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Subject matter expert salary
Average subject matter expert salary
$103,749
Subject Matter Expert Salary Insights
The average Subject Matter Expert (SME) salary in the United States is $103,749 annually, translating to about $50 per hour. This figure reflects the growing demand for experts who can provide specialized knowledge across diverse fields such as technology, finance, and healthcare. As industries continue to evolve, SMEs are vital for guiding organizations through complex challenges.
Factors influencing salary include:
- Experience Level: Entry-level positions may start lower, while seasoned experts can command significantly higher salaries.
- Location: Salaries vary widely by state, with urban centers often offering more competitive rates due to higher living costs.
- Industry: Specific sectors may pay more based on the complexity and demand for expertise.
For instance, SMEs in technology-related fields often earn higher salaries than those in other sectors. Understanding these dynamics can empower job seekers to negotiate better terms and choose paths that align with their career goals.
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Where can a Subject Matter Expert earn more?
Subject matter expert salaries by experience level
Subject matter expert salary estimates from across the web
Average subject matter expert salary by state
The average subject matter expert salary in California, Maryland, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average subject matter expert salary states are Montana, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for subject matter experts
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $119,501 | $57.45 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $113,151 | $54.40 |
| 3 | California | $119,610 | $57.50 |
| 4 | Texas | $109,779 | $52.78 |
| 5 | Virginia | $108,792 | $52.30 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $110,128 | $52.95 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $117,952 | $56.71 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $109,419 | $52.61 |
| 9 | Arizona | $103,423 | $49.72 |
| 10 | Washington | $115,669 | $55.61 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $109,685 | $52.73 |
| 12 | Illinois | $103,050 | $49.54 |
| 13 | Colorado | $107,050 | $51.47 |
| 14 | Alaska | $112,719 | $54.19 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $98,463 | $47.34 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $103,420 | $49.72 |
| 17 | Alabama | $97,835 | $47.04 |
| 18 | New York | $104,889 | $50.43 |
| 19 | Nevada | $98,391 | $47.30 |
| 20 | Michigan | $100,630 | $48.38 |
| 21 | Iowa | $105,695 | $50.81 |
| 22 | Ohio | $97,289 | $46.77 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $97,074 | $46.67 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $101,585 | $48.84 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $96,086 | $46.20 |
| 26 | Georgia | $96,467 | $46.38 |
| 27 | Missouri | $97,879 | $47.06 |
| 28 | Delaware | $96,868 | $46.57 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| 30 | Utah | $89,398 | $42.98 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $91,059 | $43.78 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $91,014 | $43.76 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $91,235 | $43.86 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $89,633 | $43.09 |
| 35 | Oregon | $90,759 | $43.63 |
| 36 | Indiana | $90,121 | $43.33 |
| 37 | Maine | $92,587 | $44.51 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $90,614 | $43.56 |
| 39 | Idaho | $89,813 | $43.18 |
| 40 | Vermont | $92,626 | $44.53 |
| 41 | Florida | $86,789 | $41.73 |
| 42 | Kansas | $88,499 | $42.55 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $66,523 | $31.98 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $88,704 | $42.65 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $87,557 | $42.09 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $88,607 | $42.60 |
| 47 | Montana | $84,737 | $40.74 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $84,016 | $40.39 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $75,776 | $36.43 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $82,708 | $39.76 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $76,254 | $36.66 |
Highest paying cities for subject matter experts
The highest-paying cities for subject matter experts are San Francisco, CA, Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,220 | $61.64 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $119,731 | $57.56 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $117,945 | $56.70 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $113,145 | $54.40 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $110,056 | $52.91 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $110,045 | $52.91 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $109,093 | $52.45 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs, CO | $107,728 | $51.79 |
| 9 | Des Moines, IA | $105,505 | $50.72 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $105,167 | $50.56 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,570 | $49.79 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $103,229 | $49.63 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $97,823 | $47.03 |
| 14 | Huntsville, AL | $97,627 | $46.94 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $97,413 | $46.83 |
| 16 | Wilmington, DE | $96,999 | $46.63 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $96,559 | $46.42 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $96,544 | $46.42 |
| 19 | Cheyenne, WY | $90,460 | $43.49 |
| 20 | Hillsboro, OR | $90,455 | $43.49 |
Subject matter expert salary details
A subject matter expert's salary ranges from $73,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $146,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a subject matter expert's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| 75th Percentile | $124,000 | $10,333 | $60 |
| Average | $103,749 | $8,646 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
Highest paying subject matter expert jobs
The highest paying types of subject matter experts are owner, consultant, senior consultant, and business analyst/project manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Analyst | $75,039 | $6,253 | $36.08 | 156,716 |
| Analyst | $73,007 | $6,084 | $35.10 | 253,138 |
| Process Analyst | $73,233 | $6,103 | $35.21 | 123,238 |
| Technical Business Analyst | $81,757 | $6,813 | $39.31 | 203,686 |
| Business Process Analyst | $78,215 | $6,518 | $37.60 | 160,260 |
| Data Analyst | $74,342 | $6,195 | $35.74 | 167,520 |
Top companies hiring subject matter experts now:
Which companies pay subject matter experts the most?
