IEEE-USA Releases Three Engineering Salary Special Reports

IEEE-USA has issued detailed reports on engineering compensation in the Power and Energy and Computers and Software Technology fields, as well as Compensation of Young Workers across industries. The reports draw on IEEE-USA’s annual review of compensation based on a survey of members. The reports break down salaries by quartile, in such areas as size of the company, educational level, type of business, supervisory levels, and years in the profession.

Each report is available in the IEEE-USA Shop for $29.95 for IEEE members and for $129.95 for non-members.

Salaries in the Computer Field

This report contains data from a total of 715 U.S. IEEE Members who identified Computers or Software Technology as their primary area of expertise.

In 2021, Median base salary was reported as $155,000 with median total income of $164,500, though the salaries varied by job role, whether one managed others, and geography.

The report breaks down the salaries by quartile for more than 20 different primary job functions. General Management and Marketing/Sales reported the highest median total income, at $246,500 and $235,000, respectively. At less than half those levels — Education, Teaching and Training and Operations, Construction and Maintenance were the job functions reporting the lowest incomes.

The report also breaks down computer salaries by industry sector, showing that those working in private industry (defense and non-defense) earned the highest primary median incomes ($175,000); while those working at educational institutions earned the lowest ($108,200).

Moving into management increased salaries significantly. The median total income for those who supervised between 50 and 499 employees was $268,700, compared to $149,000 to those who did not supervise any employees.

Those employed in the U.S. Census’ Pacific Region had the highest annual median income, at $207,000. Those in San Jose, California and San Francisco, California reported total incomes of $230,000 or more.

Salaries in the Power and Energy Field

This report contains data from a total of 601 U.S. IEEE Members who belong to the Power & Energy Society. Twenty-six percent had Masters’ degrees; nine percent had earned a Ph.D.

Median base salary was reported at $131,000, while median total income was $142,000. Marketing/Sales and General Management reported the highest median total incomes, at $182,500 and $162,700, respectively. Operations/Construction/Maintenance reported the lowest income, at $123,400.

Those working in Private Industry (non-defense) and Utilities earned the top median total compensation ($147,500 and $144,000); while those working at Education Institutions were the lowest ($106,000).

Those just starting in the Power and Energy field earned a median total income of $75,000. Those who have been in their profession for more than 25 years earned more than double, at $162,000.

Those employed in the U.S. Census’ New England region had the highest annual median income, at $171,000. Those in the Mountain region had the lowest, at $134,500.

Young Workers’ Salaries

This report contains data from a total of 134 U.S. IEEE Members who are age 29, or younger. Eighty-one percent were male (as opposed to 89% for the entire respondent group). Almost half of the respondents were from private industry (other than defense or utilities), and roughly a quarter were from utilities industries.

Median total income was $92,700, up from $90,000 in the previous survey, with the highest median incomes in Software Technology ($128,100) and Customer Electronics ($126,500). Those working in Education Institutions had the lowest median income ($45,000).

Young workers earned the most in the U.S. Census Pacific region ($123,000). Those in the New England had the lowest at $81,500.