How Much Does a Senior Manufacturing Engineer Make? (2025)
Understanding the senior manufacturing engineer's salary is important for job seekers and employers, as it helps with fair pay and informed decisions. In the United States, the average senior manufacturing engineer in 2025 is $113,900 per year, according to our recent data.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the senior manufacturing engineer role, including salary expectations, factors influencing compensation, and answers to frequently asked questions.
What Does a Senior Manufacturing Engineer Do?
A senior manufacturing engineer, also known as Manufacturing Engineer III, develops and designs manufacturing procedures for a production facility. They also evaluate assembly, fabrication, machining, and further production processes.
They enhance efficiency through the optimization of equipment layout, workflow, assembly techniques, and workforce usage. Their role includes identifying the components, apparatus, instruments, and procedures required to fulfill manufacturing operations objectives in accordance with product specifications.
As per Salary.com, the role typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as mechanical engineering or industrial engineering, with four to seven years of development experience.
A senior manufacturing engineer participates in fairly complex project components. Work is typically characterized by both independence and collaboration with project teams, other engineers, and manufacturing support roles.
In addition to technical expertise, senior engineers are expected to possess a strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles and process improvement methodologies like value stream mapping to increase overall productivity and reduce costs across the facility.
What is a Senior Manufacturing Engineer Salary Overview?
As mentioned earlier, the average salary for senior manufacturing engineer in the United States in 2025, is $113,900 per year or $50 per hour, as of June 15, 2025.
Based on Salary.com salary data, the senior manufacturing engineer salary range is between $96,324 to $132,431 per year, with most salary of senior manufacturing engineer is between $104,700 and $123,600. The senior manufacturing engineer salary per month is $8,600.
Senior manufacturing engineers often earn an average of $50 per hour, with hourly rates ranging from $41 to $58. The average weekly salary for a senior manufacturing engineer is $1,985, with weekly pay ranging from $1,650 to $2,323.
2025 Senior Manufacturing Engineer Average Salary: $113,900 per year ($50 per hour)
Meanwhile, the median core compensation for senior manufacturing engineers is $118,500 per year, including salary and bonuses, and varies depending on the percentile.
| Percentile | Salary + Bonus |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $99,204 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,400 |
| 50th Percentile | $118,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $130,400 |
| 90th Percentile | $141,234 |
Meanwhile, the average total compensation for senior manufacturing engineers is $164,248, according to Salary.com report. The total compensation package includes benefits like time off ($14,585), social security ($9,065), and healthcare ($8,352), which make up 19.5% of the total compensation.
| Core Compensation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Median | % of Total | |
| Base Salary | $103,200 | 62.8% |
| Bonus | $15,300 | 9.3% |
| Value of Benefits | ||
| Social Security | $9,065 | 5.5% |
| 401K/403B | $4,977 | 3.0% |
| Disability | $2,370 | 1.4% |
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 5.1% |
| Pension | $6,399 | 3.9% |
| Time Off | $14,585 | 8.9% |
| Total Compensation | $164,248 | 100% |
What Can Affect Senior Manufacturing Engineer Salaries?
Experience, location, education, and skills can greatly affect the salary of senior manufacturing engineers. Below is a breakdown of the key components:
By Experience Level
Salary.com data shows that entry-level senior manufacturing engineers with less than one year of experience earn an average salary of $107,570 per year. In contrast, senior manufacturing engineers with eight or more years of experience can expect to earn an average salary of $116,563 per year.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Senior Manufacturing Engineer | $107,570 |
| Intermediate Level Senior Manufacturing Engineer | $108,242 |
| Senior Level Senior Manufacturing Engineer | $109,316 |
| Specialist Level Senior Manufacturing Engineer | $112,593 |
| Expert Senior Manufacturing Engineer | $116,563 |
By Geographic Location
The salary of senior manufacturing engineers in the United States varies by location due to factors like cost of living, the local economy, technologies, and production capacity of the region.
