Median Salary
$120,630
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$58.00
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$184,300
entry level starts ~$76,550
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 199,000 employed
How much does an Electrical Engineer make?
Electrical Engineers in the United States bring home a median salary of $120,630 a year, or around $58.00 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $76,550, while the top 10% earn $184,300.
That is $59,240 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Electrical Engineer salary range by percentile
Half of all Electrical Engineers earn between $92,830 and $152,950 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,550 | $36.80 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $92,830 | $44.63 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $120,630 | $58.00 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $152,950 | $73.53 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $184,300 | $88.61 |
|
Highest-paying states for Electrical Engineer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Mexico leads the country for Electrical Engineer pay at $158,520 a year, followed by California ($144,040) and District of Columbia ($143,000). At the other end, Montana posts the lowest median at $87,360 — a gap of $71,160 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Electrical Engineer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 49 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
New Mexico $158,520California $144,040District 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
Workforce and education
About 199,000 people work as Electrical Engineers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $125,100 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Electrical Engineer make in the United States?
The median Electrical Engineer salary in the United States is $120,630 per year, or about $58.00 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $76,550, while the top 10% of earners make $184,300 or more.
How does Electrical Engineer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Electrical Engineer median of $120,630 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Electrical Engineers the most?
New Mexico is the highest-paying state for Electrical Engineers, with a median salary of $158,520 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Electrical Engineer?
Becoming an Electrical Engineer typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Electrical Engineers work in the United States?
About 199,000 people were employed as Electrical Engineers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other engineering roles with similar pay.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.