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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Electrical Engineer actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $125,318 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $89,640 to $228,960. The $124,065 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Engineering within the broader Engineering industry, Electrical Engineers typically hold Bachelor's in EE. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$139,320 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Electrical Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $228,960 — $139,320 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($89,640). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Electrical Engineers average $70,178, the median sits at $125,318, and senior earners pull in $194,243. That $124,065 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $44,951 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $213,840 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $90,360 (average of the bottom 3). That $123,480 delta is real money — $10,290/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Electrical Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $228,960 — $139,320 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($89,640). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Electrical Engineer is $70,178, while senior-level (P90) earners average $194,243. That $124,065 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Electrical Engineers at $151,713 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $133,380) is $18,333.
At the 90th percentile, Electrical Engineers pull in an average of $194,243. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $70,178 | $125,318 | $194,243 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £51,474 | £71,491 | £101,517 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$76,580 | CA$106,362 | CA$151,033 |
| Australia | 13 | A$89,123 | A$123,782 | A$175,770 |
| Sweden | 24 | 514,357 kr | 714,385 kr | 1,014,426 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $84,960 | $151,713 | $235,156 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $82,102 | $146,610 | $227,246 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $81,648 | $145,800 | $225,990 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $75,600 | $135,000 | $209,250 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $74,693 | $133,380 | $206,739 |
| Washington | 8 | $73,256 | $130,815 | $202,763 |
| New York | 5 | $68,947 | $123,120 | $190,836 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $68,947 | $123,120 | $190,836 |
| Florida | 22 | $68,425 | $122,187 | $189,390 |
| Colorado | 11 | $67,243 | $120,076 | $186,118 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $67,133 | $119,880 | $185,814 |
| Nevada | 5 | $67,012 | $119,664 | $185,479 |
| Arizona | 12 | $66,679 | $119,070 | $184,559 |
| Oregon | 5 | $66,528 | $118,800 | $184,140 |
| Idaho | 3 | $66,326 | $118,440 | $183,582 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $65,802 | $117,504 | $182,131 |
| Utah | 4 | $65,621 | $117,180 | $181,629 |
| Virginia | 7 | $64,541 | $115,251 | $178,640 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $63,706 | $113,760 | $176,328 |
| Alaska | 1 | $63,504 | $113,400 | $175,770 |
| Illinois | 5 | $62,778 | $112,104 | $173,761 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $61,219 | $109,320 | $169,446 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $60,480 | $108,000 | $167,400 |
| Montana | 1 | $60,480 | $108,000 | $167,400 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $60,278 | $107,640 | $166,842 |
| Texas | 40 | $59,981 | $107,109 | $166,019 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $59,876 | $106,920 | $165,726 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $59,573 | $106,380 | $164,889 |
| Georgia | 6 | $59,371 | $106,020 | $164,331 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $59,270 | $105,840 | $164,052 |
| Kansas | 4 | $58,968 | $105,300 | $163,215 |
| Michigan | 6 | $58,766 | $104,940 | $162,657 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $58,061 | $103,680 | $160,704 |
| Maryland | 1 | $58,061 | $103,680 | $160,704 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $57,456 | $102,600 | $159,030 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $57,456 | $102,600 | $159,030 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $55,944 | $99,900 | $154,845 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $55,642 | $99,360 | $154,008 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $54,886 | $98,010 | $151,916 |
| Missouri | 4 | $54,886 | $98,010 | $151,916 |
| Alabama | 5 | $54,674 | $97,632 | $151,330 |
| Indiana | 3 | $53,827 | $96,120 | $148,986 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $53,827 | $96,120 | $148,986 |
| Iowa | 2 | $53,222 | $95,040 | $147,312 |
| Ohio | 6 | $53,122 | $94,860 | $147,033 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $50,803 | $90,720 | $140,616 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Electrical Engineer median of $151,713 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($146,610) and Hawaii ($145,800). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $90,720 and $95,040. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($228,960 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $108,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $228,960 | 212 | $108,000 | $130,039 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $213,840 | 198 | $108,000 | $122,925 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $198,720 | 184 | $108,000 | $115,811 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $195,480 | 181 | $108,000 | $114,287 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $192,240 | 178 | $108,000 | $112,762 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $191,160 | 177 | $108,000 | $112,191 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $191,160 | 177 | $108,000 | $112,191 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $186,840 | 173 | $108,000 | $109,813 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $186,840 | 173 | $108,000 | $109,813 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $182,520 | 169 | $108,000 | $107,435 |
The $124,065 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Electrical Engineer career. Senior-level earners make 2.8× what entry-level professionals do — an aggressive growth curve that rewards experience and specialization. In the Engineering sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Electrical Engineers is $125,318 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $70,178, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $194,243.
The highest-paying city for Electrical Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $228,960. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($228,960), Santa Clara ($213,840), Irvine ($198,720). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Electrical Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $89,640. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Electrical Engineers (10th percentile) average $70,178 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $128,218. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Electrical Engineers average $194,243 nationally — $124,065 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Electrical Engineers can earn up to $354,888.
The top-paying states for Electrical Engineers are California ($151,713 median), Massachusetts ($146,610 median), Hawaii ($145,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Electrical Engineer involves Bachelor's in EE. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $125,318 and representation across 288 metro areas, Electrical Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $124,065 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.