Engineering Manager Salary: Your 2024 Guide

Engineering managers typically earn high salaries due to the required education, job responsibilities, and high demand for professionals in this position. In this role, you can work on construction sites, in manufacturing plants, and other engineering offices on projects that may include planning, designing, and executing. Expect engineering manager positions to grow due to the need to repair, replace, or expand infrastructure in the US. Read on to learn what contributes to an engineering manager's salary.

What is an engineering manager?

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.

Learn more: 11 Key Project Management Skills

How much does an engineering manager make?

Engineering managers in the US make an average annual income of $163,689, according to Lightcast™ [1].

According to various job listing sites, the average annual pay for engineering managers ranges from $139,328 to $172,274 as of August 2024. Consider the following average annual salaries for an engineering manager as calculated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [2], Zippia [3], Glassdoor [4], Salary.com [5], and Lightcast [1]:

Factors that affect an engineering manager's salary

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 [6]:

• Bachelor's degree: $141,737

• Master's degree: $151,870

• Doctorate degree: $163,920

Read more: What Is an Engineering Management Degree?

Experience

Your annual income can increase based on your previous experience as an engineering manager. Consider the estimated average salaries you can expect based on your experience level, according to Glassdoor [4]:

• 0–1 year: $153,651 

• 1–3 years: $142,129

• 4–6 years: $149,674

• 7–9 years: $158,567

• 10–14 years: $168,207

• 15+ years: $181,250

Read more: What Is a Good Salary?

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 five top-paying states for engineering managers based on annual mean wage data by the BLS [7]:

• California: $201,480

• New Mexico: $203,850

• Colorado: $187,620

• New Jersey: $189,970

• Massachusetts: $187,210

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 industry has a median annual income of  $191,510, while manufacturing has a $159,700 median annual income, according to the BLS [8].

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 [4]:

• Information technology: $242,379

• Media and communication: $232,299

• Financial services: $223,654

• Restaurants & Food Service: $208,589

• Healthcare: $208,004

What is the top salary for an engineering manager?

While various factors determine what you can earn as an engineering manager, Glassdoor reports engineering managers earn as much as $313,000 per year, which includes base salary plus additional pay, such as bonuses and profit sharing [4].

Engineering manager job outlook

Engineering manager positions are expected to grow four percent from 2022 to 2032, according to the BLS, which is above the national average of three percent for all occupations. Expected a projected total of 13,600 positions available each year over the decade [9].

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.

Learn about engineering management on Coursera

Whether you'd like to start a career as an engineering manager or continue your training in the field, learn with Coursera. With the Engineering Project Management Specialization from Rice University on Coursera, you can learn how to plan projects or evaluate time and cost management issues.

If you’re interested in sustainable engineering projects, learn about Transportation, Sustainable Buildings, and Green Construction from John Hopkins University on Coursera. The course covers the different sustainable building types, parking management, green construction, and more.