Technology · Level M3 · Salary
Director of Engineering salary
Typical total compensation (US national)
$570,000–$660,000
Base
$290,000
Bonus
$70,000
Equity (annual)
$250,000
Indicative, sourced — not a guarantee. KORE1 Director of Engineering Salary Guide 2026: base $185k-$300k; total $300k (non-tech) to $1.2M+ (big tech)
Pay by metro — nominal vs cost-adjusted
“Real” adjusts for cost of living, so a high headline number in an expensive metro can be worth less in practice. Ranked by real pay.
| Metro | Nominal | Real (cost-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $640,500 | $627,941 |
| Remote (US national) | $610,000 | $610,000 |
| Atlanta | $597,800 | $610,000 |
| Seattle | $719,800 | $599,833 |
| Chicago | $610,000 | $564,815 |
| Denver | $610,000 | $554,545 |
| Boston | $658,800 | $488,000 |
| New York City | $719,800 | $464,387 |
| Los Angeles | $658,800 | $454,345 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $762,500 | $423,611 |