Meta Engineering Manager Salary Guide 2026

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Article written by Shashi Kadapa, under the guidance of Satyabrata Mishra, former ML and Data Engineer and instructor at Interview Kickstart. Reviewed by Payal Saxena, 13+ years crafting digital journeys that convert.

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According to the Meta engineering manager salary guide, 2025, engineering managers of M2 level at Meta receive a total compensation of $ 1.88 million annually. The average total compensation of M1–M2 (Mid-level) can reach $754,000+, while M0 (entry-level meta engineering managers are paid $ 441,250+ annually.

Several factors, including role, grade, special skill sets, domain expertise, and experience, determine the meta engineering salary. As per this meta engineering manager salary guide, several components are included in the total compensation.

Meta engineering managers have excellent growth prospects with high compensation. This blog presents the Meta engineering manager salary guide. Salary information is collated from several sources.

Key Takeaways

  • Meta engineering managers are placed in M0, M1, M2, director and vice president levels.
  • Each role has increasing levels of responsibility and business impact.
  • M0 entry-level meta engineering managers are paid $ 441,250+ annually, M1–M2 (Mid-level) can reach $754,000+, and M2-level managers at Meta receive a total compensation of $ 1.88 million annually.
  • The total compensation has several components, such as the base salary, performance bonus, equity, stocks, RSUs, health care, and other benefits.
  • Engineering managers with expertise in AI, ML, data science, machine vision, and other emerging technologies receive higher compensation.

Meta Engineering Manager Salary 2026 Breakdown

This Meta engineering manager salary guide explains that the total compensation of an engineering manager at Meta has several components. Factors such as level, role, projects, special and niche skills, and education determine the Meta engineering manager’s salary.

In this Meta engineering manager salary guide, let us look at various components that add to the salary.

Meta Engineering Manager Levels Explained

As explained in this Meta engineering manager salary guide, it is important to understand the various levels of Meta engineering managers. Salary and compensation at Meta for engineering managers depend on the level, role, nature of work, and their business impact.

Meta engineering managers are grouped in levels such as M0, M1, M2, by Director D1, D2, and VP levels. People management, technical leadership, and strategic planning increase in scope, complexity, and salary increases for each level.

Let us look at the various Meta engineering manager levels.

Level Title Main Responsibilities
M0 Software Engineering Manager (Junior) M0 Meta engineering managers at this level experience as an individual contributor – IC5 equivalent. 

They manage a small team, with a focus on initial people management and team support.

M1 Engineering Manager M1 Meta engineering managers at this level manage a team of engineers and drive impact in the team’s scope. 

Responsibilities are providing technical guidance, setting short and long-term initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional partners such as product managers and data scientists, providing career development for team members, and maintaining engineering standards.

M2 Senior Engineering Manager M2 Meta engineering manages larger teams, and M1 managers. 

Responsibilities include influencing the direction of multiple teams or a practice, handling complex technical and resourcing challenges, and developing partnerships with stakeholders.

D1, D2 Director D1 and D2 Meta engineering manager roles, equivalent to IC8 and IC9, manage large departments and make decisions that impact the company’s strategy.
VP1, VP2 Vice President VP1 and VP2 are the most senior management levels. They influence and are responsible for core products and the company’s direction.

Meta Engineering Manager Total Compensation Breakdown

As explained in this Meta engineering manager salary guide, the total compensation includes several components. These are the base salary, stock awards (RSUs), cash bonus, matching 501(k), health, vision, and dental insurance, cost-of-living adjustments, relocation payment, paid vacation, and other benefits.

Total compensation is based on the individual’s level, experience, and market conditions. Stock awards are a significant portion of the total pay. Let us look at the total compensation for Meta engineering managers.

  • Base Salary: This is the fixed annual cash component of the Meta engineering manager’s salary. This is the guaranteed amount paid monthly. Role, level, experience, and market rates for similar positions determine the base salary.
  • Stock Options (RSUs): These are restricted stock units that are awarded to engineering managers. They are a major component of the Meta engineering manager’s total compensation. They are vested for 1-4 years or more.
  • Bonus: This is the cash payment made for excellent performance by an individual, team, department, or the overall company. Bonuses are awarded annually and constitute a significant portion of total compensation.
  • Benefits: As explained in this Meta engineering manager salary guide, Meta pays non-monetary benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off, wellness programs, relocation payouts, and so on.

Technologies Expertise of Meta Engineering Managers of Higher Value

Meta engineering manager’s salary depends on strong technical expertise, exceptional leadership, and soft skills. Meta is at the forefront of emerging technologies and uses them in its platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and others.

