Hiring a systems engineer: the market today
The short answer ·
4,478 open postings ask for a systems engineer as of Oct 8, 2026, from 294 employers. The median advertised pay is $142,500, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 2,575 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
4,478open postings
294employers hiring
$142,500median advertised pay
2,575new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, 2026-10-08
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 3,413 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Aug 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire a systems engineer?
Hard. 294 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Lockheed Martin with 645 open postings.
What should I pay a systems engineer?
Advertised pay centers on $142,500. Federal staff in series 0801 average $157,341 in actual pay.