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How much does Distinguished Engineer make?
Total pay range
$284K - $527K/yr
$379K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$166K - $307K/yrBase pay
$118K - $220K/yrAdditional pay
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.
Recent salaries shared by Distinguished Engineer
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Distinguished Engineer
|
10-14 years
$171K/yr
($171K • $0)
Logan, UT
submitted on Jun 22, 2026
$171K/yr
$171K • $0
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$195K - $226K/yr
New York, NY
submitted on Jun 11, 2026
$195K - $226K/yr
Distinguished Engineer
|
7-9 years
$395K/yr
($291K • $104K)
Cambridge, MA
submitted on May 22, 2026
$395K/yr
$291K • $104K
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$322K/yr
($322K • $0)
Raleigh, NC
submitted on Apr 24, 2026
$322K/yr
$322K • $0
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$418K - $483K/yr
Chapel Hill, NC
submitted on Apr 21, 2026
$418K - $483K/yr
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$149K/yr
($149K • $0)
Santa Clarita, CA
submitted on Apr 15, 2026
$149K/yr
$149K • $0
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$243K/yr
($243K • $0)
Washington, DC
submitted on Mar 17, 2026
$243K/yr
$243K • $0
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$277K - $324K/yr
Atlanta, GA
submitted on Mar 11, 2026
$277K - $324K/yr
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$203K/yr
($160K • $43K)
Tampa, FL
submitted on Feb 5, 2026
$203K/yr
$160K • $43K
Distinguished Engineer
|
15+ years
$278K - $322K/yr
New York, NY
submitted on Feb 4, 2026
$278K - $322K/yr
Viewing 1 - 10 of 50
Top paying industries
The top 4 paying industries for Distinguished Engineer in United States are Information Technology with a median total pay of $397,567, Manufacturing with a median total pay of $296,996, Financial Services with a median total pay of $267,691 and Telecommunications with a median total pay of $211,314.
Information Technology
Top paying companies in Information Technology for Distinguished Engineer are NVIDIA, Ampere Computing, and Intuit.
Frequently asked questions about Distinguished Engineer salaries
The average salary for Distinguished Engineer is $378,587 per year or $182 per hour, with top earners making up to $692,815 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $283,940 (25th percentile) to $527,001 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 546 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Distinguished Engineer employees.
The highest salary for Distinguished Engineer is $527,001 per year, $43,917 per month or $253 per hour.
The lowest salary for Distinguished Engineer is $283,940 per year, $23,662 per month or $137 per hour.
The salary trajectory of Distinguished Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $220,790 per year (estimate) and goes up to $378,587 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
Verizon
IBM
Capital One
NVIDIA
Cisco