Subject matter expert salaries at Apple and Meta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average subject matter expert salary at companies like Occidental Petroleum and Stellar Solutions - Stainless Steel Passivation are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $136,102 | $65.43 |
| 2 | Meta | $135,908 | $65.34 |
| 3 | Occidental Petroleum | $132,582 | $63.74 |
| 4 | Stellar Solutions - Stainless Steel Passivation | $131,165 | $63.06 |
| 5 | Marathon Petroleum | $130,338 | $62.66 |
| 6 | TEKsystems | $128,801 | $61.92 |
| 7 | BP America Inc | $128,196 | $61.63 |
| 8 | Axient | $127,597 | $61.34 |
| 9 | Arisglobal | $127,439 | $61.27 |
| 10 | TASER Self-Defense | $127,320 | $61.21 |
| 11 | Systems Technology Forum | $125,841 | $60.50 |
| 12 | Maxisit Inc. | $125,828 | $60.49 |
| 13 | Keshav Consulting | $125,243 | $60.21 |
| 14 | Koch Industries | $125,038 | $60.11 |
| 15 | Kforce | $124,389 | $59.80 |
| 16 | NICE Actimize | $123,450 | $59.35 |
| 17 | Zurich | $123,330 | $59.29 |
| 18 | Sonalysts | $122,862 | $59.07 |
| 19 | Integration Innovation | $122,265 | $58.78 |
| 20 | Goldbelt Falcon | $122,157 | $58.73 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Subject Matter Expert salary by industry
The average subject matter expert salary varies across industries:
- The average subject matter expert salary in the energy industry is $114,112, the highest of any industry.
- The average subject matter expert salary in the finance industry is $102,705.
- Subject matter experts in the technology industry earn an average salary of $95,287, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for subject matter experts
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $114,112 | $54.86 |
| 2 | Government | $102,705 | $49.38 |
| 3 | Finance | $100,497 | $48.32 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $100,403 | $48.27 |
| 5 | Professional | $100,386 | $48.26 |
| 6 | Technology | $95,287 | $45.81 |
High paying subject matter expert jobs
Subject matter expert salary trends
The average subject matter expert salary has risen by $10,853 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average subject matter expert earned $92,896 annually, but today, they earn $103,749 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for subject matter experts over the last decade.
Compare subject matter expert salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average subject matter expert salary over time
Compare subject matter expert salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Subject matter expert salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,000 | $49.88 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $101,000 | $48.51 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $99,000 | $47.57 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $97,600 | $46.91 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $96,300 | $46.28 | +0.0% |
Recently added subject matter expert salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeppesen | F-22 Raptor Fighter Pilot Subject Matter Expert | Berkeley, MO | 06/30/2025 | $180,000 |
| Contact Government Services | IT Subject Matter Expert | Pierre, SD | 06/30/2025 | $131,622 |
| Contact Government Services | IT Subject Matter Expert | Fargo, ND | 06/30/2025 | $131,622 |
| Versar, Inc. | Subject Matter Expert | Washington, DC | 06/29/2025 | $125,000 |
| Designit | Sprinklr Subject Matter Expert | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $90,000 |
| Evoke Consulting | Environmental Subject Matter Expert (SME)| Environmental Facilitation Services [Epanc013] | Boone, NC | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | IT Subject Matter Expert | Fayetteville, AR | 06/29/2025 | $131,622 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | IT Subject Matter Expert | Milwaukee, WI | 06/29/2025 | $131,622 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | IT Subject Matter Expert | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $131,622 |
| Contact Government Services, LLC | IT Subject Matter Expert | Panama City, FL | 06/29/2025 | $131,622 |
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