Design Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$102,000
national median salary
$82,000 to $130,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $104,110 for Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) across the United States, based on 296,810 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$73,990
25th percentile
$84,130
Median
$104,110
75th percentile
$132,590
90th percentile
$164,340
Workers surveyed
296,810
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$102,320
May 2025 release
$104,110
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) rather than Design Engineerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2141Highest Paying
$137,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$107,000
Pittsburgh, PA
Lowest Paying
$77,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 17-2141. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Design Engineer salary in the United States at $102,000 in 2026, within a range of $82,000 to $130,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $137,000, while Pittsburgh offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Engineers who bridge design systems and frontend implementation at scale command the highest salaries.
Design Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase Design Engineer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Design Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $14,280 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$14,280 per year
≈ +$13,260 per year
≈ +$12,240 per year
≈ +$11,220 per year
≈ +$11,220 per year
≈ +$10,200 per year
≈ +$10,200 per year
≈ +$9,180 per year
What you should know.
Engineers who bridge design systems and frontend implementation at scale command the highest salaries. Proficiency in Figma-to-code workflows, component library architecture, and motion design with CSS or Framer Motion adds 15 to 20% over pure frontend roles. Companies with strong design cultures like Vercel, Linear, or Stripe pay top rates.
Junior frontend developers or UI designers start at $72,000 to $95,000, converging into design engineer roles at $108,000 to $185,000 within three to five years. Senior design engineers earn $180,000 to $230,000, while head of design engineering or design systems lead roles reach $240,000 to $310,000.
RSUs at design-forward tech companies add $25,000 to $70,000 annually. Signing bonuses of $15,000 to $35,000 are typical, and many employers offer stipends for design tools, typography licenses, and creative software subscriptions.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Design Engineers typically earn $92,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Design Engineer pay.
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