Domain Expertise: The Meta engineering manager’s salary depends on the domain, such as AI/ ML, data engineering, AR, VR, and others. Let us look at some of the domains with the highest demand.

  • Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning: As indicated in this Meta engineering manager salary guide, Meta values expertise in computer vision, deep learning, agentic AI, and large language models like Llama. Meta engineering manager salaries are highest for people with these skills.
  • Data Engineering: The Meta engineering manager’s salary is high for engineering managers with expertise in data modeling, ETL batch/streaming, SQL, and data visualization.
  • AR/VR: This is an emerging technology, and as per this Meta engineering manager salary guide, expertise in machine perception, spatial AI, and hardware/software integration is in high demand for the Reality Labs division.
  • System Design and Architecture: Meta engineering manager salary is high for engineering managers with skills in designing and understanding highly scalable, fault-tolerant distributed systems to manage billions of users. Engineering managers should have expertise in trade-offs like performance vs. scalability, latency vs. throughput, availability vs. consistency, caching, database sharding, and networking principles.
  • Coding Proficiency: While Meta engineering managers are not active coders, they must have worked in software engineering and be able to engage in technical discussions, conduct code reviews, and debug issues with their teams. Proficiency in languages like C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, or PHP is needed.

Meta Engineering Manager Soft Skills and Leadership Capabilities Requirement

As explained below in this Meta engineering manager salary guide, Meta gives importance to leadership and people management skills.

  • People Management and Mentoring: Meta engineering manager salary increases for engineering managers who can mentor, coach underperformers, resolve conflicts, and grow engineers’ careers.
  • Autonomy and Ownership: Meta engineering managers should have expertise in dealing with ambiguity and run projects with a high level of autonomy.
  • Culture Fit: All employees are expected to fit in the Meta culture of innovation, openness, and equality.
  • Communication and Cross-functional Collaboration: Meta engineering managers are the link between technical and non-technical teams, and they should have excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate and align with goals.
  • Strategic Thinking and Execution: The Meta engineering manager’s salary will be higher for engineering managers who can align team goals with company objectives, set technical direction, and ensure timely project delivery.
  • Bias for Action and Iteration: The Meta engineering manager should have the agility as a core value, who can drive momentum and build systems with speed and purpose, while making sound trade-off decisions.

Meta Engineering Manager Total Compensation for M0 Level

As per the Meta engineering manager salary guide, Meta engineering manager salary for M0 grade is as follows. The actual figure depends on the qualifications, skills, experience, and niche specializations.

  • Total compensation for a Meta M0 software engineering manager in the United States is estimated to be around $380,000 to $441,000+ annually
  • The base salary is $213,000+
  • Annual stock grant is about $137,000+
  • Performance-based bonus is $29,000+
  • Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life assurance, Childcare, Gym, transport, laundry, car shipping, and real estate closing costs
  • Relocation: This is personalized and depends on the current location and the volume of items. Costs are paid for moving services, temporary housing, travel expenses, and miscellaneous allowance up to $45,000 for overseas engineering managers relocating to the US.

Meta Engineering Manager Total Compensation for M1 Level

As per the Meta engineering manager salary guide, the Meta engineering manager salary for the M1 grade is as follows. The actual figure depends on the qualifications, skills, experience, and niche specializations.

  • Total compensation for a Meta M1 software engineering manager in the United States is estimated to be around $606,000 – $1.185M+ per year
  • Typical range is $543,000 to $1,185,000
  • The base salary is $243,000+
  • Annual stock grant is about $278,000 – $669,000+
  • Performance-based bonus is $52,000+
  • Cash Lump Sum of up to $30,000 one time
  • Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life assurance, Childcare, Gym, transport, laundry, car shipping, and real estate closing costs
  • Relocation: This is personalized and depends on the current location and the volume of items. Costs are paid for moving services, temporary housing for 30 days, travel expenses, and miscellaneous allowance up to $45,000 for overseas engineering managers relocating to the US.

Meta Engineering Manager Total Compensation for M2 Level

As per this Meta engineering manager salary guide, the Meta engineering manager salary for the M2 grade is as follows. The actual figure depends on the qualifications, skills, experience, and niche specializations.

  • Total compensation for a Meta M2 software engineering manager in the United States is estimated to be around $846,000 to $2.65 million per year
  • Typical range is $1.01 million
  • The base salary is $283,000+
  • Annual stock grant is about $678,000+
  • Performance-based bonus is $77,000+
  • Cash Lump Sum of up to $30,000 one time
  • Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life assurance, Childcare, Gym, transport, laundry, car shipping, and real estate closing costs
  • Relocation: This is personalized and depends on the current location and the volume of items. Costs are paid for moving services, temporary housing for 30 days, travel expenses, and miscellaneous allowance up to $45,000 for overseas engineering managers relocating to the US.

