Engineering Manager Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

Engineering managers typically earn high salaries due to the required education, job responsibilities, and high demand for this position.

• Engineering managers make a median annual pay of $171,270, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1].

• Engineering managers make detailed plans for projects and oversee their coordination from conception to completion.

• You can earn a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in engineering management to earn a higher salary.

Learn more about what contributes to an engineering manager's salary. Afterward, consider enrolling in the IBM Generative AI Engineering Professional Certificate. In just six months, you’ll have the opportunity to build and deploy generative AI applications, agents, and chatbots using Python libraries like Flask, SciPy and ScikitLearn, Keras, and PyTorch. Upon completion, add this credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What do engineering managers do?

An engineering manager coordinates plans for projects such as a company's construction or manufacturing needs. In this role, you'll make detailed plans for projects and oversee their coordination from conception to completion. You may have to hire personnel, work within a designated budget, and oversee research and development. Engineering managers also have to coordinate with other managers and leaders on a project to ensure all the pieces work together to complete goals. Expect engineering manager positions to grow due to the need to repair, replace, or expand infrastructure in the US. 

Average engineering manager salary

According to various job listing sites, the average annual pay for engineering managers ranges from $139,328 to $228,000 as of August 2026. Consider the following average annual salaries for an engineering manager as calculated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Zippia, Glassdoor, Salary.com, and ZipRecruiter [1,2,3,4,5]:

The salary information above is the median total pay from Glassdoor as of August 2026. These figures include both base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other forms of compensation.

Factors that impact engineering manager salaries

Factors such as previous relevant experience or education level can boost your potential earnings as an engineering manager. Your location can also affect your salary, including the demand for engineering managers or the cost of living in a particular area. Some industry sectors pay more than others, depending on your specialties or if you have specific interests.

Education

You usually need at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field to become an engineering manager. Some companies also expect managers to have a Master of Engineering Management or a Master of Technology Management. A master’s degree in business administration could also be helpful.

Take a look at the average engineering manager salaries based on education level, according to Zippia [2]:

• Bachelor's degree: $141,737

• Master's degree: $151,870

• Doctoral degree: $163,920

Experience

Your annual income can increase based on your previous experience as an engineering manager. Consider the estimated median total salaries you can expect based on your experience level, according to Glassdoor [3]:

• 1–3 years: $169,000

• 4–6 years: $182,000

• 7–9 years: $195,000

• 10–14 years: $213,000

• 15+ years: $223,000

The salary information above is the median total pay from Glassdoor as of August 2026. These figures include both base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other forms of compensation.

Location

Where you live can affect your earnings as an engineering manager due to the cost of living, the area’s demand for work, and other regional factors. Explore the top-paying states for engineering managers below [2]:

• California: $159,664

• Alaska: $157,594

• Washington: $147,539

• Oregon: $142,143

• Delaware: $137,399

Some metropolitan areas may have higher earnings than others based on the cost of living or the number of engineering manager positions. You can earn more if you live in these areas or are willing to relocate.

Industry

Certain industries can offer more income for engineering managers than others. The scientific research and development services industry has a median annual wage of $211,450, while manufacturing has a median annual wage of $169,690, according to the BLS [6].

Glassdoor also lists the following five industries as the highest-paying for engineering managers. Note that Glassdoor includes additional compensation in its figures, such as stocks, cash, bonuses, and other benefits, along with base pay, while BLS, for example, only includes base pay [3]:

• Education: $277,752

• Information technology: $237,273

• Media and communication: $226,653

• Financial services: $224,869

• Real estate: $217,806

What is the top salary for an engineering manager?

While various factors determine what you can earn as an engineering manager, Glassdoor reports that engineering managers earn as much as $228,000 per year, which includes base salary plus additional pay, such as bonuses and profit sharing [3].

Read more: What Is a Data Engineer? A Guide to This In-Demand Career

Engineering manager job outlook

Engineering manager positions are expected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the BLS, which is above the national average of 3 percent for all occupations. Expect a projected total of 14,900 positions available each year over the decade [7].

Positions for engineering managers will continue to grow as aging infrastructure is repaired or replaced with their help. You could also get a job in the field due to the expansion of green energy and the need for engineering managers to oversee the construction and design of renewable energy facilities, including wind turbine farms.

No-fluff help for when you’re stuck

Subscribe to our Career Chat newsletter on LinkedIn for industry updates, tips, and trends. Then, explore free, digital resources for your professional growth:

• Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight: Cloud Engineer

• Take a quiz: Which Management Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Learn from experts: 6 Questions with an IBM Data Scientist and AI Engineer

With Coursera Plus, you can learn and earn credentials at your own pace from over 350 leading companies and universities. With a monthly or annual subscription, you’ll gain access to over 10,000 programs, just check the course page to confirm your selection is included.