Among the hot cities in the United States, San Francisco reports the highest median salary for senior manufacturing engineer at $142,300 per year, while Miami and Dallas reflect lower median salaries at $109,500 and $112,500 per year, respectively.
| Cities | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $130,700 | $142,300 | $154,300 |
| Washington, District of Columbia | $115,900 | $126,100 | $136,800 |
| Miami, Florida | $100,600 | $109,500 | $118,700 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $108,200 | $117,700 | $127,700 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $116,800 | $127,100 | $137,800 |
| New York, New York | $121,300 | $132,000 | $143,200 |
| Dallas, Texas | $103,400 | $112,500 | $122,000 |
By Skills
High-demand tools and skills contribute to salary increases for senior manufacturing engineers. According to Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report, a senior manufacturing engineer can earn a 6.23% increase with manufacturing processes skills, while those with numerical control and bill of material skills can receive a 6.10% increase. The demand for these skills is 44.87%, 12.59%, and 6.32%, respectively.
Additional skills that can increase the salary of senior manufacturing engineer include:
| Skill | Salary Growth | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Processes | +6.23% | 44.87% |
| Numerical Control | +6.10% | 12.59% |
| Bill of Materials | +6.10% | 6.32% |
| Process Engineering | +5.60% | 5.99% |
| Manufacturing Engineering | +5.13% | 41.16% |
By Education
Educational levels can impact the pay scale. Most senior manufacturing engineers have a bachelor’s degree (58.3%), followed by a master’s degree (31.4%), and a smaller percentage hold a doctorate degree (1.3%).
| Degree Level | % of Users with this Level of Education |
|---|---|
| High School | 3.7% |
| Associates | 5.1% |
| Bachelors | 58.3% |
| Masters | 31.4% |
| Doctorate | 1.3% |
How to Become a Senior Manufacturing Engineer?
To become a senior manufacturing engineer, here are the main qualifications:
- Earn a relevant engineering degree: A senior manufacturing engineer requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or manufacturing engineering. Coursework typically includes materials science, production processes, quality control, and systems design. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree or certifications for senior roles.
- Gain relevant experience: Employers often seek candidates with four to seven years of experience. Entry-level positions help develop essential problem-solving skills to manage manufacturing operations effectively.
- Develop necessary skills and qualifications: Skills like manufacturing processes and manufacturing engineering are in high demand for this role, at 44.87% and 41.16%, respectively. Acquiring highly compensated knowledge with high demand can increase chances of becoming a senior manufacturing engineer.
- Earn additional proficiencies: While most senior manufacturing engineers have a bachelor’s degree (58.3%), it is an advantage to earn a higher degree level, like a master’s degree or a doctorate degree.
Employers hiring for this role are typically equal opportunity employers committed to attracting qualified applicants from diverse perspectives and backgrounds to foster innovation and new processes.
What are the FAQs about Senior Manufacturing Engineer?
Here are the frequently asked questions about the senior manufacturing engineer salary:
How much does the most senior manufacturing engineer earn?
In the United States, the average salary for a senior manufacturing engineer in 2025 is $113,900 per year, $8,600 per month, $1,985 per week, or $50 per hour. This is based on Salary.com's salary data as of June 15, 2025.
What do senior manufacturing engineers do?
A senior manufacturing engineer performs various tasks for an organization's manufacturing operations, including:
- Develops and designs manufacturing procedures for a production facility
- Evaluate assembly, fabrication, machining, and other production processes
- Enhance efficiency through the optimization of equipment layout, workflow, assembly techniques, and workforce usage
- Identify the components, apparatus, instruments, and procedures required to fulfill production capacity goals in accordance with product specifications
- Ensure compliance with quality standards and industry regulations
What is the highest salary for a senior manufacturing engineer?
As of June 15, 2025, the highest salary for a senior manufacturing engineer in the United States is $132,431, or $58 per hour, which is in the 90th percentile for this role.
How long does it take to become a senior manufacturing engineer?
To be eligible for the position of Senior Manufacturing Engineer, one generally needs a degree in a STEM discipline and a minimum of 8 years of pertinent experience, or an advanced degree accompanied by 5 years of experience. The compensation for this position ranges from $96,324 to $132,431, with a median of $113,900, indicative of the requisite expertise and experience. Training, collaboration with project teams, and a commitment to continuous career advancement all contribute to long-term success in this role.