Meta Engineering Manager Salary by Location

Meta engineering manager’s salary varies significantly by location.

  • Salary in metros and tech hubs is higher by 20%+ than in other locations.
  • Adjustments are made for cost of living, transportation, and housing
  • Senior engineering manager in San Mateo, CA is paid $347,900
  • Total compensation for an engineering manager in Seattle is $154,000 to $270,000+
  • California has higher overall compensation, with $250,000+ in San Francisco.
  • New York City sees an engineering manager’s salary at $247,000+

Negotiation Techniques for Meta Engineering Manager Salary

To negotiate salary, roles, and responsibilities for the Meta engineering manager position, you need to highlight your track record and review all components of the compensation package. During the discussions, focus on the value you add, your contribution to previous projects, business value, and the impact you have created.

Let us look at some negotiation techniques.

  • Impact: During negotiations for the engineering manager salary in the US (2025), quantify in dollar terms the efforts reduced, revenue generated, and errors reduced.
  • Research market: Check the current demand and salary for EM roles with your skills, expertise, and talents. Be realistic in your expectations.
  • Total compensation: Rather than just the base salary, negotiate the full package with equity, stock options, RSUs, performance bonuses, signing bonuses, extra vacation time, flexible work conditions, and other factors.
  • Confidence: Present the compensation amount you seek, indicating that you have researched the market.
  • Turning down the offer: If the compensation and other factors are not satisfactory, be ready to turn down the offer politely. Leave the door open for a renewed offer.
👉 Pro Tip: Read extensively about engineering manager roles in Meta, case studies, how and where firms use various technologies, use cases, latest projects, and emerging trends.

Crack the Meta EM Interview with Interview Kickstart

The call to action recommends that you take expert help to face interviews and answer the Meta engineering manager’s questions. As discussed in the blog, you need to first qualify. That’s exactly what you’ll gain from Interview Kickstart’s Engineering Leadership Masterclass.

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The program also gives you training to build production-ready machine learning projects using industry-standard tools and frameworks, resume building, LinkedIn optimization, and salary negotiation. Plus, you’ll receive 6 months of post-program support, featuring mock interviews and 1:1 mentorship with hiring managers from top tech companies.

By the end of this masterclass, you’ll have the technical skills and confidence to transform your career and land a job as an engineering manager. Register now for intensive training, use the mock interview suite, online demand tests, access 10,000+ interview questions, study 100,000 hours of video explanations, obtain timely progress updates, and refresh 11 programming languages.

Conclusion

The blog discussed several important topics about the Meta engineering manager salary. While you have the experience and qualifications, confidence and presentation skills are also important. Interviews are tough, and you need expert guidance to help you crack the questions.

The high salaries and other benefits are available for expert engineering managers. Domain expertise in AI, MLOps, data science, and deep learning are skills that land you high-paying jobs with Meta.

However, this is the starting point of an engineering manager’s career. At Interview Kickstart, we have several domain-specific experts who have worked for FAANG and top tech tier firms.

Let our experts help you prepare for a career as a Meta engineering manager. You have much better chances of securing the coveted job.

FAQs: Senior Machine Learning Engineer Salary in the US

Q1. How do Meta EM stock refreshers work and when are they granted?

Refreshers are extra RSU grants given for performance ratings and organization growth. They have a vesting period, and the values vary by the engineering manager’s level.

Q2. Do Meta engineering managers receive sign-on bonuses alongside RSUs?

Meta engineering managers may be given a sign-on bonus based on their skills and experience.

Q3. How does remote work affect Meta’s engineering salary bands in major cities?

Meta has a location-based salary structure. Fully remote work depends on the work demand. SF Bay, Seattle, and NYC locations pay a higher base salary.

Q4. What’s the difference between M0 and M1 in compensation?

M0 is the entry-level role for Meta engineering managers with a lower base salary, equity, and bonus targets. M1 has higher responsibilities, with higher salary.

Q5. Which benefits, such as 401 (k) match, ESPP, relocation change, and total compensation?

Equity is a major part of the Meta engineering manager’s salary. Equity is subject to market demand and can be volatile.

References

  1. Meta Senior Manager (M2) on Manager Career Growth, PIPs, Amazon vs Meta
  2. Senior Software Engineering Manager
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