Embedded Systems Engineer.
Dallas.
$127,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$96,000 to $167,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Embedded Systems Engineer in Dallas earns a median of $127,000 in 2026. That is 2% below the national average. The range runs from $96,000 to $167,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Engineers working on safety-critical systems in automotive, aerospace, or medical devices earn the highest rates due to regulatory complexity.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $114,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$83,000
to $102,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$108,000
to $133,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$140,000
to $165,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$159,000
to $197,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $32,000 to the total package.
Base
$127,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $159,000
How Dallas compares
Dallas, TX
$127,000
Cost of living: 1% above average
National Average
$130,000
Dallas is $3,000 below
Embedded Systems Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Dallas
What you should know
Here is what the Embedded Systems Engineer market actually looks like in Dallas. Dallas is a major corporate hub with dozens of Fortune 500 headquarters spanning telecom, finance, defense, and retail. The metro's low cost of living and no state income tax make it a magnet for corporate relocations. Tech salaries in Dallas have risen quickly, particularly in fintech, cybersecurity, and enterprise software. Engineers working on safety-critical systems in automotive, aerospace, or medical devices earn the highest rates due to regulatory complexity. Expertise in RTOS, firmware optimization, and hardware-software co-design adds 15 to 20% over general embedded work. Security clearance requirements in defense applications push salaries to the top of the band.
Junior embedded engineers start at $72,000 to $90,000, advancing to mid-level at $98,000 to $135,000 in three to four years. Senior embedded architects earn $145,000 to $180,000, while principal engineers or VP of embedded systems roles command $190,000 to $260,000 at major hardware companies. In Dallas, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 8 to 15% are typical at hardware companies, with patent bonuses of $2,000 to $10,000 per filing. Automotive and aerospace firms often include relocation packages and continuing education benefits worth $5,000 to $12,000 annually. And on the tax side: texas levies no state income tax, giving Dallas workers a meaningful take home pay advantage. Local property taxes are above the national average, typically around 2% of assessed value. When someone quotes you $127,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight the corporate headquarters density in DFW. Employers here compete fiercely for talent and often match or exceed offers from companies across the metroplex. The range for Embedded Systems Engineers in Dallas runs from $96,000 to $167,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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