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The Senior Test Systems Engineer average salary reflects a competitive compensation structure across various industries. Currently, the average annual salary is $108,165, with hourly rates around $52. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
In different states, salaries can vary significantly. For instance, locations with a high concentration of technology companies typically offer better compensation packages. Major cities often provide higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled engineers.
Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with extensive experience can command salaries well above the average. Continuous professional development and specialization can further enhance earning potential.
With the rise of technology companies and the need for robust testing systems, the demand for Senior Test Systems Engineers is growing. This career path not only offers competitive pay but also opportunities for advancement within the field.
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The highest-paying states for senior test systems engineers are Oregon, Washington, and California. The lowest average senior test systems engineer salary states are South Carolina, Ohio, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $125,047 | $60.12 |
| 2 | Washington | $121,861 | $58.59 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $106,896 | $51.39 |
| 4 | Arizona | $106,537 | $51.22 |
| 5 | Idaho | $108,395 | $52.11 |
| 6 | California | $115,966 | $55.75 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $105,520 | $50.73 |
| 8 | Maryland | $108,706 | $52.26 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $113,273 | $54.46 |
| 10 | Alaska | $111,019 | $53.37 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $105,163 | $50.56 |
| 12 | Montana | $106,761 | $51.33 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $106,966 | $51.43 |
| 14 | Utah | $102,968 | $49.50 |
| 15 | Delaware | $106,876 | $51.38 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $108,721 | $52.27 |
| 17 | New York | $108,845 | $52.33 |
| 18 | Nevada | $104,627 | $50.30 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $108,181 | $52.01 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $104,419 | $50.20 |
| 21 | Michigan | $101,983 | $49.03 |
| 22 | Virginia | $101,495 | $48.80 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $104,551 | $50.26 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $100,524 | $48.33 |
| 25 | Texas | $99,911 | $48.03 |
| 26 | Maine | $101,492 | $48.79 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $100,974 | $48.55 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $97,880 | $47.06 |
| 29 | Illinois | $100,524 | $48.33 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $98,089 | $47.16 |
| 31 | Iowa | $98,017 | $47.12 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $95,326 | $45.83 |
| 33 | Colorado | $95,492 | $45.91 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $96,057 | $46.18 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $95,453 | $45.89 |
| 36 | Georgia | $96,741 | $46.51 |
| 37 | Indiana | $94,466 | $45.42 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $96,658 | $46.47 |
| 39 | Vermont | $89,519 | $43.04 |
| 40 | Kansas | $93,301 | $44.86 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $93,219 | $44.82 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $88,821 | $42.70 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $91,363 | $43.92 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $95,666 | $45.99 |
| 45 | Ohio | $87,911 | $42.26 |
| 46 | Alabama | $85,498 | $41.10 |
| 47 | Missouri | $90,551 | $43.53 |
| 48 | Florida | $86,362 | $41.52 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $88,752 | $42.67 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $85,497 | $41.10 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $86,194 | $41.44 |
The highest-paying cities for senior test systems engineers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Bridgewater, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $130,046 | $62.52 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $122,418 | $58.85 |
| 3 | Bridgewater, NJ | $108,725 | $52.27 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $106,765 | $51.33 |
| 5 | Manchester, NH | $105,225 | $50.59 |
| 6 | Plymouth, MN | $104,390 | $50.19 |
| 7 | Roy, UT | $103,237 | $49.63 |
| 8 | Plymouth, MA | $101,299 | $48.70 |
| 9 | Aurora, IL | $100,521 | $48.33 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $100,340 | $48.24 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $96,108 | $46.21 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $95,868 | $46.09 |
| 13 | Boulder, CO | $95,792 | $46.05 |
| 14 | Olathe, KS | $93,232 | $44.82 |
| 15 | Largo, FL | $87,258 | $41.95 |
| 16 | Huntsville, AL | $84,598 | $40.67 |
A senior test systems engineer's salary ranges from $85,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $136,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $136,000 | $11,333 | $65 |
| 75th Percentile | $122,000 | $10,167 | $59 |
| Average | $108,165 | $9,014 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,000 | $7,917 | $46 |
| 10th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
The highest paying types of senior test systems engineers are senior staff engineer, principal software engineer, and principal systems engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Lead Engineer | $84,927 | $7,077 | $40.83 | 301,777 |
| Systems Tester | $95,834 | $7,986 | $46.07 | 112,985 |
| Principal Software Engineer | $134,230 | $11,186 | $64.53 | 345,893 |
| Systems Integration Engineer | $106,065 | $8,839 | $50.99 | 217,599 |
| Automation Test Engineer | $85,353 | $7,113 | $41.04 | 125,816 |
Top companies hiring senior test systems engineers now:
Senior test systems engineer salaries at NVIDIA and Netgear are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior test systems engineer salary at companies like Rivian and Zoox are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NVIDIA | $135,806 | $65.29 |
| 2 | Netgear | $135,644 | $65.21 |
| 3 | Rivian | $132,489 | $63.70 |
| 4 | Zoox | $130,870 | $62.92 |
| 5 | Intuitive Surgical | $130,801 | $62.89 |
| 6 | Silver Peak | $130,128 | $62.56 |
| 7 | Amazon | $130,074 | $62.54 |
| 8 | Tellabs | $128,677 | $61.86 |
| 9 | Cruise Automation | $121,666 | $58.49 |
| 10 | Parsons | $120,542 | $57.95 |
| 11 | VMware | $118,449 | $56.95 |
| 12 | Tesla | $115,483 | $55.52 |
| 13 | Serve Incorporated | $114,677 | $55.13 |
| 14 | Amd | $112,445 | $54.06 |
| 15 | AEye | $111,243 | $53.48 |
| 16 | Katalyst Surgical | $111,137 | $53.43 |
| 17 | Electric | $111,137 | $53.43 |
| 18 | PDS Tech | $111,120 | $53.42 |
| 19 | Anduril | $111,024 | $53.38 |
| 20 | Outrider | $110,995 | $53.36 |
The average senior test systems engineer salary has risen by $17,706 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior test systems engineer earned $90,459 annually, but today, they earn $108,165 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for senior test systems engineers over the last decade.
Compare senior test systems engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior test systems engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $108,000 | $52.00 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $105,000 | $50.29 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $102,000 | $49.15 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $100,000 | $48.19 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $98,000 | $47.10 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Origin | SR Vacuum System Test Design Engineer-Ground Systems | Van Horn, TX | 06/30/2025 | $140,959 |
| Lightship | Senior Systems Test Engineer | South San Francisco, CA | 06/29/2025 | $142,000 |
| Scout Motors | Senior Engineer, Chassis Component System Level Testing | Novi, MI | 06/29/2025 | $140,000 |
| Qualcomm | Senior Cellular System Test Engineer | San Diego, CA | 06/26/2025 | $107,000 |
| Blue River Technology | SR Systems Test Engineer | Santa Clara, CA | 06/26/2025 | $112,000 |
| Blue Origin | SR Vacuum System Test Design Engineer-Ground Systems | Seattle, WA | 06/26/2025 | $140,959 |
| Blue Origin | SR Vacuum System Test Design Engineer-Ground Systems | Huntsville, AL | 06/26/2025 | $140,959 |
| SAIC | Senior Systems Test Engineer | Enon, VA | 06/19/2025 | $80,001 |
| Lucid Motors | SR. Engineer, System Integration Test (Body) | Newark, CA | 06/13/2025 | $154,000 |
| Skyryse | Senior Systems Test Engineer | El Segundo, CA | 06/11/2025 | $150,000 |
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