At a glance
Median pay for Electrical Engineers runs from $97,960 in Louisville to $187,060 in San Jose across 73 curated metros; the middle value is $112,960.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are Albuquerque ($171,352), San Jose ($169,403), Austin ($148,227).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Electrical Engineers salary comparison
Electrical engineering spans power systems, electronics and industrial work. A metro median does not identify the pay for any one specialty. 73 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $171,352 | $1,156 |
| San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $169,403 | $2,840 |
| Austin, TX | $145,360 | $148,227 | $1,726 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $133,030 | $146,541 | $1,135 |
| San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $143,608 | $2,474 |
| New Orleans, LA | $125,120 | $135,123 | $1,217 |
| Houston, TX | $131,070 | $132,892 | $1,430 |
| Raleigh, NC | $130,240 | $132,685 | $1,573 |
| Durham, NC | $129,030 | $132,241 | $1,466 |
| Fresno, CA | $134,780 | $131,933 | $1,392 |
| Boise City, ID | $129,790 | $131,912 | $1,487 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $118,260 | $130,807 | $1,124 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $123,960 | $130,363 | $1,113 |
| Sacramento, CA | $136,190 | $127,674 | $1,819 |
| Worcester, MA | $129,720 | $126,528 | $1,426 |
| Greensboro, NC | $117,480 | $126,506 | $1,093 |
| Seattle, WA | $140,210 | $126,164 | $2,000 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $127,730 | $124,549 | $1,480 |
| Birmingham, AL | $112,960 | $123,260 | $1,172 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $139,780 | $123,083 | $2,063 |
Show all 73 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $171,352 | $1,156 |
| San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $169,403 | $2,840 |
| Austin, TX | $145,360 | $148,227 | $1,726 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $133,030 | $146,541 | $1,135 |
| San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $143,608 | $2,474 |
| New Orleans, LA | $125,120 | $135,123 | $1,217 |
| Houston, TX | $131,070 | $132,892 | $1,430 |
| Raleigh, NC | $130,240 | $132,685 | $1,573 |
| Durham, NC | $129,030 | $132,241 | $1,466 |
| Fresno, CA | $134,780 | $131,933 | $1,392 |
| Boise City, ID | $129,790 | $131,912 | $1,487 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $118,260 | $130,807 | $1,124 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $123,960 | $130,363 | $1,113 |
| Sacramento, CA | $136,190 | $127,674 | $1,819 |
| Worcester, MA | $129,720 | $126,528 | $1,426 |
| Greensboro, NC | $117,480 | $126,506 | $1,093 |
| Seattle, WA | $140,210 | $126,164 | $2,000 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $127,730 | $124,549 | $1,480 |
| Birmingham, AL | $112,960 | $123,260 | $1,172 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $139,780 | $123,083 | $2,063 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $112,870 | $122,447 | $1,220 |
| Little Rock, AR | $108,700 | $121,637 | $1,055 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $128,080 | $121,494 | $1,724 |
| Tucson, AZ | $117,470 | $121,233 | $1,212 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $128,960 | $120,677 | $1,875 |
| Dallas, TX | $124,390 | $120,662 | $1,614 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $110,740 | $119,663 | $1,249 |
| Richmond, VA | $116,760 | $119,316 | $1,447 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $128,610 | $118,791 | $2,023 |
| Tulsa, OK | $105,180 | $117,896 | $1,078 |
| Orlando, FL | $119,080 | $117,415 | $1,760 |
| Knoxville, TN | $108,590 | $117,307 | $1,145 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $116,480 | $117,084 | $1,513 |
| Des Moines, IA | $107,040 | $116,727 | $1,150 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $126,420 | $116,105 | $2,027 |
| Detroit, MI | $114,390 | $114,050 | $1,207 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $128,340 | $114,016 | $1,830 |
| San Diego, CA | $127,270 | $113,749 | $2,246 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $114,710 | $112,712 | $1,307 |
| Denver, CO | $119,020 | $112,514 | $1,874 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $103,360 | $112,457 | $1,192 |
| Dayton, OH | $103,720 | $111,895 | $1,039 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $117,230 | $111,837 | $1,440 |
| Baltimore, MD | $116,650 | $111,641 | $1,611 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $111,500 | $111,536 | $1,365 |
