Runs a software engineering organization of several teams and their managers, owning delivery, headcount, budget and technical health for a product area. Glassdoor via KORE1 Director of Engineering Salary Guide 2026 puts typical pay at $255,000 a year (2026). BLS does not publish separate figures for computer and information systems managers; it counts them within it manager (SOC 11-3021), whose median pay is $175,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-3021
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Director of Engineering in four numbers
- Median pay
- $175,140a year, or $84.20/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $108KTop 10% $298K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +15.8%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+15.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +15.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 53,500685,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025685.8K
- Projected 2035793.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 685.8K Projected 2035 793.9K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate5.8%
- Some college26%
- Associate's2.2%
- Bachelor's47.7%
- Post-bacc certificate2.8%
- Master's14.4%
Highest education held by computer and information systems managers Segment Value Certificate 5.8% Some college 26% Associate's 2.2% Bachelor's 47.7% Post-bacc certificate 2.8% Master's 14.4%
Also advertised as: Director of Software Engineering, Senior Director of Engineering, Director, Software Engineering, Head of Engineering.
Pay
How much do Computer and Information Systems Managers make?
Industry-reported pay
$255,000
Average total pay (base plus self-reported additional pay, equity largely excluded), US directors of engineering, Glassdoor figures as compiled by KORE1; Levels.fyi Capital One director average sits above this range.
- Entry level
- $200,000
- Top earners
- $331,000
Source: Glassdoor via KORE1 Director of Engineering Salary Guide 2026, 2026 (estimate from several industry sources). This is not a BLS figure: BLS counts computer and information systems managers within it manager, whose pay is shown below. KORE1: Director of Engineering Salary Guide · Levels.fyi: Capital One Software Engineering Manager, Director level
Every director of engineering in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$175,140
Middle half earn $138,060 to $220,730
- 10th
- $107,550
- 25th
- $138,060
- 75th
- $220,730
- 90th
- $297,510
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $107,550 |
| 25th | $138,060 |
| Median | $175,140 |
| 75th | $220,730 |
| 90th | $297,510 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $175,140
- Median hourly wage
- $84.20/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $192,160
- People employed
- 670,570
Versus all US occupations
At $175,140, Computer and Information Systems Managers earn 244% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $124,160 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 39% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $297,510 or more while the bottom 10% earn $107,550, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 96% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($218,290), but once local prices are taken into account Massachusetts leads at $203,258 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Computer and Information Systems Managers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $218,290 | $197,155 | 94,720 |
| 2Massachusetts | $214,960 | $203,258 | 24,910 |
| 3New York | $214,300 | $198,571 | 48,050 |
| 4Washington | $209,370 | $195,649 | 16,960 |
| 5New Jersey | $203,460 | $186,995 | 34,470 |
| 6Virginia | $201,490 | $199,290 | 17,550 |
| 7Colorado | $199,420 | $193,514 | 11,510 |
| 8District of Columbia | $195,190 | $177,605 | 5,690 |
| 9New Hampshire | $176,540 | $169,481 | 3,810 |
| 10Minnesota | $176,380 | $178,846 | 10,970 |
Job outlook
Is Director of Engineering a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +15.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | +15.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Computer and Information Systems Managers to change 15.8% over 2025–2035, roughly 4.5× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 108,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 53,500 openings are projected each year, 7.8% of the 685,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Director of Engineering
Most directors of engineering began as software engineers with a bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering, then spent several years as engineering managers before being promoted to lead managers. A record of growing teams, delivering large projects and developing other managers matters more than any credential.
Common routes include taking over a second team as a senior manager, leading a high-profile cross-team project, or joining a growing company where the organization expands around you. Some people attend executive education programs or get coaching, but there is no required certification. At startups, the title sometimes applies to a first engineering leader who builds the department from scratch.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as computer and information systems managers.
- Bachelor's Degree47.7%
- Some College Courses26%
- Master's Degree14.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate5.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate2.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 47.7% |
| Some College Courses | 26% |
| Master's Degree | 14.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 2.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Director of Engineering do?
Directors of engineering lead groups of software teams, usually through a layer of engineering managers. They own the outcome for a product area or platform: whether it ships on time, stays reliable and has the right people working on it. That means setting goals for the organization, deciding how to divide work among teams, and making the case to executives for headcount and budget.
A director spends far less time on code than a manager does and far more on people and planning. They hire and coach managers, run quarterly and annual planning, resolve conflicts between teams, and partner with product and design leaders on strategy. They also guard long-term technical health, deciding when to pay down technical debt, reorganize teams or invest in infrastructure.
Day-to-day tasks
- Set goals and plans for an organization of several engineering teams
- Hire, coach and evaluate engineering managers
- Build headcount and budget requests and defend them to executives
- Partner with product and design leaders on strategy and priorities
- Decide team structure and ownership of systems
- Monitor delivery, reliability and quality metrics across teams
- Lead the response to major incidents and organizational problems
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Directors of engineering work at technology companies, financial firms, healthcare organizations and startups. The role is office or hybrid, desk-based and dominated by meetings, planning documents and one-on-ones. Expect some travel for offsites and recruiting, and pressure around launches, reorganizations and budget cycles.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Writing3.8
- Active Learning3.4
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Social Perceptiveness3.6
- Systems Analysis3.6
- Systems Evaluation3.6
- Management of Personnel Resources3.6
- Time Management3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.6 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Director of Engineering?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code EIC) built on O*NET's IT Manager profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Director of Engineering |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.9
- Enterprising5.4
- Investigative4.8
- Realistic2.7
- Social2.4
- Artistic1.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Director of Engineering
O*NET related occupations
- Management
- Computer and Mathematical
- Business and Financial Operations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Business and Financial Operations
More management careers
Median annual pay, with computer and information systems managers highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Director of Engineering$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Director of Engineering | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Director of Engineering appears on
Questions
Director of Engineering: frequently asked questions
How much do Computer and Information Systems Managers make?
Glassdoor via KORE1 Director of Engineering Salary Guide 2026 reports $255,000 (average total pay (base plus self-reported additional pay, equity largely excluded), US directors of engineering, Glassdoor figures as compiled by KORE1; Levels.fyi Capital One director average sits above this range, 2026), with top earners around $331,000. BLS does not publish a separate wage for computer and information systems managers. It counts them within it manager, whose median pay is $175,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $138,060 and $220,730, and the top 10% earn $297,510 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Director of Engineering?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Computer and Information Systems Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 47.7% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Director of Engineering a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 15.8% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 53,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Director of Engineering do?
Directors of engineering lead groups of software teams, usually through a layer of engineering managers. A typical task: set goals and plans for an organization of several engineering teams. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Computer and Information Systems Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Computer and Information Systems Managers are California ($218,290), Massachusetts ($214,960), New York ($214,300) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Massachusetts moves to the top at $203,258.
What personality type suits a Director of Engineering?
O*NET scores Computer and Information Systems Managers highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.