Patent Examiner salary in United States

Average Yearly Salary of Patent Examiner in United States is approximately 102,560 USD (102,625 USD). Data is for 2025 and indicates a pre-tax value. The salary itself depends on multiple factors such as seniority, job performance, certifications, experience or any other bonuses. The value indicated is an average amount based on records we have in database. Real values may vary. The data is for orientational purposes.

What does Patent Examiner do?

A patent examiner is a professional responsible for evaluating and granting patents. They work in government agencies or patent offices, reviewing patent applications to determine if they meet the legal requirements for granting exclusive rights over an invention. Their primary duties include conducting thorough research to assess the novelty and non-obviousness of an invention, analyzing prior art (existing knowledge in the field), and examining claims made by inventors. Patent examiners also communicate with inventors or their representatives to clarify any issues or request additional information.

Skills: Patent Examiner, Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Research, Prior Art Analysis, Legal Compliance
Job industry: Legal

How much does Patent Examiner make?

Difference in salary year over year or average salary increase is approximately 3 %


Want to check how your salary compares? Submit your own salary here

Salary comparison to National average

Is Patent Examiner a well paid job?

Yes, our data shows that Patent Examiner is a well paid job. With years and experience the salary might increase even further, resulting in higher satisfaction.

What is considered a high salary for Patent Examiner?

High salary for Patent Examiner would be somewhere between 112,816 USD and 148,712 USD. However this is an estimation based on Gaussian Distribution.

How much can you save working as Patent Examiner in United States?

Living in United States the approximate monthly expenses are: 2,280 USD. This amount covers basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, healthcare and education costs for a single person. No luxury expenses such as traveling, leisure, hobbies are included in the estimation.

Estimated Yearly Salary: 102,560 USD
Estimated Monthly Salary: 8,547 USD
Estimated Weekly Salary: 1,972 USD per week
Estimated Hourly Salary: 49 USD per hour
By working as Patent Examiner a person can save up to 6,272 USD per month or 75,265 USD yearly. Values are pre-tax.

NOTE: These values are estimates and are averaged for the whole country. Furthermore the value is likely exaggerated as no other expenses are taken into account in the projection. Unessential expenses are very subjective and are difficult to assess. Most likely the previously estimated number is significantly lower for majority of people. Expenses in different cities across the country may vary. Above values accuracy is low and is based on limited set of data obtained.

For more information regarding expenses in United States, see costs of living in United States.

Salary comparison to region and neighbouring coutries

Country's neighbours are: Canada, Mexico.
To make it easier for comparison a conversion from local currency to USD has been made (conversion rates may vary).

Estimated Yearly Salary for Patent Examiner

Last revision of data: 2025-01-04

Salary increase per years of experience

Based on data available the salary increase per years of experience is as following

0 years (beginner) equals base salary

1 to 5 years of experience yields +12% salary increase

6 to 10 years of experience yields +25% salary increase

11 to 15 years of experience yields +16% salary increase

16 to 25 years of experience yields +9% salary increase

more than 25 years of experience yields +10% salary increase

NOTE: Details based on limited set of data. Percentages may vary. The salary increase over years of experience can vary widely based on factors such as job industry, job role, location, company size, and individual performance. To gain even larger increase in salary one is advised to switch jobs and / or employer.

Top 10 highest salaries in United States

Data as of 2025

Random salary:
Economic analysis manager (84,438 USD per year, pre-tax.)
Training specialist it (79,161 USD per year, pre-tax.)
Budget manager (81,427 USD per year, pre-tax.)
Hearing aid specialist (48,969 USD per year, pre-tax.)
Business analyst (unspecified type) (69,586 USD per year, pre-tax.)

Feedback about these results