Technology30% remote-eligible+3.8% YoY growth

Embedded Systems Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Develop software for embedded hardware systems in IoT, automotive, and industrial applications. National median: $112K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$112K

Top 10% earn

$178K

Entry level

$85K

Salary growth

+3.8%/yr

Embedded Systems Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$140K	$185K	$234K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$134K	$177K	$224K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$126K	$167K	$211K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$126K	$166K	$210K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$126K	$165K	$210K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$126K	$165K	$210K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$121K	$159K	$202K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$121K	$159K	$202K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$120K	$158K	$200K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$119K	$157K	$199K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$117K	$155K	$196K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$117K	$155K	$196K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$116K	$153K	$194K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$116K	$153K	$194K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$115K	$152K	$192K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$115K	$151K	$192K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$115K	$151K	$192K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$113K	$149K	$189K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$112K	$148K	$187K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$112K	$147K	$187K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$111K	$146K	$185K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$109K	$144K	$183K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$109K	$143K	$182K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$109K	$143K	$181K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$109K	$143K	$181K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$107K	$141K	$179K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$107K	$141K	$179K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$105K	$138K	$175K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$104K	$137K	$173K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$104K	$137K	$174K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$104K	$137K	$173K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$104K	$137K	$174K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$104K	$137K	$174K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$100K	$132K	$168K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$100K	$132K	$168K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$100K	$132K	$168K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$98K	$129K	$163K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$98K	$129K	$163K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$98K	$129K	$163K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$98K	$129K	$163K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$98K	$129K	$163K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$98K	$129K	$163K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$98K	$129K	$163K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$97K	$127K	$161K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$96K	$126K	$160K	120	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$95K	$125K	$159K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$95K	$125K	$159K	108	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	9.3%
Miami, FL	$95K	$125K	$159K	123	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$95K	$125K	$159K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$95K	$125K	$159K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$95K	$125K	$159K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$95K	$125K	$158K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$94K	$123K	$156K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$94K	$123K	$156K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$94K	$123K	$156K	102	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	4.25%
Provo, UT	$94K	$123K	$156K	100	4.85%
Frederick, MD	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$94K	$123K	$156K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$93K	$123K	$156K	115	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$94K	$123K	$156K	128	None ✓
Irving, TX	$92K	$121K	$153K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$92K	$121K	$153K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$92K	$121K	$154K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$92K	$121K	$153K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$92K	$121K	$154K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$92K	$121K	$154K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$92K	$121K	$153K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$91K	$120K	$152K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$90K	$119K	$151K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$90K	$119K	$151K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$90K	$119K	$151K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$90K	$119K	$151K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$90K	$119K	$151K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$90K	$119K	$151K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$89K	$118K	$149K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$89K	$118K	$149K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$89K	$118K	$149K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$89K	$118K	$149K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$89K	$118K	$149K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$89K	$118K	$149K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$89K	$118K	$149K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$89K	$118K	$149K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$89K	$117K	$148K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$89K	$117K	$148K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$89K	$117K	$148K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$89K	$117K	$148K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$89K	$117K	$148K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$87K	$115K	$146K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$87K	$115K	$146K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$87K	$114K	$145K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$87K	$114K	$145K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$87K	$114K	$145K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$87K	$114K	$145K	88	5%
Overland Park, KS	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$86K	$114K	$144K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$86K	$113K	$143K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$85K	$112K	$142K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$85K	$112K	$142K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$85K	$112K	$142K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$85K	$112K	$142K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$85K	$112K	$142K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$85K	$112K	$142K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$84K	$111K	$140K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$84K	$111K	$140K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$84K	$111K	$140K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$84K	$111K	$140K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$84K	$111K	$140K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$84K	$111K	$140K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$84K	$111K	$140K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$83K	$110K	$139K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$83K	$110K	$139K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$83K	$110K	$139K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$83K	$110K	$139K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$83K	$109K	$138K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$83K	$109K	$138K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$83K	$109K	$138K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$83K	$109K	$138K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$83K	$109K	$138K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$82K	$108K	$137K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$82K	$108K	$137K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$82K	$108K	$137K	90	4.95%
Cincinnati, OH	$82K	$108K	$136K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$82K	$108K	$137K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$82K	$108K	$136K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$82K	$108K	$136K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$82K	$108K	$136K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$82K	$108K	$137K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$82K	$108K	$137K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$81K	$107K	$135K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$81K	$106K	$135K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$81K	$106K	$135K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$81K	$106K	$135K	93	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$81K	$106K	$135K	82	4.25%
Beaumont, TX	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$79K	$105K	$133K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$78K	$103K	$131K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$78K	$103K	$131K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$78K	$103K	$131K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$78K	$103K	$131K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$78K	$103K	$131K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$78K	$103K	$130K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$77K	$102K	$129K	80	5%
Cleveland, OH	$77K	$101K	$128K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$77K	$101K	$128K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$77K	$101K	$128K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$77K	$101K	$128K	88	5.84%
Abilene, TX	$76K	$100K	$127K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$76K	$100K	$127K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$76K	$100K	$127K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$76K	$100K	$127K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$76K	$100K	$127K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$76K	$100K	$127K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$75K	$99K	$125K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$75K	$99K	$125K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$75K	$99K	$125K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$75K	$99K	$125K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$75K	$99K	$125K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$75K	$99K	$125K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$75K	$99K	$125K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$75K	$99K	$125K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$75K	$99K	$125K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$75K	$99K	$125K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$75K	$99K	$125K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$75K	$99K	$125K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$72K	$95K	$121K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$72K	$95K	$121K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$72K	$95K	$121K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$70K	$92K	$116K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$70K	$92K	$116K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$68K	$90K	$114K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$64K	$84K	$107K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $112K Embedded Systems Engineer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Embedded Systems Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Embedded Systems Engineer is $112,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $85,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $142,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Embedded Systems Engineers nationally earn $178,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in EE or CS. This role is 30% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Embedded Systems Engineer compensation is growing at 3.8% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Embedded Systems Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a Embedded Systems Engineer make?

The median Embedded Systems Engineer salary in the US is $112,000 per year — about $54/hour. Most earn between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $142,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Embedded Systems Engineer?

Entry-level Embedded Systems Engineer positions typically start around $85,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Embedded Systems Engineers earn?

The top 10% of Embedded Systems Engineers earn $178,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Embedded Systems Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Embedded Systems Engineer salary at $185K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Embedded Systems Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — Embedded Systems Engineer pay is growing about 3.8% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Embedded Systems Engineer Salaryby City (2026)