How much does a electrical engineer make?
Answer: A typical electrical engineer in the United States makes $120,630 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 199,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Electrical engineer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $76,550 | $120,630 | $184,300 | about 199,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 | about 3,000 |
| California | $144,040 | about 24,000 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $132,710 | about 8,000 |
| Texas | $129,450 | about 21,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, electrical engineers with more experience, in-demand skills, or a PE license may earn more. Pay also changes with location, employer industry, and how specialized or responsible the work is.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a electrical engineer do?
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. Excludes “Computer Hardware Engineers” (17-2061).
What's a typical day like?
They use computer design tools to draw or model circuits, then test equipment to check that it works reliably and safely. They meet with teammates to fix problems, write reports, and sometimes visit project sites.
How to get this job
In the United States, most earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering after high school and often start work in their early 20s; internships or co-op programs help. A PE license is not needed for entry-level jobs; later licensure usually requires the FE and PE exams plus work experience.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out.
Did you know?
At NASA, electrical engineers help robots move by supplying power and sending signals that tell a robot’s parts to move—like a heart and brain.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Architecture and Engineering jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineer
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2071.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
- ncees.org/engineering/engineering-licensure
- www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/what-type-of-engineering-is-right-for-you
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY