▼24%
$154,259
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$131k
MEDIAN
$154k
90%
$190k
The average salary for a Staff Engineer is $154,259 in 2025
Base Salary
$131k - $190k
Bonus
$5k - $31k
Total Pay
$144k - $216k
Is Average Experienced Staff Engineer with Engineering Design Skills Salary in San Jose, California 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?
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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Staff Engineers?
What Do Staff Engineers Do?
Staff Engineer Tasks
- Design, develop, and prototype products.
- Supervise and guide product development and testing team, classifying problems and identifying fixes.
- Collaborate to define user and technical needs, including testing.
- Lead project management from idea generation to final product launch.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Staff Engineer
Medical
100%
Dental
92%
Vision
67%
Gender Breakdown for Staff Engineers
Male
75.0%
Female
12.5%
Prefer to self-define
12.5%
This data is based on 8 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Staff Engineers
What is the highest pay for Staff Engineers in San Jose?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Staff Engineer in San Jose is $190k / year
What is the lowest pay for Staff Engineers in San Jose?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Staff Engineer in San Jose is $131k / year
How can Staff Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Staff 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 Staff Engineer that oversees more junior Staff Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.