| Rochester, NY | $108,160 | $111,465 | $1,143 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $104,990 | $110,900 | $1,053 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $105,350 | $110,465 | $1,105 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $113,520 | $109,581 | $1,430 |
| San Antonio, TX | $103,520 | $109,295 | $1,363 |
| Charleston, SC | $110,030 | $108,982 | $1,605 |
| Greenville, SC | $101,620 | $108,964 | $1,150 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $104,210 | $108,897 | $1,191 |
| Columbia, SC | $101,320 | $108,176 | $1,193 |
| Columbus, OH | $102,380 | $107,239 | $1,274 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $107,390 | $107,160 | $1,626 |
| Albany, NY | $105,910 | $106,372 | $1,280 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $103,360 | $106,176 | $1,473 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $103,210 | $105,380 | $1,478 |
| Madison, WI | $102,420 | $105,276 | $1,354 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $97,960 | $105,250 | $1,116 |
| Cleveland, OH | $98,550 | $104,926 | $1,050 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $100,080 | $104,745 | $1,202 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $105,230 | $104,324 | $1,583 |
| Hartford, CT | $106,760 | $103,907 | $1,416 |
| Nashville, TN | $99,790 | $103,583 | $1,528 |
| Riverside, CA | $109,990 | $103,333 | $1,846 |
| Buffalo, NY | $98,180 | $102,437 | $1,057 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $98,950 | $102,077 | $1,139 |
| Tampa, FL | $102,110 | $101,209 | $1,628 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $99,160 | $95,977 | $1,702 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $105,460 | $95,042 | $2,083 |
| Miami, FL | $102,800 | $90,053 | $1,869 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 73 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Electrical Engineers varies across metros
Across the 73 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Electrical Engineers runs from $97,960 in Louisville to $187,060 in San Jose, a 1.91× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $90,053 in Miami to $171,352 in Albuquerque, a 1.90× difference. The middle value across these metros is $112,960 nominal and $114,016 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 73 metros, Tulsa moves from 53rd on nominal pay to 30th on adjusted pay while Riverside moves from 42nd to 67th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $104,230 | $131,720 | $163,720 | $202,680 | $202,680 |
| San Jose, CA | $116,900 | $157,150 | $187,060 | $218,170 | $258,100 |
| Austin, TX | $81,960 | $110,310 | $145,360 | $202,060 | $212,900 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $79,100 | $98,430 | $133,030 | $164,900 | $190,880 |
| San Francisco, CA | $97,500 | $124,720 | $166,030 | $204,490 | $219,070 |
| New Orleans, LA | $78,340 | $92,890 | $125,120 | $159,860 | $176,580 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Electrical engineers from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of +9.9% ranks 16th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 11,400 projected annual openings rank 68th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. It lists no typical on-the-job training. National employment base: 199,700 workers in 2025; projected 219,500 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Electrical engineering work can span power systems, manufacturing, controls and electronics design. Industry and project-specific requirements vary within the BLS occupational classification.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Clarify whether the position requires plant or field visits, on-site testing, security clearance or specialized design tools. Compare location requirements and total benefits as well as base salary.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Electrical Engineers in Seattle, WA
Seattle is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 73 metros, it ranks 5th on nominal median and 17th on price-adjusted median.
For the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $140,210. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $109,330 to $169,440. The price-adjusted median of $126,164 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 111.1 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $2,000 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$10. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Greensboro has a published BLS median of $117,480 and adjusted median of $126,506. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Seattle with Greensboro in the interactive tool, or review the Seattle metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.