21 |
| 16 | Maryland | $82,000 | $39.42 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $81,991 | $39.42 |
| 18 | Texas | $78,003 | $37.50 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $78,251 | $37.62 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $83,400 | $40.10 |
| 21 | Utah | $76,717 | $36.88 |
| 22 | Alaska | $79,386 | $38.17 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $83,318 | $40.06 |
| 24 | Virginia | $78,546 | $37.76 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $79,186 | $38.07 |
| 26 | New York | $79,689 | $38.31 |
| 27 | Florida | $77,434 | $37.23 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $76,661 | $36.86 |
| 29 | Iowa | $76,229 | $36.65 |
| 30 | Arizona | $75,168 | $36.14 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $76,513 | $36.79 |
| 32 | Ohio | $73,522 | $35.35 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $74,739 | $35.93 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $73,202 | $35.19 |
| 35 | Vermont | $74,419 | $35.78 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $73,718 | $35.44 |
| 37 | Alabama | $68,937 | $33.14 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $73,623 | $35.40 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $72,819 | $35.01 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $69,620 | $33.47 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $73,219 | $35.20 |
| 42 | Missouri | $72,757 | $34.98 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $71,401 | $34.33 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $71,272 | $34.27 |
| 45 | Montana | $71,793 | $34.52 |
| 46 | Georgia | $67,369 | $32.39 |
| 47 | Michigan | $67,993 | $32.69 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $67,446 | $32.43 |
| 49 | Kansas | $69,944 | $33.63 |
| 50 | Indiana | $66,214 | $31.83 |
| 51 | Maine | $68,589 | $32.98 |
The highest-paying cities for senior telecom engineers are Oakland, CA, Seattle, WA, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $104,260 | $50.13 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $95,845 | $46.08 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $90,138 | $43.34 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,331 | $42.47 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $87,039 | $41.85 |
| 6 | Pearl City, HI | $83,483 | $40.14 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $82,146 | $39.49 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $79,729 | $38.33 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $78,678 | $37.83 |
| 10 | Suffolk, VA | $78,575 | $37.78 |
| 11 | Burlington, MA | $76,394 | $36.73 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $76,366 | $36.71 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,252 | $36.18 |
| 14 | Omaha, NE | $73,340 | $35.26 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $72,743 | $34.97 |
| 16 | Overland Park, KS | $70,091 | $33.70 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $69,605 | $33.46 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $67,501 | $32.45 |
| 19 | Rochester, MN | $67,003 | $32.21 |
A senior telecom engineer's salary ranges from $65,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $104,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| Average | $82,846 | $6,904 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
The highest paying types of senior telecom engineers are principal systems engineer, lead systems engineer, and senior infrastructure engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrator | $72,882 | $6,074 | $35.04 | 67,553 |
| Network Administrator | $71,357 | $5,946 | $34.31 | 106,886 |
| Systems Administrator | $77,156 | $6,430 | $37.09 | 134,500 |
| Service Administrator | $54,573 | $4,548 | $26.24 | 57,561 |
| Information Technology Administrator | $73,195 | $6,100 | $35.19 | 159,499 |
| System Technician | $43,410 | $3,617 | $20.87 | 137,121 |
Top companies hiring senior telecom engineers now:
Senior telecom engineer salaries at Microsoft and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior telecom engineer salary at companies like Western Alliance Bank and Varian Medical Systems are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $103,990 | $50.00 |
| 2 | Amazon | $100,857 | $48.49 |
| 3 | Western Alliance Bank | $99,943 | $48.05 |
| 4 | Varian Medical Systems | $98,962 | $47.58 |
| 5 | T-Mobile | $98,858 | $47.53 |
| 6 | NEC Corporation of America | $98,719 | $47.46 |
| 7 | Yahoo | $97,074 | $46.67 |
| 8 | Epicor | $96,305 | $46.30 |
| 9 | Banc of California Inc | $94,395 | $45.38 |
| 10 | Wind River | $94,066 | $45.22 |
| 11 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $93,815 | $45.10 |
| 12 | GoDaddy | $92,635 | $44.54 |
| 13 | West | $92,075 | $44.27 |
| 14 | Serve Incorporated | $91,977 | $44.22 |
| 15 | Mayo Clinic | $90,338 | $43.43 |
| 16 | Lowell General Hospital | $88,312 | $42.46 |
| 17 | Exelon | $87,566 | $42.10 |
| 18 | Verint | $86,867 | $41.76 |
| 19 | Hitachi U.S.A. | $85,059 | $40.89 |
| 20 | Newegg | $84,457 | $40.60 |
The average senior telecom engineer salary has risen by $15,117 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior telecom engineer earned $67,729 annually, but today, they earn $82,846 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for senior telecom engineers over the last decade.
Compare senior telecom engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior telecom engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $82,800 | $39.83 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $80,100 | $38.52 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $78,300 | $37.65 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $77,400 | $37.21 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $76,100 | $36.57 | +2.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Usa | SR Engineer, Cybersecurity Telecom Transformation | Bellevue, WA | 06/27/2025 | $103,400 |
| T-Mobile | SR Engineer, Cybersecurity Telecom Transformation | Bellevue, WA | 05/29/2025 | $103,400 |
| Exelon | SR Telecom Engineer I | Philadelphia, PA | 05/24/2025 | $93,600 |
| Exelon | SR Telecom Engineer I | Newark, DE | 05/24/2025 | $93,600 |
| Exelon | SR Telecom Engineer I | Chicago, IL | 05/24/2025 | $93,600 |
| Exelon | SR Telecom Engineer I | Baltimore, MD | 05/24/2025 | $93,600 |
| Exelon | SR. Telecom Compliance Engineer | Oakbrook Terrace, IL | 04/17/2025 | $93,600 |
| Lee Health | Senior Telecom Engineer | Fort Myers, FL | 04/04/2025 | $104,770 |
| Frontier Technology | Senior Telecom Network Engineer | Colorado Springs, CO | 03/19/2025 | $100,000 |
| Pacificorp | SR Telecom Engineer) | Cove, UT | 03/11/2025 | $119,400 |
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