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60 Engineering manager jobs in Columbus, OH

5 of the Highest Paying Engineering Manager Jobs in 2026

The best Engineering Manager jobs can pay up to $173,000 per year.

Engineering managers supervise teams of engineers and other professionals whose jobs are to collaborate on designing and developing products ranging from medical equipment to computer hardware to electrical components. Your job duties are to coordinate with teams and departments, help engineers troubleshoot and problem-solve, and make sure everyone stays on schedule to meet design and production deadlines. You need strong project management skills, extensive engineering knowledge, and excellent communication and leadership skills to succeed as an engineering manager.

To pursue a career as an engineering manager, you must meet several qualifications. Your first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in engineering. The next step is to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) to earn your engineer in training (EIT) credential. After four years of EIT work, your next step is to take the NCEES Principles and Practices of Engineering exam to earn your professional engineer (PE) license. At that point, you will be qualified to apply for jobs as an engineering manager.

High Paying Engineering Manager Jobs

List of the top 5 highest paying Engineering Manager positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

  • Principal Engineer

    Salary range: $118,500 - $173,000

    A principal engineer oversees the research, development, and design of engineering projects for a company or organization. These engineering experts are leaders in their industries and need an advanced understanding of their discipline to manage projects and guide team members. As a principal engineer, your job duties include creating budgets, negotiating with vendors, and delegating work. You may also train staff members, set project deadlines, and work to improve engineering application processes.

  • Senior Engineering Manager

    Salary range: $113,500 - $163,000

    Senior engineering managers oversee the project team to ensure each phase is completed accurately, on time, and within budget. They coordinate with the company’s marketing and sales departments to determine what products or services are offered to clients and then develop those offerings to specifications. As a senior engineering manager, you may also need to troubleshoot equipment or software. To become a senior engineering manager, you need a certificate or degree in computer science or a related field, several years of working in software development, and management experience.

  • Lead Engineer

    Salary range: $102,500 - $135,000

    A lead engineer oversees a team of engineers who work on maintaining and streamlining corporate projects. In this job, your primary duties and focus is on the equipment, technology, and infrastructure that make up the company’s operating system. Educational qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in engineering and specialization in the company’s industry. You hone your skills as a junior engineer before gaining enough experience to advance your career to a lead engineer position.

  • Engineering Team Leader

    Salary range: $102,500 - $135,000

    The majority of Engineering Team Leader salaries across the United States currently range between $102,500 (25th percentile) and $135,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Engineering Team Leader job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

  • Electronics Engineering Manager

    Salary range: $67,000 - $116,500

    The majority of Electronics Engineering Manager salaries across the United States currently range between $67,000 (25th percentile) and $116,500 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Electronics Engineering Manager job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

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