California Median
$144,040
per year
Hourly Rate
$69.25
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+19% vs US median
US median $120,630
State Rank
#2 of 49
24,230 employed here
How much does an Electrical Engineer make in California?
Electrical Engineers in California take home a median of $144,040 annually — roughly $69.25 an hour — which runs 19% above the national median of $120,630.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $81,840 while the top 10% make $217,760 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $106,100 and $185,520 a year.
Electrical Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,840 | $39.35 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $106,100 | $51.01 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $144,040 | $69.25 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $185,520 | $89.19 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,760 | $104.69 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 49 states and territories for Electrical Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Electrical Engineer salary in other states
New Mexico $158,520District of Columbia $143,000New Hampshire $135,710Washington $132,710Texas $129,450Idaho $129,340Massachusetts $127,720Delaware $126,970Alaska $125,970Alabama $125,630New Jersey $125,370Oregon $125,160Maryland $125,150Louisiana $123,710Colorado $120,760Virginia $119,030New York $119,010Missouri $118,670Maine $114,620West Virginia $113,420Wyoming $111,740Vermont $111,310Pennsylvania $110,820North Dakota $110,810North Carolina $110,130Minnesota $109,510Illinois $107,860Oklahoma $107,760Nevada $107,400Nebraska $107,260Hawaii $106,350Michigan $106,070Iowa $105,820Utah $105,720Mississippi $104,990Florida $104,780Tennessee $104,450Connecticut $104,160Indiana $102,670Kansas $102,630Ohio $100,620Arizona $100,550Wisconsin $99,700South Dakota $98,980Kentucky $98,550South Carolina $98,440Arkansas $96,860Montana $87,360
Working as an Electrical Engineer in California
Nationally, about 199,000 people work as Electrical Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($144,040) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Electrical Engineer make in California?
The median Electrical Engineer salary in California is $144,040 per year, or about $69.25 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $81,840 at the entry level to $217,760 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Electrical Engineers about 19% more than the national median of $120,630. California ranks 2nd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Electrical Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $144,040 a year. About 24,230 Electrical Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Electrical Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.