Engineering Manager Salary: Your 2025 Guide

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Learn how much you can earn as an engineering manager based on factors such as education, experience, location, and industry.

[Featured Image] An engineering manager using a digital tablet in the production line in a manufacturing plant

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 in 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 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.

How much do engineering managers make?

According to various job listing sites, the average annual pay for engineering managers ranges from $139,328 to $174,141 as of February 2025. Consider the following average annual salaries for an engineering manager as calculated by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1], Zippia [2], Glassdoor [3], Salary.com [4], and ZipRecruiter [5]:

BLSZippiaGlassdoorSalary.comZipRecruiter
$165,370$139,328$174,177$155,952$146,868

Factors that affect an engineering management 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

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]:

  • 1–3 years: $146,964

  • 4–6 years: $153,905

  • 7–9 years: $161,186

  • 10–14 years: $172,651

  • 15+ years: $184,143

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]:

  • New Mexico: $203,850

  • California: $201,480

  • Colorado: $187,620

  • Rhode Island: $186,220

  • Washington: $186,020

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 $165,650 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: $291,981

  • Media and communication: $250,187

  • Financial services: $266,523

  • Restaurants & Food Service: $192,814

  • Healthcare: $228,149

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 $317,000 per year, which includes base salary plus additional pay, such as bonuses and profit sharing [4].

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Engineering manager outlook

Engineering manager positions are expected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS, which is above the national average of 4 percent for all occupations. Expect a projected total of 15,000 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.

Prepare for your engineering manager salary 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.

Article sources

1

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Architectural and Engineering Managers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm#tab-1.” Accessed February 18, 2025.

Updated on
Written by:
Coursera Staff

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