Salary AI Book a Demo

Assistant Principal Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Assistant Principal Engineer make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant Principal Engineer in the United States is $77,000 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,965
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,789 to $83,263
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,044
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Assistant Principal Engineer Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Assistant Principal Engineer Salaries

An Assistant Principal 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 Assistant Principal Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant Principal 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): $75,695
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,162
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $108,023
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,526
  • Expert (over 8 years): $151,115
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Assistant Principal Engineer less than 1 year $75,695
Civil Engineer II 1-2 years $92,162
Civil Engineer III 2-4 years $108,023
Civil Engineer IV 5-8 years $126,526
Civil Engineer V over 8 years $151,115

How Do Assistant Principal Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Assistant Principal Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $85,255.
  • California: $84,931.
  • Massachusetts: $83,799.

Top Paying Cities for Assistant Principal 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: $97,120
  • San Francisco: $96,057
  • Oakland: $94,033

Assistant Principal Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Assistant Principal Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Assistant Principal Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Assistant Principal Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Assistant Principal Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities $100,100 $48.0 30%
Insurance $96,250 $46.0 25%
Biotechnology $92,400 $44.0 20%
Pharmaceuticals $92,400 $44.0 20%
Software & Networking $88,550 $43.0 15%

How Education impacts an Assistant Principal Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assistant Principal 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 Assistant Principal Engineer with a Associate's is between $73,720 and $78,018.

Assistant Principal Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assistant Principal Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 0.2%
High School 0.8%
Associate's Degree 2.7%
Bachelor's Degree 71.6%
Master's Degree or MBA 23%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 1.6%
View as Graph

Assistant Principal Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant Principal 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
$71,789
Average $77,000/year
$83,263
$5,982
Average $6,417/month
$6,939
$1,381
Average $1,481/week
$1,601
$35
Average $37/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,263 $6,939 $1,601 $40
Average $77,000 $6,417 $1,481 $37
25th Percentile $71,789 $5,982 $1,381 $35

Most common benefits for Assistant Principal Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Assistant Principal Engineer

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

Find Your Next Assistant Principal Engineer Job

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

  • Toole Design | Columbus, OH

    Senior or Principal Engineer

    Toole Design | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. At Toole Design, we're leading the way in creating safer, more connected communities through sustainable multimodal trans... more

    9 Days Ago

  • NIBE Element North America | Columbus, OH

    Principal Thermal Simulation Engineer

    NIBE Element North America | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Principal Thermal Simulation Engineer. Reports To. Director of Engineering. Department. Engineering. Compensat... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Educational Solutions Company | Columbus, OH

    Assistant Principal of College and Career Success

    Educational Solutions Company | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description:\n\nDescription: About the Organization Educational Solutions is a mission-driven organization dedicated to making a “Worl... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Hazen and Sawyer | Columbus, OH

    Assistant Resident Engineer

    Hazen and Sawyer | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Hazen & Sawyer is seeking an Assistant Resident Engineer to support the construction of water and wastewater treatment fa... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Abercrombie & Fitch | Columbus, OH

    Assistant Associate Engineer Analytics Management

    Abercrombie & Fitch | Columbus, OH

    Assistant / Associate Engineer, Analytics Management - Power BI (Remote)As a member of the Analytics Management team, this position is responsible for exec... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Brave New World | Columbus, OH

    Project Engineer II Assistant Project Manager

    Brave New World | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Title: Project Engineer II / Assistant Project Manager. Location: Columbus, OH. About the Position. Are you ready to ... more

    8 Days Ago

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Assistant Principal Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Assistant Principal Engineer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Assistant Principal Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst