Electrical Engineers Salary 2025: $117,606 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$117,606 per year is the national median annual wage for electrical engineers (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $57/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $116,900 to $258,100. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 17-2071.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $117,606
- Median hourly wage
- $57/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $129,529
- Total US employment
- 124,410
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($187,060)
- BLS SOC code
- 17-2071
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Electrical Engineer (SOC 17-2071) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $117,606 across 124,410 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $97,960 to $187,060 median across 69 cities, about 91% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Electrical Engineer is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Electrical Engineers salaries range from $97,960 to $187,060 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Electrical Engineers Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $116,900 | $144,964 | $187,060 | $222,580 | $258,100 | $95,536 | 4,160 |
| San Francisco, CA | $97,500 | $124,912 | $166,030 | $192,550 | $219,070 | $92,444 | 2,470 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $104,230 | $128,026 | $163,720 | $183,200 | $202,680 | $174,170 | 1,280 |
| Austin, TX | $81,960 | $107,320 | $145,360 | $179,130 | $212,900 | $141,126 | 4,070 |
| Seattle, WA | $98,130 | $114,962 | $140,210 | $171,320 | $202,430 | $93,849 | 4,930 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $79,230 | $103,450 | $139,780 | $174,620 | $209,460 | $84,205 | 8,970 |
| Sacramento, CA | $81,140 | $103,160 | $136,190 | $166,560 | $196,930 | $109,214 | 1,420 |
| Fresno, CA | $83,520 | $104,024 | $134,780 | $157,160 | $179,540 | $127,754 | 400 |
| Houston, TX | $77,170 | $98,730 | $131,070 | $169,530 | $207,990 | $135,824 | 5,770 |
| Raleigh, NC | $73,380 | $96,124 | $130,240 | $175,645 | $221,050 | $130,501 | 1,500 |
| Boise, ID | $77,070 | $98,158 | $129,790 | $147,570 | $165,350 | $127,120 | 590 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $85,990 | $103,178 | $128,960 | $152,875 | $176,790 | $93,789 | 430 |
| Boston, MA | $78,800 | $98,724 | $128,610 | $152,540 | $176,470 | $84,556 | 4,030 |
| New York, NY | $81,440 | $100,200 | $128,340 | $149,685 | $171,030 | $68,558 | 6,290 |
| Portland, OR | $84,250 | $101,782 | $128,080 | $146,400 | $164,720 | $98,447 | 2,320 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $81,380 | $99,920 | $127,730 | $154,060 | $180,390 | $107,880 | 3,520 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,080 | $98,956 | $127,270 | $165,940 | $204,610 | $79,444 | 2,400 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $86,610 | $102,750 | $126,960 | $145,340 | $163,720 | $126,203 | 460 |
| Anchorage, AK | $82,720 | $100,324 | $126,730 | $153,305 | $179,880 | $99,787 | 220 |
| Washington, DC | $84,820 | $101,460 | $126,420 | $160,805 | $195,190 | $82,736 | 4,450 |
| New Orleans, LA | $78,340 | $97,052 | $125,120 | $150,850 | $176,580 | $130,469 | 220 |
| Dallas, TX | $76,720 | $95,788 | $124,390 | $164,715 | $205,040 | $119,491 | 5,720 |
| St. Louis, MO | $77,770 | $96,246 | $123,960 | $144,540 | $165,120 | $137,733 | 1,290 |
| Spokane, WA | $79,950 | $96,810 | $122,100 | $141,265 | $160,430 | $125,359 | 320 |
| Orlando, FL | $75,810 | $93,118 | $119,080 | $139,070 | $159,060 | $115,500 | 2,010 |
| Denver, CO | $80,350 | $95,818 | $119,020 | $157,565 | $196,110 | $105,514 | 2,620 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $73,790 | $91,578 | $118,260 | $152,700 | $187,140 | $136,717 | 910 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $86,020 | $98,912 | $118,250 | $143,420 | $168,590 | $113,158 | 540 |
| Greensboro, NC | $76,800 | $93,072 | $117,480 | $159,375 | $201,270 | $128,675 | 440 |
| Tucson, AZ | $78,390 | $94,022 | $117,470 | $147,300 | $177,130 | $123,134 | 1,690 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $82,080 | $96,140 | $117,230 | $142,755 | $168,280 | $110,386 | 2,410 |
| Richmond, VA | $80,730 | $95,142 | $116,760 | $138,035 | $159,310 | $114,358 | 1,160 |
| Baltimore, MD | $66,630 | $86,638 | $116,650 | $159,930 | $203,210 | $102,145 | 2,770 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $74,530 | $91,310 | $116,480 | $141,045 | $165,610 | $122,482 | 570 |
| Providence, RI | $78,000 | $92,684 | $114,710 | $156,330 | $197,950 | $96,072 | 830 |
| Detroit, MI | $80,610 | $94,122 | $114,390 | $137,250 | $160,110 | $120,284 | 6,060 |
| Chicago, IL | $76,660 | $91,404 | $113,520 | $139,705 | $165,890 | $105,797 | 4,290 |
| Birmingham, AL | $64,630 | $83,962 | $112,960 | $139,890 | $166,820 | $124,956 | 900 |
| Memphis, TN | $77,500 | $91,648 | $112,870 | $142,150 | $171,430 | $134,369 | 250 |
| Kansas City, MO | $78,080 | $91,144 | $110,740 | $138,725 | $166,710 | $116,080 | 1,760 |
| Reno, NV | $77,420 | $90,564 | $110,280 | $135,620 | $160,960 | $103,549 | 250 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $76,570 | $89,938 | $109,990 | $138,335 | $166,680 | $89,861 | 1,150 |
| Little Rock, AR | $76,150 | $89,170 | $108,700 | $125,045 | $141,390 | $123,243 | 370 |
| Knoxville, TN | $75,120 | $88,508 | $108,590 | $137,400 | $166,210 | $120,255 | 630 |
| Rochester, NY | $78,860 | $90,580 | $108,160 | $135,905 | $163,650 | $116,426 | 1,000 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $76,900 | $89,096 | $107,390 | $137,360 | $167,330 | $98,523 | 740 |
| Des Moines, IA | $77,790 | $89,490 | $107,040 | $130,420 | $153,800 | $114,727 | 280 |
| Hartford, CT | $80,170 | $90,806 | $106,760 | $132,200 | $157,640 | $94,813 | 990 |
| Albany, NY | $70,890 | $84,898 | $105,910 | $137,965 | $170,020 | $105,174 | 720 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $77,600 | $88,700 | $105,350 | $132,365 | $159,380 | $115,515 | 1,170 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $77,270 | $88,454 | $105,230 | $138,405 | $171,580 | $103,777 | 810 |
| Tulsa, OK | $75,950 | $87,642 | $105,180 | $124,215 | $143,250 | $121,175 | 710 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $78,120 | $88,868 | $104,990 | $131,195 | $157,400 | $113,749 | 1,630 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $75,900 | $87,224 | $104,210 | $129,690 | $155,170 | $115,660 | 1,260 |
| San Antonio, TX | $68,420 | $82,460 | $103,520 | $148,355 | $193,190 | $113,137 | 820 |
| Charlotte, NC | $65,140 | $80,428 | $103,360 | $158,285 | $213,210 | $106,887 | 1,770 |
| Omaha, NE | $65,320 | $80,536 | $103,360 | $122,190 | $141,020 | $112,593 | 530 |
| Miami, FL | $65,660 | $80,516 | $102,800 | $133,275 | $163,750 | $83,509 | 2,050 |
| Madison, WI | $77,860 | $87,684 | $102,420 | $128,955 | $155,490 | $98,671 | 500 |
| Columbus, OH | $75,590 | $86,306 | $102,380 | $126,270 | $150,160 | $109,968 | 1,100 |
| Tampa, FL | $64,370 | $79,466 | $102,110 | $132,300 | $162,490 | $102,520 | 1,500 |
| Greenville, SC | $73,800 | $84,928 | $101,620 | $133,445 | $165,270 | $112,786 | 690 |
| Nashville, TN | $72,910 | $83,662 | $99,790 | $133,255 | $166,720 | $99,492 | 690 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $75,560 | $85,000 | $99,160 | $132,340 | $165,520 | $98,471 | 3,420 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $77,870 | $86,302 | $98,950 | $115,970 | $132,990 | $101,591 | 1,380 |
| Wichita, KS | $65,230 | $78,530 | $98,480 | $122,530 | $146,580 | $117,238 | 400 |
| Buffalo, NY | $65,800 | $78,752 | $98,180 | $125,340 | $152,500 | $106,141 | 550 |
| Lexington, KY | $62,010 | $76,470 | $98,160 | $124,880 | $151,600 | $107,514 | 200 |
| Louisville, KY | $63,270 | $77,146 | $97,960 | $117,700 | $137,440 | $108,603 | 660 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Electrical Engineer is $117,606 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $129,529. Salaries range from $97,960 to $187,060 depending on city and cost of living.
Electrical Engineer salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $117,606, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 124,410 Electrical Engineer positions in the US across 69 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Electrical Engineer positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.