How much does a electrical engineer make?
The median electrical engineer in the United States earns $111,910 per year, about $53.80 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all electrical engineers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 17-2071.
Electrical engineer salary range
Pay for electrical engineers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $74,670 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $175,460. The average (mean) wage of $120,980 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,670 | $35.90 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $87,590 | $42.11 | |
| Median (50th) | $111,910 | $53.80 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $141,630 | $68.09 | |
| 90th percentile | $175,460 | $84.36 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for electrical engineers (SOC 17-2071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Electrical engineer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Electrical engineers earn the most in New Mexico at $143,850 a year, and the least in Kentucky at $95,640. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $143,850 | 1,580 |
| California | $140,360 | 23,650 |
| District of Columbia | $138,860 | 520 |
| New Hampshire | $131,790 | 1,420 |
| Washington | $130,730 | 10,010 |
| Idaho | $128,960 | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $126,010 | 4,780 |
| New Jersey | $125,120 | 3,620 |
| Maryland | $124,450 | 4,380 |
| Virginia | $122,320 | 5,990 |
| Vermont | $118,050 | 910 |
| Alabama | $115,870 | 4,470 |
| Colorado | $112,880 | 4,770 |
| New York | $112,550 | 7,720 |
| Wyoming | $111,740 | 260 |
| Delaware | $111,720 | 600 |
| Maine | $111,110 | 970 |
| Arizona | $110,510 | 4,970 |
| Tennessee | $109,870 | 2,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $109,730 | 7,660 |
| Oregon | $109,660 | 3,030 |
| Alaska | $108,780 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $108,620 | 850 |
| North Dakota | $108,520 | 260 |
| West Virginia | $108,480 | 610 |
| Florida | $108,450 | 7,400 |
| North Carolina | $107,760 | 6,560 |
| Utah | $107,520 | 1,920 |
| Iowa | $107,270 | 1,250 |
| Missouri | $106,100 | 2,920 |
| Texas | $105,560 | 15,470 |
| Minnesota | $105,160 | 3,430 |
| Hawaii | $105,060 | 980 |
| Nevada | $104,840 | 740 |
| Rhode Island | $104,530 | 660 |
| South Carolina | $104,210 | 2,450 |
| Oklahoma | $104,200 | 1,850 |
| Georgia | $104,170 | 4,580 |
| Illinois | $104,000 | 5,820 |
| Nebraska | $103,720 | 1,080 |
| Connecticut | $103,480 | 2,920 |
| Michigan | $102,990 | 10,840 |
| South Dakota | $101,930 | 440 |
| Indiana | $101,520 | 3,860 |
| Mississippi | $100,840 | 1,230 |
| Ohio | $100,040 | 6,030 |
| Montana | $99,230 | 650 |
| Wisconsin | $99,170 | 3,970 |
| Kansas | $97,680 | 2,320 |
| Arkansas | $96,500 | 930 |
| Kentucky | $95,640 | 1,600 |
State median wages for electrical engineers (SOC 17-2071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for electrical engineers
The BLS projects employment of electrical engineers to grow 9.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 199,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 219,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 11,400 openings a year for electrical engineers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an electrical engineer
The typical entry-level education for electrical engineers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an electrical engineer earns
Discipline, licensure (such as a PE license), industry, and region drive pay. Senior, licensed engineers in high demand fields and expensive metros earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Mexico, $143,850) and the lowest (Kentucky, $95,640) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 188,790 people work as electrical engineers in the United States. At $111,910 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Electrical engineer salary FAQ
How much does an electrical engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an electrical engineer is $53.80. The middle half of electrical engineers earn between $42.11 and $68.09 per hour.
What is the highest electrical engineer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of electrical engineers earn more than $175,460 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an electrical engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for an electrical engineer is $111,910. The average (mean) wage of $120,980 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an electrical engineer a well paid job?
At $111,910 a year, an electrical engineer earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 188,790 people work as electrical engineers in the United States.
Which state pays electrical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median salary for electrical engineers at $143,850 a year. California ($140,360) and District of Columbia ($138,860) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an electrical engineer a good career?
Employment of electrical engineers is projected to grow 9.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 11,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an electrical engineer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for electrical engineers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Engineering & Architecture salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.