Director of Engineering Director of Engineering Salary in San Francisco, CA

Director of Engineering Salary in San Francisco, CA

Updated on Oct 10, 2026
Position
City
Salary

How much does a Director of Engineering make in San Francisco, CA?

The average salary for a Director of Engineering is $270,899 per year in San Francisco, CA.
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Hourly
Graph depicting the yearly salary distribution for Director of Engineering jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $270,899 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.
Graph depicting the monthly salary distribution for Director of Engineering jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $22,575 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.
Graph depicting the weekly salary distribution for Director of Engineering jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $5,210 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.
Graph depicting the hourly salary distribution for Director of Engineering jobs in San Francisco, CA, showing an average salary of $130 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.

The role of a Director of Engineering in San Francisco, CA, is a key one in the tech industry. This position comes with a competitive salary that reflects its importance. On average, a Director of Engineering earns around $270,899 per year in this area. This salary can vary based on experience, company size, and specific industry needs.

The salary data shows a range from about $130,000 to $400,000. Most Directors earn between $203,636 and $375,455 annually. This wide range indicates that higher salaries are available for those with more experience and advanced skills. Directors also often receive additional benefits, which can include stock options, bonuses, and other incentives.

Director of Engineering jobs in San Francisco, CA
View all Director of Engineering jobs in San Francisco, CA

What are the highest paying cities for a Director of Engineering near San Francisco, CA?

Director of Engineering roles near San Francisco offer competitive salaries in many nearby cities. San Mateo, CA, leads with an average salary of $387,564, providing a lucrative opportunity for experienced professionals. Other top cities include Mountain View, Menlo Park, and Santa Clara, each offering robust compensation packages.
Graph displaying highest paying cities salaries for Director of Engineering jobs near San Francisco, CA, highlighting San Mateo, CA with the highest at $387,564 and Palo Alto, CA with the lowest at $206,361.

  1. San Mateo, CA
    Average Salary: $387,564
    In San Mateo, leading an engineering team means contributing to cutting-edge tech companies like Facebook and Salesforce. The city offers a strong tech ecosystem with plenty of opportunities to innovate and grow your career.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in San Mateo, CA


  2. Mountain View, CA
    Average Salary: $302,997
    Mountain View is home to Google, making it a top spot for tech leaders. Working here, you will drive major projects and influence tech advancements on a global scale. The city’s vibrant community supports a balanced work-life style.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Mountain View, CA


  3. Menlo Park, CA
    Average Salary: $278,278
    Menlo Park is known for its entrepreneurial spirit and tech giants like Facebook and LinkedIn. As a leader, you will have access to top talent and resources to make significant impacts. The city’s culture fosters creativity and innovation.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Menlo Park, CA


  4. Santa Clara, CA
    Average Salary: $270,881
    Santa Clara offers a mix of tech innovation and quality of life. Companies like Intel and Apple provide opportunities to lead diverse engineering teams. The city's tech-friendly environment makes it ideal for professional development.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Santa Clara, CA


  5. Oakland, CA
    Average Salary: $260,583
    Oakland provides a unique blend of tech growth and diverse culture. With companies like Salesforce and various startups, you can lead teams in a dynamic setting. The city’s vibrant arts and food scene adds to its appeal.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Oakland, CA


  6. Sunnyvale, CA
    Average Salary: $253,857
    Sunnyvale is rapidly growing as a tech hub with companies like Oracle and VMware. Leading an engineering team here means being part of innovative projects. The city offers a friendly environment and a strong support network for tech professionals.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Sunnyvale, CA


  7. Redwood City, CA
    Average Salary: $252,338
    Redwood City is home to tech leaders like Splunk and Docker. Leading engineering teams here allows for impactful contributions to global tech projects. The city’s family-friendly atmosphere provides a great work-life balance.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Redwood City, CA


  8. San Jose, CA
    Average Salary: $236,393
    San Jose is a central hub for Silicon Valley tech companies such as Cisco and Adobe. Leading engineering teams here means being at the forefront of tech innovation. The city’s diverse culture and attractions make it a compelling place to work.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in San Jose, CA


  9. Fremont, CA
    Average Salary: $227,184
    Fremont offers a mix of tech innovation and a peaceful community. With companies like Tesla and various tech startups, you can lead cutting-edge projects. The city's suburban feel provides a good quality of life.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Fremont, CA


  10. Palo Alto, CA
    Average Salary: $206,361
    Palo Alto is a tech haven with companies like Hewlett-Packard and Tesla. Leading engineering teams here allows for impactful work in a vibrant community. The city’s focus on education and innovation makes it an excellent place for professional growth.
    Find Director of Engineering jobs in Palo Alto, CA

What are the best paying companies for a Director of Engineering in San Francisco, CA?

Companies like Discord, Asana, and Sigma lead in paying Director of Engineering positions in San Francisco. At Discord, the average salary for this role reaches $400,375. Asana and Sigma are close behind, offering average salaries of $333,000 and $330,000, respectively. These top firms not only provide high compensation but also offer a chance to work in innovative environments.
Graph displaying best paying company salaries for Director of Engineering jobs in San Francisco, CA, highlighting Discord with the highest at $400,375 and DigitalOcean with the lowest at $258,667.

  1. Discord
    Average Salary: $400,375
    Discord is a popular platform for communication. Director of Engineering roles focus on software development, ensuring smooth operations across their servers. The company has its headquarters in San Francisco, CA, and additional offices in Canada and Germany.


  2. Asana
    Average Salary: $333,000
    Asana helps teams organize and manage their work. Directors of Engineering lead development teams to create new features and improve existing products. Asana operates in San Francisco, CA, and has additional offices in New York, NY, and Dublin, Ireland.


  3. Sigma
    Average Salary: $330,000
    Sigma is a business analytics software company. Directors of Engineering manage product development, focusing on analytics and data visualization tools. The company has its headquarters in San Francisco, CA.


  4. Okta
    Average Salary: $326,567
    Okta provides identity management and access control services. Directors of Engineering oversee software development, ensuring the security and reliability of their products. Okta operates in San Francisco, CA, and has additional offices in the United States and internationally.


  5. Crusoe
    Average Salary: $301,417
    Crusoe offers tools for managing and optimizing cloud infrastructure. Directors of Engineering lead development efforts to create innovative cloud management solutions. The company is based in San Francisco, CA.


  6. Rippling
    Average Salary: $297,375
    Rippling provides HR and IT software for businesses. Directors of Engineering focus on developing and enhancing HR and IT tools. Rippling has its headquarters in San Francisco, CA.


  7. Meta
    Average Salary: $296,000
    Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is a social media giant. Directors of Engineering work on developing new features and improving existing products. Meta operates in San Francisco, CA, and has additional offices worldwide.


  8. Salesforce
    Average Salary: $270,053
    Salesforce is a leading CRM platform. Directors of Engineering manage software development to enhance customer relationship management tools. Salesforce has its headquarters in San Francisco, CA.


  9. DigitalOcean
    Average Salary: $258,667
    DigitalOcean provides cloud computing services. Directors of Engineering oversee the development of cloud-based infrastructure solutions. DigitalOcean has its headquarters in San Francisco, CA.

Currently 246 Director of Engineering job openings, nationwide.

View Director of Engineering Jobs in San Francisco, CA

How's the job market for a Director of Engineering in the US?

Learn what a Director of Engineering does, how to become one, and understand the job outlook. Get simple steps to start your career as a Director of Engineering today.
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