Salary guide, May 2025
Systems Engineer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in the United States was $104,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $84,130 and $132,590.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $73,990 | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 | $164,340 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.57 | $40.45 | $50.05 | $63.75 | $79.01 |
BLS estimated 296,810 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,660 | $78,490 to $127,810 | 2,000 | 0.37 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $100,290 | $85,340 to $127,330 | 1,220 | 0.44 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $103,380 | $82,830 to $128,920 | 1,720 | 0.64 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $100,000 | $81,420 to $124,360 | 1,810 | 1.28 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $109,990 | $92,180 to $137,060 | 6,960 | 0.38 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $109,990 | $92,180 to $137,060 | 6,960 | 0.38 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,420 | $87,200 to $132,840 | 5,600 | 0.73 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,070 | $83,140 to $130,310 | 6,900 | 0.8 |
Rank every metro for Systems Engineer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$140,600
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$140,600
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$125,380
- Apparel Manufacturing$125,070
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$124,400
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$124,140
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$124,010
- Other Food Manufacturing$121,740
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$121,670
- Chemical Manufacturing$119,150
- Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing$117,350
- Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing$115,720
- Paper Manufacturing$114,990
- Animal Slaughtering and Processing$113,160
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$112,900
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 130,930 | $82,490 | $101,570 | $127,800 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 41,730 | $79,580 | $98,620 | $123,220 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 31,460 | $87,140 | $105,560 | $132,370 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 29,420 | $79,340 | $97,620 | $120,800 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 18,290 | $93,970 | $106,870 | $134,480 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 14,590 | $77,410 | $94,320 | $110,060 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 12,060 | $99,760 | $112,900 | $149,430 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 10,800 | $92,000 | $106,210 | $134,920 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 8,750 | $83,290 | $102,410 | $126,410 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 7,160 | $82,920 | $101,350 | $124,470 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 6,820 | $78,910 | $97,340 | $116,340 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 5,510 | $76,180 | $88,160 | $106,140 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 5,080 | $83,680 | $102,200 | $126,730 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 4,940 | $97,010 | $107,240 | $134,140 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 4,420 | $99,020 | $124,400 | $135,750 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 4,330 | $98,690 | $121,670 | $140,660 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3,820 | $75,440 | $87,120 | $104,250 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 3,690 | $75,800 | $92,110 | $110,700 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3,220 | $93,170 | $106,290 | $128,530 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 3,190 | $75,920 | $92,560 | $113,820 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3,170 | $81,020 | $96,660 | $120,210 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 3,080 | $85,900 | $104,950 | $130,830 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 3,060 | $82,490 | $98,120 | $118,360 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 2,650 | $98,540 | $119,150 | $140,430 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 2,470 | $82,030 | $100,280 | $127,540 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 2,400 | $81,470 | $98,170 | $120,660 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,380 | $80,770 | $97,190 | $122,130 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 2,300 | $81,760 | $99,680 | $115,860 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 2,000 | $79,470 | $96,910 | $119,520 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,980 | $76,950 | $84,370 | $99,470 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,890 | $101,380 | $124,010 | $144,670 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 1,340 | $97,710 | $106,870 | $134,840 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 1,180 | $99,420 | $115,720 | $130,670 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 910 | $82,750 | $105,030 | $133,740 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 900 | $90,680 | $106,350 | $131,820 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 870 | $98,870 | $114,990 | $131,350 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 740 | $124,430 | $140,600 | $165,480 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 740 | $124,430 | $140,600 | $165,480 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 700 | $72,270 | $81,710 | $100,270 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 690 | $82,260 | $97,170 | $125,100 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 670 | $70,170 | $80,600 | $98,420 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 660 | $82,760 | $97,320 | $107,020 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 620 | $89,710 | $103,280 | $130,300 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 620 | $83,200 | $100,930 | $118,460 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 620 | $83,200 | $100,930 | $118,460 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 620 | $78,590 | $92,820 | $105,730 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 530 | $74,220 | $99,990 | $115,580 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 510 | $75,000 | $87,180 | $102,840 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 480 | $106,780 | $124,140 | $136,700 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 470 | $85,520 | $106,650 | $128,760 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 400 | $83,350 | $103,380 | $124,700 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 390 | $102,020 | $121,740 | $144,950 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 390 | $75,790 | $93,380 | $110,480 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 380 | $96,450 | $106,660 | $119,580 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 370 | $84,090 | $98,280 | $106,450 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 310 | $75,260 | $90,020 | $105,880 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 310 | $84,800 | $102,300 | $114,830 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 290 | $100,780 | $125,380 | $146,000 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 250 | $74,530 | $84,360 | $104,190 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 250 | $83,090 | $98,010 | $112,430 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 200 | $93,820 | $104,820 | $115,760 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 190 | $93,950 | $104,980 | $115,760 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 150 | $85,540 | $107,220 | $124,050 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 120 | $81,810 | $99,180 | $124,630 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 110 | $66,800 | $74,460 | $87,800 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 100 | $91,370 | $96,570 | $104,150 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 90 | $92,010 | $101,990 | $131,570 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 90 | $65,180 | $85,590 | $105,270 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 80 | $103,970 | $117,350 | $131,040 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 70 | $97,810 | $105,810 | $134,390 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 70 | $65,160 | $81,410 | $102,390 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 40 | $84,990 | $113,160 | $140,040 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 40 | $82,650 | $92,230 | $101,990 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 40 | $82,640 | $104,420 | $129,120 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 40 | $82,640 | $104,420 | $129,120 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 40 | $98,180 | $111,900 | $139,990 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $103,120 | $125,070 | $134,270 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Systems Engineer, separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $81,800 | $102,320 | $130,290 |
| May 2025 | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the actual remit?
Write down who is accountable for requirements and interfaces across the product's technical disciplines today. If responsibility for requirements and interfaces across the product's technical disciplines is divided between several people, tell us where this hire's work begins and ends. That explanation helps separate their capability from a team's success at requirements and interfaces across the product's technical disciplines.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Systems Engineer?
The median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in the United States was $104,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $84,130 and $132,590. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $73,990. 90% earned less than $164,340.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Systems Engineer at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 296,810 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters analyzes the Systems Engineer role, which is captured under the 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers SOC title. The national median for this occupation is $104,110 as of May 2025, which is an increase from $102,320 in May 2024. The middle-band width is $48,460, spanning from a 25th percentile of $84,130 to a 75th percentile of $132,590.
It is important to remember that BLS data aggregates all mechanical engineers into this single row, which does not reflect the unique architectural and integration responsibilities characteristic of systems engineering within a product development context.
Regional analysis of top employment centers reveals that the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area reports a median of $109,470, while the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area reports a median of $123,900. The middle-band widths for these hubs are $34,640 and $50,840, respectively. National industry benchmarks show that specialized manufacturing sectors, such as Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing, offer higher medians of $140,600 and $125,380. These industry-specific figures provide a more relevant context for systems engineers than the general national average for all mechanical engineering roles.
Our approach to screening systems engineers focuses on their proficiency in tracing requirements through the complete cycle of architecture, verification, and final release. Because the BLS data combines all mechanical roles, the numbers should be viewed as broad market indicators rather than precise systems-engineering salary benchmarks. The median figures exclude components like performance-based bonuses, project-completion awards, or stock options, all of which are essential parts of a total reward package for high-level technical integrators. Hiring managers should utilize these medians to assess baseline market competitiveness, noting that the reported 2025 data represents the full cross-industry group.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Does the national median reflect systems engineering specifically?
No, it reflects the broader Mechanical Engineers occupation. Systems engineers often command pay at the higher end of the P75 due to their integration-focused skills.
Why is the middle-band width useful for compensation planning?
The $48,460 band highlights the wide range of expertise within mechanical engineering. It helps firms calibrate pay based on the depth of systems knowledge required.
What is the primary constraint of the provided industry data?
The industry rows report national medians across all mechanical roles within those sectors. They provide industry-specific context but not role-specific salary data.
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