PublicPay

Computer Engineering federal salary series 0854

Full-time federal employees in the Computer Engineering series earned a median of $153,509 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 40% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $121,932 and $179,108.

Median pay
$153,509
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$121,932–$179,108
25th–75th percentile
Employees
4,087
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
-3.6%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Computer Engineering
All federal (full-time)

What shapes computer engineering pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-13 (342 employees, median $133,017). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (559 employees). Among states with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay, the median is highest in California ($195,565) and lowest in Florida ($105,203), a gap that partly reflects locality pay differences. Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

OPM withheld pay for 81% of employees in this series. The figures here describe only employees with published pay; withholding is concentrated in certain agencies (see data coverage).

Computer Engineering pay by grade

Grades with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay. GS grades are listed first; other pay plans follow.

Computer Engineering pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-9 70 $73,116 $73,116–$73,687
GS-11 96 $82,808 $80,298–$85,318
GS-12 174 $102,820 $93,216–$107,515
GS-13 342 $133,017 $121,932–$145,318
GS-14 271 $163,514 $153,178–$182,295
GS-15 152 $197,200 $186,029–$197,200

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Computer Engineering pay by agency

Computer Engineering pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 559 $144,466 $111,620–$170,289
Department of Transportation 67 $165,111 $140,335–$173,292
Department of the Treasury 48 $187,093 $162,212–$197,200

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Computer Engineering pay by state

The 8 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Computer Engineering pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Florida 178 $105,203 $80,298–$139,398
Maryland 166 $177,998 $154,263–$197,200
Virginia 67 $161,689 $136,710–$177,526
West Virginia 63 $138,356 $120,629–$158,273
Texas 50 $159,575 $147,300–$188,329
California 44 $195,565 $162,187–$197,200
Oklahoma 43 $166,706 $127,947–$173,292
Alabama 43 $125,627 $110,847–$148,462

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Compare computer engineering pay across all states and agencies →

Change since September 2025

The median moved −3.6% from $159,276 in September 2025 to $153,509 in September 2026. Headcount went from 4,557 to 4,087 (−10.3%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

Related occupations in Engineering and Architecture Group