SOC 17-2071 · May 2025
Electrical Engineer Salary
Electrical Engineers in the US earn a median of $120,630 a year ($60.15 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Electrical Engineer pay climbed from $103,480 in 2019 to $125,100 in 2025, a +20.9% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$120,630
Half of all Electrical Engineers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+20.9% since 2019 · +3.4% YoY
Hourly
$60.15
Job growth 2025-35
+9.9%
US workers
198,750
BLS series
Annual median wage for Electrical Engineers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Electrical Engineers is $76,550 – $184,300.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$76,550
25th
$92,830
Median
$120,630
75th
$152,950
90th
$184,300
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Electrical Engineers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $76,550 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $92,830 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $120,630 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $152,950 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $184,300 |
Geography
Electrical Engineer pay by state
Electrical Engineers earn the most in New Mexico ($158,520, +31% against the national median) and the least in Montana ($87,360). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 49 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$120,630
Highest-paying states for electrical engineers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 | +31% | 2,560 |
| California | $144,040 | +19% | 24,230 |
| D.C. | $143,000 | +19% | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 | +13% | 1,600 |
| Washington | $132,710 | +10% | 7,610 |
| Texas | $129,450 | +7% | 20,870 |
| Idaho | $129,340 | +7% | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 | +6% | 5,040 |
| Delaware | $126,970 | +5% | 660 |
| Alaska | $125,970 | +4% | 350 |
All 49 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 | 2,560 |
| California | $144,040 | 24,230 |
| D.C. | $143,000 | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 | 1,600 |
| Washington | $132,710 | 7,610 |
| Texas | $129,450 | 20,870 |
| Idaho | $129,340 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 | 5,040 |
| Delaware | $126,970 | 660 |
| Alaska | $125,970 | 350 |
| Alabama | $125,630 | 4,600 |
| New Jersey | $125,370 | 2,940 |
| Oregon | $125,160 | 2,540 |
| Maryland | $125,150 | 4,650 |
| Louisiana | $123,710 | 990 |
| Colorado | $120,760 | 4,200 |
| Virginia | $119,030 | 7,260 |
| New York | $119,010 | 8,770 |
| Missouri | $118,670 | 2,410 |
| Maine | $114,620 | 1,150 |
| West Virginia | $113,420 | 500 |
| Wyoming | $111,740 | 280 |
| Vermont | $111,310 | 820 |
| Pennsylvania | $110,820 | 6,970 |
| North Dakota | $110,810 | 260 |
| North Carolina | $110,130 | 7,090 |
| Minnesota | $109,510 | 3,150 |
| Illinois | $107,860 | 5,460 |
| Oklahoma | $107,760 | 2,080 |
| Nevada | $107,400 | 1,100 |
| Nebraska | $107,260 | 1,060 |
| Hawaii | $106,350 | 1,080 |
| Michigan | $106,070 | 10,840 |
| Iowa | $105,820 | 1,280 |
| Utah | $105,720 | 1,680 |
| Mississippi | $104,990 | 1,130 |
| Florida | $104,780 | 9,220 |
| Tennessee | $104,450 | 2,830 |
| Connecticut | $104,160 | 2,930 |
| Indiana | $102,670 | 4,000 |
| Kansas | $102,630 | 2,100 |
| Ohio | $100,620 | 6,360 |
| Arizona | $100,550 | 5,370 |
| Wisconsin | $99,700 | 3,550 |
| South Dakota | $98,980 | 530 |
| Kentucky | $98,550 | 1,540 |
| South Carolina | $98,440 | 3,490 |
| Arkansas | $96,860 | 900 |
| Montana | $87,360 | 790 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Electrical Engineers
Electrical engineers (BLS SOC 17-2071) design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment including motors, navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. The role requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and often PE licensure for senior project work. Semiconductor, aerospace, and energy-sector EEs typically earn above the OEWS median; traditional electrical-utility and consumer-electronics roles fall closer to it.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $76,550 – $184,300. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are New Mexico, California and D.C.. Pay in New Mexico runs 1.8 times the level in Montana, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 11,400 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 9.9% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Electrical Engineer salary in the US?
How much does a Electrical Engineer make an hour?
How much do Electrical Engineers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Electrical Engineers the most?
Is the average Electrical Engineer salary higher than the median?
Is Electrical Engineer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Electrical Engineer roles hiring now
Browse current Electrical Engineer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 17-2071. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.