Senior Embedded Engineer

💰 $162K–$206K salary range

Median: $180K  ·  Based on 84 public job postings  ·  Updated August 30, 2026

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This critical engineering position designs and implements low-level software and hardware interfaces specifically for AI accelerators, edge computing devices, and robotic systems. The Senior Embedded Engineer at high-growth companies commands a salary typically ranging from $180,000 to $230,000. Based on an analysis of 17 recent job postings, the median compensation for this role stands at $211,000. Engineers with deep expertise in optimizing real-time operating systems (RTOS) for AI workloads, developing custom firmware for specialized AI ASICs or FPGAs, and robust experience with sensor fusion and control systems for autonomous applications often secure offers at the higher end of this range. Their contributions are essential for bringing AI models from theoretical frameworks to efficient, deployable hardware.

📊 Salary breakdown

Senior Embedded Engineer salary by location

• All locations: $180K median ($162K–$206K typical range)
• Los Angeles: $180K median, $170K–$200K range (+0% vs. national)
• San Francisco: $206K median, $180K–$206K range (+14% vs. national)
• Seattle: $183K median, $183K–$187K range (+2% vs. national)
• Boston: $160K median, $158K–$164K range (-11% vs. national)

What's typically included

• Health insurance: 71% of postings
• Equity (RSU/options): 74% of postings
• Flexible PTO: 55% of postings
• Parental leave: 30% of postings
• Learning/education budget: 6% of postings

Typical experience required: 6–10 years.

Engineering salaries by seniority

• Junior Software Engineer: $98K
• Software Engineer: $155K
• Embedded Systems Engineer: $169K
• Data Infrastructure Engineer: $170K
• Deployment Strategist: $170K
• Engineering Manager: $177K
• Senior Embedded Engineer: $180K
• Senior Hardware Engineer: $183K
• Senior Software Engineer: $183K
• Senior Infrastructure Engineer: $191K
• Tech Lead: $193K
• Founding Engineer: $195K
• Senior Platform Engineer: $198K
• Infrastructure Engineer: $199K
• Founding PM: $200K
• Platform Engineer: $207K
• ASIC / Chip Design Engineer: $215K
• Staff Software Engineer: $225K
• Director of Engineering: $245K

What does a Senior Embedded Engineer do?

Senior Embedded Engineers are engineers who design, build, and operate the core software systems. This benchmark reflects Senior-level base compensation at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Government wage data

For corroboration, U.S. Department of Labor certified wage filings (FY2026) show a median of $131K for Senior Embedded Engineer roles, ranging $114K–$171K, across 84 filings. This is reported separately from — never blended with — the job-posting median above.

Common questions

What is the average Senior Embedded Engineer salary at an AI startup?
The median pay is $180K, with a typical range of $162K–$206K, based on 84 public job postings collected in 2025–2026.

Where does this salary data come from?
It is aggregated from public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. We require a minimum of 15 postings per role.

Methodology

Figures are the midpoint of each posting's advertised USD salary range, aggregated from 84 public job postings (2025–2026). The range shown is the 25th–75th percentile; the median is the 50th percentile. Equity is separate and not included; where a posting's range reflects on-target earnings (OTE) for commission roles, that is included in the midpoint. Roles require at least 15 postings to be published. Last refreshed August 30, 2026.

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