▼56%
$167,340
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$98k
MEDIAN
$167k
90%
$225k
The average salary for a Chief Engineer is $167,340 in 2025
Base Salary
$98k - $225k
Bonus
$3k - $34k
Profit Sharing
$9k - $22k
Total Pay
$102k - $260k
Is Average Chief Engineer with Systems Engineering Skills Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Chief Engineers?
What Do Chief Engineers Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Chief Engineer
Medical
91%
Dental
85%
Vision
85%
None
9%
Gender Breakdown for Chief Engineers
Male
87.8%
Female
9.8%
This data is based on 41 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Chief Engineers
What is the highest pay for Chief Engineers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Chief Engineer is $225k / year
What is the lowest pay for Chief Engineers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Chief Engineer is $98k / year
How can Chief Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Chief Engineer is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Chief Engineer that oversees more junior Chief Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.