Electrical Engineer salary

Q: How much does an electrical engineer make?

The median electrical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $111,910 per year. Most electrical engineers earn between $71,040 and $173,910, and top earners (90th percentile) make $173,910 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

Q: How much do entry-level electrical engineers make?

Entry-level electrical engineers (0–2 years) earn about $87,500 per year, rising to roughly $121,000 at mid-level and $151,000+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Q: Do electrical engineers make good money?

Yes. The median electrical engineer salary of $111,910 is 4% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced electrical engineers can earn $173,910 or more.

Q: Which cities pay electrical engineers the most?

Estimated electrical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($165,627), San Francisco ($158,912), Seattle ($145,483). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

Verified

Updated January 2025

Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical equipment and systems, from power generation to electronics.

Median pay

$111,910

U.S. typical

Top earners

$173,910

90th percentile

Entry level

$87,500

0–2 yrs

Senior

$151,000

15+ yrs

The median electrical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $111,910 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $71,040, while top earners (90th percentile) make $173,910 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$111,910

Mean

$117,440

10th pct · $71,04090th pct · $173,910

What electrical engineers do

Design electrical systems and circuits, develop control and power systems, and test components for performance and safety.

Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical equipment and systems, from power generation to electronics.

What affects electrical engineer pay

▹Industry (semiconductors and power vs. general manufacturing)
▹Years of experience and seniority
▹Specialization (power, RF, embedded, controls)
▹PE license for power/utility work
▹Metro and state cost of labor

Electrical Engineer salary by experience

Pay typically climbs from about $87,500 for entry level engineers to $151,000+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs

$87,500

Early career 3–5 yrs

$105,000

Mid level 6–9 yrs

$121,000

Senior 10–14 yrs

$136,500

Principal / Staff 15+ yrs

$151,000

Your actual offer depends on company, location, and specialization — run the calculator for a tailored range.

Highest-paying cities for electrical engineers

Estimated electrical engineer pay in the top-paying metros, vs the national median.

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Metro	State	Median	90th pct	vs U.S.	Data
San Jose California	CA	$165,627	$257,387	+48%	Estimate
San Francisco California	CA	$158,912	$246,952	+42%	Estimate
Seattle Washington	WA	$145,483	$226,083	+30%	Estimate
New York City New York	NY	$141,007	$219,127	+26%	Estimate
Boston Massachusetts	MA	$136,530	$212,170	+22%	Estimate
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia	DC	$134,292	$208,692	+20%	Estimate
Los Angeles California	CA	$132,054	$205,214	+18%	Estimate
San Diego California	CA	$128,696	$199,996	+15%	Estimate

Electrical Engineer salary by state

State	Est. median	Est. 90th pct
California	$138,768	$215,648
Texas	$116,386	$180,866
New York	$127,577	$198,257
Washington	$132,054	$205,214
Massachusetts	$129,816	$201,736

State figures are estimates — open a state for its full city-by-city breakdown.

Electrical Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does an electrical engineer make?

The median electrical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $111,910 per year. Most electrical engineers earn between $71,040 and $173,910, and top earners (90th percentile) make $173,910 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

What is the highest electrical engineer salary?

Top-earning electrical engineers (90th percentile) make about $173,910 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $165,627 in San Jose. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.

How much do entry-level electrical engineers make?

Entry-level electrical engineers (0–2 years) earn about $87,500 per year, rising to roughly $121,000 at mid-level and $151,000+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Do electrical engineers make good money?

Yes. The median electrical engineer salary of $111,910 is 4% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced electrical engineers can earn $173,910 or more.

Which cities pay electrical engineers the most?

Estimated electrical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($165,627), San Francisco ($158,912), and Seattle ($145,483). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

How can an electrical engineer earn more?

Electrical Engineer pay rises most with industry (semiconductors and power vs. general manufacturing), years of experience and seniority, and specialization (power, rf, embedded, controls). Moving to a higher-cost metro, specializing, and taking on senior or lead scope are the biggest levers — the salary calculator lets you model each one.

Source details

National wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2071. Median and 90th-percentile annual wages.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →