Salary comparison
Electrical Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer salary
Electrical Engineers out-earn mechanical engineers by about $9,590 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Electrical Engineers earn more — a median of $111,910 versus $102,320 for mechanical engineers, a gap of about $9,590 (9%). 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
Mechanical Engineer
Verified$102,320
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $68,740
- Top 10%
- $161,240
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Electrical Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — 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 percentileMechanical Engineer | $68,740 |
| MedianMechanical Engineer | $102,320 |
| 90th percentileMechanical Engineer | $161,240 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Electrical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
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
Mechanical Engineer
- New Mexico$141,490
- District of Columbia$130,000
- Alaska$129,990
- California$126,370
- Massachusetts$122,670
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, electrical engineers earn about 9% 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 mechanical engineer if…
Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical and thermal devices, from engines and tools to HVAC and manufacturing systems.
- ▹Industry (aerospace and oil & gas pay above automotive/consumer)
- ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license
- ▹Years of experience
Electrical Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — frequently asked
Who earns more, electrical engineers or mechanical engineers?
What is the salary range for electrical engineers vs mechanical engineers?
Should I become a electrical engineer or a mechanical engineer?
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 →