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Systems Engineer salary
Pay ranges for systems engineers — Linux, networking, infrastructure, automation and reliability.
The median Systems Engineer salary is $124,886, with most listings between $87,636 and $158,902, based on 502 active listings with employer-disclosed pay.
Source: Datamata Studios — methodology and update cadence.
At a glance
- Figures use the midpoint of employer-published salary_min and salary_max — not self-reported surveys or aggregator estimates.
- Based on 621 active systems engineer listings in the current index.
Compensation range — Systems Engineer
From 502 listings with disclosed salary fields
25th percentile
$87,636
Lower end of market
Median
$124,886
Midpoint of postings
75th percentile
$158,902
Upper-market range
| Percentile | USD |
|---|---|
| 25th | 87636 |
| Median | 124886 |
| 75th | 158902 |
Seniority mix
How systems engineer listings break down by seniority level.
Skill salary premiums
Median pay when a skill appears in a systems engineer listing (minimum three matches). Bar shows relative salary vs top skill.
- C++$219,500
- Machine Learning$187,485
- Docker$187,472
- Stakeholder Mgmt$152,920
- AWS$138,986
- Linux$133,898
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Become a Systems Engineer
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Pay, skills and hiring volume side by side against similar roles
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Systems Engineer salary FAQ
What is the average Systems Engineer salary in 2026?
The median Systems Engineer salary is $124,886, with most listings falling between $87,636 (25th percentile) and $158,902 (75th percentile). This is based on 502 active job listings with employer-disclosed pay ranges.
Which skills increase Systems Engineer pay the most?
C++ is associated with the highest median pay for systems engineer listings at $219,500, followed by Machine Learning ($187,485). Premiums reflect the median salary of listings that mention each skill, with a minimum of three matched listings.
How does seniority affect Systems Engineer salary?
Across current systems engineer listings, mid-level roles are the most common at 66% of postings. Senior and lead positions typically sit toward the 75th percentile ($158,902), while entry-level roles cluster nearer the 25th percentile ($87,636).
How is this Systems Engineer salary data calculated?
Figures use the midpoint of each employer's published salary_min and salary_max from active job listings — not self-reported surveys or third-party aggregator estimates. The data refreshes daily as new listings are indexed.
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