Approvals Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Approvals Engineer make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Approvals Engineer in the United States is $92,268 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, an Approvals Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,938
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $86,108 to $98,377
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,499

Key Factors That Influence Approvals Engineer Salaries

An Approvals Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Approvals Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Approvals Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $76,089
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,996
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $109,725
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,594
  • Expert (over 8 years): $157,624
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Reliability Engineer I less than 1 year $76,089
Approvals Engineer 1-2 years $90,996
Reliability Engineer III 2-4 years $109,725
Reliability Engineer IV 5-8 years $133,594
Reliability Engineer V over 8 years $157,624

Top Paying Cities for Approvals Engineer

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $116,378
  • San Francisco: $115,104
  • Oakland: $112,678

Approvals Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Approvals Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Approvals Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Approvals Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Approvals Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense $101,495 $49.0 10%
Biotechnology $101,495 $49.0 10%
Chemicals $101,495 $49.0 10%
Energy & Utilities $101,495 $49.0 10%
Financial Services $101,495 $49.0 10%

How Education impacts an Approvals Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Approvals Engineer professionals enter the field with a Associate's degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Approvals Engineer with a Associate's is between $91,915 and $95,734.

Approvals Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Approvals Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 51%
High School 44.9%
Associate's Degree 4.1%
Bachelor's Degree 51%
Master's Degree or MBA 44.9%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 4.1%

Approvals Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Approvals Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$86,108
Average $92,268/year
$98,377
$7,176
Average $7,689/month
$8,198
$1,656
Average $1,774/week
$1,892
$41
Average $44/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $98,377 $8,198 $1,892 $47
Average $92,268 $7,689 $1,774 $44
25th Percentile $86,108 $7,176 $1,656 $41

Most common benefits for Approvals Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Approvals Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Approvals Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Approvals Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Approvals Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

  • USPS | Columbus, OH

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Approvals Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Approvals Engineer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Approvals Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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