Technology62% remote-eligible+6.2% YoY growth

Sr. Director of Engineering Salary
by City (2026)

Senior engineering leader overseeing multiple teams and major technical initiatives. National median: $258K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$258K

Top 10% earn

$418K

Entry level

$200K

Salary growth

+6.2%/yr

Sr. Director of Engineering salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$330K	$426K	$541K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$316K	$408K	$518K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$298K	$384K	$488K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$296K	$382K	$485K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$295K	$381K	$484K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$295K	$381K	$484K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$285K	$367K	$467K	175	None ✓
Seattle, WA	$284K	$366K	$466K	150	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$281K	$363K	$461K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$280K	$361K	$459K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$276K	$356K	$453K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$276K	$356K	$453K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$274K	$353K	$449K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$274K	$353K	$449K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$271K	$349K	$444K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$270K	$348K	$443K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$270K	$348K	$443K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$266K	$343K	$437K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$264K	$341K	$433K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$263K	$339K	$431K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$260K	$335K	$426K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$258K	$332K	$422K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$256K	$330K	$420K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$255K	$329K	$419K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$255K	$329K	$419K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$252K	$325K	$413K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$252K	$325K	$413K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$247K	$318K	$404K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$245K	$316K	$401K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$245K	$316K	$401K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$245K	$316K	$401K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$244K	$315K	$400K	110	None ✓
Portland, OR	$244K	$315K	$400K	130	9.9%
Sacramento, CA	$236K	$304K	$387K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$236K	$304K	$387K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$236K	$304K	$387K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$230K	$297K	$377K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$230K	$297K	$377K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$230K	$297K	$377K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$230K	$297K	$377K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$230K	$297K	$377K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$230K	$297K	$377K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$230K	$297K	$377K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$227K	$293K	$373K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$225K	$290K	$369K	120	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$224K	$289K	$367K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$224K	$289K	$367K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$224K	$289K	$367K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$224K	$289K	$367K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$224K	$289K	$367K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$224K	$289K	$367K	106	6.8%
Frisco, TX	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$223K	$287K	$365K	118	5.99%
Aurora, CO	$220K	$284K	$361K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$220K	$284K	$361K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$220K	$284K	$361K	102	4.75%
Provo, UT	$220K	$284K	$361K	100	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$220K	$284K	$361K	118	6.99%
Anchorage, AK	$220K	$284K	$361K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$220K	$283K	$360K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$216K	$279K	$354K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$216K	$279K	$354K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$216K	$279K	$355K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$216K	$279K	$354K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$216K	$279K	$355K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$216K	$279K	$355K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$216K	$279K	$354K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$214K	$276K	$351K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$212K	$273K	$348K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$212K	$273K	$348K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$212K	$273K	$348K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$212K	$273K	$348K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$212K	$273K	$348K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$212K	$273K	$348K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$210K	$271K	$344K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$210K	$271K	$344K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$210K	$271K	$344K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$210K	$271K	$344K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$210K	$271K	$344K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$210K	$271K	$344K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$210K	$271K	$344K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$210K	$271K	$344K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$209K	$269K	$342K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$209K	$269K	$342K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$209K	$269K	$342K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$209K	$269K	$342K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$209K	$269K	$342K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$205K	$265K	$337K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$205K	$265K	$337K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$204K	$263K	$335K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$204K	$263K	$335K	91	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$204K	$263K	$335K	100	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$204K	$263K	$335K	88	5%
Denton, TX	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$203K	$262K	$333K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$201K	$260K	$330K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$200K	$258K	$328K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$200K	$258K	$328K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$200K	$258K	$328K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$200K	$258K	$328K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$200K	$258K	$328K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$200K	$258K	$328K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$198K	$255K	$324K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$198K	$255K	$324K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$198K	$255K	$324K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$198K	$255K	$324K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$198K	$255K	$324K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$198K	$255K	$324K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$198K	$255K	$324K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$196K	$253K	$321K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$196K	$253K	$321K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$196K	$253K	$321K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$196K	$253K	$321K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$195K	$251K	$319K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$195K	$251K	$319K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$195K	$251K	$319K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$195K	$251K	$319K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$195K	$251K	$319K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$192K	$248K	$316K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$192K	$248K	$316K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$192K	$248K	$316K	90	4.95%
Cincinnati, OH	$192K	$248K	$315K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$192K	$248K	$316K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$192K	$248K	$315K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$192K	$248K	$315K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$192K	$248K	$315K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$192K	$248K	$316K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$192K	$248K	$316K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$190K	$245K	$312K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$190K	$245K	$312K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$190K	$245K	$312K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$190K	$245K	$312K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$190K	$245K	$312K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$187K	$241K	$307K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$184K	$237K	$302K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$184K	$237K	$302K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$184K	$237K	$302K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$184K	$237K	$302K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$184K	$237K	$302K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$184K	$237K	$301K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$182K	$234K	$298K	80	5%
Cleveland, OH	$180K	$232K	$295K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$180K	$232K	$295K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$180K	$232K	$295K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$180K	$232K	$295K	88	5.84%
Abilene, TX	$179K	$231K	$294K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$179K	$231K	$294K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$179K	$231K	$294K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$179K	$231K	$294K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$179K	$231K	$294K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$179K	$231K	$294K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$176K	$227K	$289K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$176K	$227K	$289K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$176K	$227K	$289K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$176K	$227K	$289K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$176K	$227K	$289K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$176K	$227K	$289K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$176K	$227K	$289K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$176K	$227K	$289K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$176K	$227K	$289K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$176K	$227K	$289K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$176K	$227K	$289K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$176K	$227K	$289K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$170K	$219K	$279K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$170K	$219K	$279K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$170K	$219K	$279K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$164K	$212K	$269K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$164K	$212K	$269K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$160K	$206K	$262K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$150K	$194K	$246K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $258K Sr. Director of Engineering 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 →

Sr. Director of Engineering Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Sr. Director of Engineering is $258,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $200,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $328,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Sr. Director of Engineerings nationally earn $418,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in CS; 13+ years engineering; senior management. This role is 62% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Sr. Director of Engineering compensation is growing at 6.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Sr. Director of Engineerings significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Sr. Director of Engineering salary FAQ

How much does a Sr. Director of Engineering make?

The median Sr. Director of Engineering salary in the US is $258,000 per year — about $124/hour. Most earn between $200,000 (25th percentile) and $328,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Sr. Director of Engineering?

Entry-level Sr. Director of Engineering positions typically start around $200,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Sr. Director of Engineerings earn?

The top 10% of Sr. Director of Engineerings earn $418,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Sr. Director of Engineerings the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Sr. Director of Engineering salary at $426K 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 Sr. Director of Engineering salaries going up?

Yes — Sr. Director of Engineering pay is growing about 6.2% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Sr. Director of Engineering Salaryby City (2026)