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Electrical Engineer salary

Verified

Updated March 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

$175,460

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 $74,670, while top earners (90th percentile) make $175,460 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$111,910

Mean

$120,980

10th pct · $74,67090th pct · $175,460

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

Published electrical engineer pay in the top-paying U.S. metro areas, vs the national benchmark.

15results

Electrical Engineer salary by state

All 51 states with published electrical engineer wage data, ranked highest to lowest. Open a state for its full metro-level breakdown.

RankStateMedian90th pct
1New Mexico$143,850$181,550
2California$140,360$219,710
3District of Columbia$138,860$179,260
4New Hampshire$131,790$197,100
5Washington$130,730$180,880
6Idaho$128,960$162,520
7Massachusetts$126,010$187,910
8New Jersey$125,120$167,230
9Maryland$124,450$183,310
10Virginia$122,320$172,340
11Vermont$118,050$174,530
12Alabama$115,870$179,040
13Colorado$112,880$169,060
14New York$112,550$168,810
15Wyoming$111,740$172,620
16Delaware$111,720$164,320
17Maine$111,110$158,150
18Arizona$110,510$181,170
19Tennessee$109,870$162,450
20Pennsylvania$109,730$175,550
21Oregon$109,660$164,570
22Alaska$108,780$174,860
23Louisiana$108,620$170,450
24North Dakota$108,520$141,000
25West Virginia$108,480$151,430
26Florida$108,450$160,360
27North Carolina$107,760$184,490
28Utah$107,520$167,560
29Iowa$107,270$181,360
30Missouri$106,100$166,870
31Texas$105,560$170,920
32Minnesota$105,160$163,060
33Hawaii$105,060$140,150
34Nevada$104,840$162,340
35Rhode Island$104,530$176,500
36South Carolina$104,210$159,930
37Oklahoma$104,200$157,020
38Georgia$104,170$164,720
39Illinois$104,000$166,000
40Nebraska$103,720$137,090
41Connecticut$103,480$167,730
42Michigan$102,990$152,960
43South Dakota$101,930$133,670
44Indiana$101,520$145,740
45Mississippi$100,840$147,900
46Ohio$100,040$145,930
47Montana$99,230$131,830
48Wisconsin$99,170$134,420
49Kansas$97,680$139,220
50Arkansas$96,500$133,330
51Kentucky$95,640$137,400

Figures are published state wage data, not modeled. States without published data for this occupation are not listed. See Source details for provenance.

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 $74,670 and $175,460, and top earners (90th percentile) make $175,460 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 $175,460 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $186,920 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 7% below the roughly $120,395 median across engineering occupations, and experienced electrical engineers can earn $175,460 or more.
Which cities pay electrical engineers the most?
Estimated electrical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($186,920), San Francisco ($163,840), and Manchester ($151,040). 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

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 →

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