Architecture and Engineering: S-Corp Reasonable Salary Benchmarks
36 occupations, with medians from $54,240 to $161,740. 34 of them clear $60,000, roughly the point at which an S-corp election starts repaying its own overhead.
Engineering is frequently billed against licensure. Where a licence is what lets the company take the work at all, the owner's stamp is part of what the salary buys, and a figure below the market for licensed practitioners is hard to defend.
| Occupation | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $126,090 | $161,740 | $202,990 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $106,270 | $144,910 | $197,920 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $106,110 | $134,960 | $169,690 |
| Nuclear Engineers | $108,690 | $133,970 | $163,630 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $101,680 | $130,220 | $167,670 |
| Chemical Engineers | $97,820 | $125,040 | $157,190 |
| Engineers, All Other | $90,970 | $122,930 | $158,090 |
| Electrical Engineers | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $90,930 | $115,160 | $142,980 |
| Materials Engineers | $88,080 | $112,860 | $142,720 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $99,250 | $112,230 | $137,690 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $86,980 | $109,370 | $136,600 |
| Environmental Engineers | $83,570 | $107,110 | $134,420 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $85,280 | $106,220 | $136,590 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $84,130 | $104,110 | $132,590 |
| Industrial Engineers | $83,600 | $102,440 | $129,250 |
| Civil Engineers | $79,930 | $100,840 | $129,680 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $77,960 | $99,280 | $126,550 |
| Agricultural Engineers | $82,260 | $98,590 | $124,880 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $67,680 | $82,890 | $111,280 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $65,670 | $81,390 | $101,960 |
| Landscape Architects | $64,170 | $79,870 | $104,090 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $60,390 | $78,350 | $99,310 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $61,610 | $78,190 | $97,650 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $61,430 | $76,870 | $96,730 |
| Surveyors | $58,170 | $75,440 | $98,130 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,510 | $74,510 | $88,110 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $59,780 | $73,900 | $88,540 |
| Mechanical Drafters | $58,080 | $71,550 | $86,120 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $56,380 | $67,820 | $92,080 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $55,650 | $66,150 | $80,870 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $55,760 | $66,120 | $80,280 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $51,490 | $64,950 | $80,650 |
| Drafters, All Other | $51,650 | $63,520 | $79,700 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (below the S-corp threshold) | $48,200 | $59,920 | $75,960 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians (below the S-corp threshold) | $45,430 | $54,240 | $66,700 |
What is a reasonable salary for a engineering S-corp owner?
It depends on the specific occupation, which is why the table lists all 36 separately instead of giving one number for the group. 34 carry a median at or above $60,000, roughly where an S-corp election starts repaying its overhead. Medians here run $54,240 to $161,740.
National figures, and a percentile is evidence rather than an answer.Model your own state and profit, or see all occupation groups.