Salary comparison
Electrical Engineer vs Engineering Manager salary
Engineering Managers out-earn electrical engineers by about $55,830 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Engineering Managers earn more — a median of $167,740 versus $111,910 for electrical engineers, a gap of about $55,830 (50%). Both figures are published national wage benchmarks.
Electrical Engineer
Verified$111,910
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $74,670
- Top 10%
- $175,460
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Engineering Manager
Verified$167,740
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $111,450
- Top 10%
- $239,200
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Electrical Engineer vs Engineering Manager — pay distribution
Percentile-by-percentile comparison of national annual wages.
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileElectrical Engineer | $74,670 |
| MedianElectrical Engineer | $111,910 |
| 90th percentileElectrical Engineer | $175,460 |
| 10th percentileEngineering Manager | $111,450 |
| MedianEngineering Manager | $167,740 |
| 90th percentileEngineering Manager | $239,200 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Electrical Engineer
Engineering Manager
Where each role pays most
Highest-paying states by published median wage.
Electrical Engineer
- New Mexico$143,850
- California$140,360
- District of Columbia$138,860
- New Hampshire$131,790
- Washington$130,730
Engineering Manager
- New Mexico$215,730
- California$201,810
- Washington$181,080
- Massachusetts$178,800
- District of Columbia$176,950
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, engineering managers earn about 50% more at the median — but location and specialization routinely move pay by more than that gap.
Pick electrical engineer if…
Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical equipment and systems, from power generation to electronics.
- ▹Industry (semiconductors and power vs. general manufacturing)
- ▹Years of experience and seniority
- ▹Specialization (power, RF, embedded, controls)
Pick engineering manager if…
Engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architecture and engineering, leading teams and owning technical delivery.
- ▹Team size and scope of responsibility
- ▹Industry (tech and oil & gas pay above average)
- ▹Years of management experience
Electrical Engineer vs Engineering Manager — frequently asked
Who earns more, electrical engineers or engineering managers?
What is the salary range for electrical engineers vs engineering managers?
Should I become a electrical engineer or a engineering manager?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2071 (Electrical Engineers), national.
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →