How Much Does an Electrical Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$120,630
Electrical engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $120,630 a year, or $58.00 an hour. Half of electrical engineers earn more than $120,630 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $184,300.
Pay percentiles for electrical engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36.80 | $76,550 |
| 25th | $44.63 | $92,830 |
| 50th (median) | $58.00 | $120,630 |
| 75th | $73.53 | $152,950 |
| 90th | $88.61 | $184,300 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for electrical engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 | $76.21 | +31% |
| California | $144,040 | $69.25 | +19% |
| District of Columbia | $143,000 | $68.75 | +19% |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 | $65.25 | +13% |
| Washington | $132,710 | $63.81 | +10% |
| Texas | $129,450 | $62.24 | +7% |
| Idaho | $129,340 | $62.18 | +7% |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 | $61.40 | +6% |
| Delaware | $126,970 | $61.04 | +5% |
| Alaska | $125,970 | $60.56 | +4% |
| United States | $120,630 | $58.00 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many electrical engineers are there?
BLS counts about 198,750 electrical engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in California (24,230), Texas (20,870) and Michigan (10,840).
The mean (average) annual wage is $125,100, higher than the median of $120,630.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $10,053
- Biweekly
- $4,640
- Weekly
- $2,320
- Daily (8 hours)
- $464
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do electrical engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for electrical engineers is $58.00. The middle 50% earn between $44.63 and $73.53 an hour.
Which state pays electrical engineers the most?
New Mexico has the highest median wage for electrical engineers at $158,520, +31% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for electrical engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of electrical engineers earn less than $76,550 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.