How Much Does an RF Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$130,220
RF engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $130,220 a year, or $62.60 an hour. Half of RF engineers earn more than $130,220 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $206,960.
Pay percentiles for RF engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39.35 | $81,840 |
| 25th | $48.88 | $101,680 |
| 50th (median) | $62.60 | $130,220 |
| 75th | $80.61 | $167,670 |
| 90th | $99.50 | $206,960 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (SOC 17-2072). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for RF engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $160,520 | $77.17 | +23% |
| New Jersey | $158,730 | $76.31 | +22% |
| District of Columbia | $157,040 | $75.50 | +21% |
| Maryland | $155,650 | $74.83 | +20% |
| Massachusetts | $138,230 | $66.46 | +6% |
| New Mexico | $136,990 | $65.86 | +5% |
| Rhode Island | $136,360 | $65.56 | +5% |
| Texas | $132,220 | $63.57 | +2% |
| Washington | $130,270 | $62.63 | 0% |
| Illinois | $129,390 | $62.21 | −1% |
| United States | $130,220 | $62.60 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many RF engineers are there?
BLS counts about 96,900 RF engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer”. The most jobs are in California (20,830), Texas (9,520) and Colorado (6,080).
The mean (average) annual wage is $137,280, higher than the median of $130,220.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $10,852
- Biweekly
- $5,008
- Weekly
- $2,504
- Daily (8 hours)
- $501
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do RF engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for RF engineers is $62.60. The middle 50% earn between $48.88 and $80.61 an hour.
Which state pays RF engineers the most?
California has the highest median wage for RF engineers at $160,520, +23% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for RF engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of RF engineers earn less than $81,840 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.