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2026 Electrical Engineer Salary Data

Updated April 28, 2026

Electrical Engineer Salary: $111K US Median

Electrical engineers design and develop electrical equipment, systems, and circuits. Work spans power, electronics, telecommunications, and embedded systems.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the US national median Electrical Engineer salary is $110,540 per year. Electrical Engineers earn between $75,000 (entry, 25th percentile) and $175,000 (90th percentile). Highest-paying cities: San Francisco ($171K), Oakland ($155K), New York ($149K). Year-over-year growth: 470.0% from 2025.

National Median

$110,540

+470.0% YoY

Entry Level

$75,000

Experienced

$145,000

Top 10%

$175,000

Electrical Engineer Salary by Years of Experience

How Electrical Engineer pay scales over a career — US national averages.

Experience	Annual Salary	vs Entry
0–1 yr	$69,000	-8%
2–3 yr	$75,000	+0%
4–6 yr	$110,000	+47%
7–10 yr	$145,000	+93%
11–15 yr	$171,100	+128%
15+ yr	$160,000	+113%

Curve derived from BLS percentile data; actual progression varies by employer, location, and specialty.

Electrical Engineer Salary by City

All 50 top US metros, sorted by salary level. Click any city for the full breakdown.

City	vs National	Median	Top 10%
San Francisco, CA	+55%	$171,337	$271,250
Oakland, CA	+40%	$154,756	$245,000
New York, NY	+35%	$149,229	$236,250
Seattle, WA	+32%	$145,913	$231,000
Washington, DC	+30%	$143,702	$227,500
Boston, MA	+30%	$143,702	$227,500
Los Angeles, CA	+28%	$141,491	$224,000
Long Beach, CA	+20%	$132,648	$210,000
San Diego, CA	+18%	$130,437	$206,500
Austin, TX	+15%	$127,121	$201,250
Denver, CO	+10%	$121,594	$192,500
Portland, OR	+10%	$121,594	$192,500
Baltimore, MD	+10%	$121,594	$192,500
Minneapolis, MN	+10%	$121,594	$192,500
Sacramento, CA	+8%	$119,383	$189,000
Chicago, IL	+5%	$116,067	$183,750
Houston, TX	+5%	$116,067	$183,750
Dallas, TX	+5%	$116,067	$183,750
Atlanta, GA	+5%	$116,067	$183,750
Raleigh, NC	+5%	$116,067	$183,750
Miami, FL	+5%	$116,067	$183,750
Philadelphia, PA	+4%	$114,962	$182,000
Fort Worth, TX	+2%	$112,751	$178,500
Charlotte, NC	+2%	$112,751	$178,500
Phoenix, AZ	+0%	$110,540	$175,000
Nashville, TN	+0%	$110,540	$175,000
Colorado Springs, CO	+0%	$110,540	$175,000
Arlington, TX	+0%	$110,540	$175,000
Mesa, AZ	-2%	$108,329	$171,500
Virginia Beach, VA	-2%	$108,329	$171,500
Columbus, OH	-3%	$107,224	$169,750
Omaha, NE	-3%	$107,224	$169,750
Las Vegas, NV	-5%	$105,013	$166,250
Milwaukee, WI	-5%	$105,013	$166,250
Fresno, CA	-5%	$105,013	$166,250
Kansas City, MO	-5%	$105,013	$166,250
San Antonio, TX	-7%	$102,802	$162,750
Indianapolis, IN	-7%	$102,802	$162,750
Detroit, MI	-7%	$102,802	$162,750
Jacksonville, FL	-8%	$101,697	$161,000
New Orleans, LA	-8%	$101,697	$161,000
Cleveland, OH	-8%	$101,697	$161,000
Louisville, KY	-9%	$100,591	$159,250
Albuquerque, NM	-10%	$99,486	$157,500
Tucson, AZ	-10%	$99,486	$157,500
Memphis, TN	-12%	$97,275	$154,000
Oklahoma City, OK	-12%	$97,275	$154,000
Tulsa, OK	-12%	$97,275	$154,000
El Paso, TX	-15%	$93,959	$148,750
Wichita, KS	-15%	$93,959	$148,750

Hot 2026 Skills

Power electronics for EVSemiconductorsIoTAI hardwareRenewable energy systems

ATS Keywords

PCB designAltiumKiCadembedded systemsC/C++MATLABFPGApower systemsIoT

Top Employers

AppleTeslaIntelNVIDIAQualcommGELockheed MartinSpaceX

Certifications

PE LicenseSix SigmaIEEE membership

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 Median

$19,393

2026 Median

$110,540

Change

+$91,147

Engineering sector growth driven by demand for Power electronics for EV and Semiconductors.

How to Negotiate Your Electrical Engineer Salary

Walk-away anchor: $98,696 (offers below this are below market for experienced candidates).

Leverage Points

PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly
Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects
Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base
Software-adjacent skills (Python, MATLAB, simulation, MLOps) raise the ceiling

Beyond Base, Negotiate

PE license exam fees, study materials, review coursesRelocation package and temporary housingProject-completion or milestone bonusesPer-diem for site travel and field workTuition reimbursement for MS/PhD

What To Say

"With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus."

Career Outlook

+9% Growth (2024-2034)

Strong 9% growth driven by EV, renewable energy, semiconductors, and AI hardware demand.

Education Path

Bachelor's degree (ABET); MS preferred for advanced roles

Electrical Engineer Salary FAQ

What is the average Electrical Engineer salary in the US in 2026?

The 2026 US national median Electrical Engineer salary is $110,540 per year. Entry-level (25th percentile) starts at $75,000, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $175,000 or more. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, blended with 2026 market data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Robert Half.

Did Electrical Engineer salaries increase in 2026?

Yes — Electrical Engineer salaries grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $19,393 in 2025 to $110,540 in 2026 (+$91,147). This reflects the Engineering sector's 2025-2026 wage growth, driven by demand for Power electronics for EV and Semiconductors.

Which US cities pay Electrical Engineers the most in 2026?

The 5 highest-paying US cities for Electrical Engineers: San Francisco, CA ($171K); Oakland, CA ($155K); New York, NY ($149K); Seattle, WA ($146K); Washington, DC ($144K). Note these higher salaries usually correspond to higher cost-of-living — see individual city pages for purchasing-power-adjusted figures.

Which US cities have the lowest Electrical Engineer salaries?

Lowest-paying metros for Electrical Engineers: Wichita ($94K), El Paso ($94K), Tulsa ($97K). However, these cities also have proportionally lower cost-of-living, so real purchasing power may exceed expensive metros.

What's the job outlook for Electrical Engineers?

Strong 9% growth driven by EV, renewable energy, semiconductors, and AI hardware demand. BLS projects 9% employment growth from 2024-2034 — faster than average compared to all US occupations.

What skills are most valuable for Electrical Engineers in 2026?

The hottest 2026 skills are: Power electronics for EV, Semiconductors, IoT, AI hardware, Renewable energy systems. These appear in the highest-paying job listings, command 15-30% salary premiums, and are heavily weighted by ATS keyword filters. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate.

What education is needed to become a Electrical Engineer?

Bachelor's degree (ABET); MS preferred for advanced roles. However, the 2026 market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly in Engineering. Top recognized credentials: PE License, Six Sigma, IEEE membership.

How do I negotiate a higher Electrical Engineer salary?

With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus. Key leverage points for Engineering: PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly; Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects; Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base. Beyond base salary, negotiate: PE license exam fees, study materials, review courses, Relocation package and temporary housing, Project-completion or milestone bonuses, Per-diem for site travel and field work.

Who are the top employers hiring Electrical Engineers?

Major US employers hiring Electrical Engineers include: Apple, Tesla, Intel, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, GE, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even reach a human recruiter.

What does an entry-level Electrical Engineer make in their first year?

Entry-level (0–1 year) Electrical Engineers typically earn around $69,000. By year 2–3, salary climbs to $75,000. With 7–10 years of experience, Electrical Engineers earn $145,000 on average. Senior/lead roles (15+ years) reach $160,000 or more.

Methodology & Sources

National Electrical Engineer salary figures derive from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, blended with 2026 market data from Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Robert Half. Per-city figures apply each metro's cost-of-living multiplier (BEA Regional Price Parities). Year-over-year change (470.0%) reflects the Engineering sector's wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

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