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2026 Salary Data — Cleveland, OH
Updated April 28, 2026

Electrical Engineer Salary in Cleveland: $102K Median

Electrical Engineers in Cleveland, OH earn between $69K and $161K per year.

That's -8% below the US national median of $110,540 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Electrical Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH is $101,697 per year — -8% below the US national median of $110,540. Salaries range from $69,000 (entry, 25th percentile) to $161,000 (90th percentile). Electrical Engineers in Cleveland earned approximately $17,842 in 2025, representing 470.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$101,697
+470.0% YoY · $8,475/mo
Entry
$69,000
0–2 years
Experienced
$133,400
5+ years
Top 10%
$161,000
Senior/lead
Electrical Engineer Salary — Cleveland vs Nearby
Cleveland
$102K
Columbus
$107K
-5% vs Cleveland
Oklahoma City
$97K
+5% vs Cleveland
Louisville
$101K
+1% vs Cleveland

Free ATS scan · Cleveland employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Electrical Engineers in Cleveland

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

Core Responsibilities

  • Circuit design
  • PCB layout
  • Embedded systems
  • Power systems analysis
  • Testing and validation

Education & Certifications

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

In-demand certifications

PE LicenseSix SigmaIEEE membership

Cleveland Job Market

Major medical hub anchored by Cleveland Clinic.

Population
372K
Cost of Living
88
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$175K

Top Industries in Cleveland

Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic)FinanceManufacturingTechEducation

Top Employers Hiring Electrical Engineers

Major employers active in Cleveland or hiring remotely from this metro.

Apple
Tesla
Intel
NVIDIA
Qualcomm
GE
Lockheed Martin
SpaceX

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Electrical Engineer listings.

Power electronics for EVSemiconductorsIoTAI hardwareRenewable energy systems

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

PCB designAltiumKiCadembedded systemsC/C++MATLABFPGApower systemsIoT
Career Outlook
+9% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

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

Electrical Engineer Salary Breakdown — Cleveland

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$69,000$101,697$161,000
Monthly$5,750$8,475$13,417
Weekly$1,327$1,956$3,096
Hourly$33$49$77

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($110,540) adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Electrical Engineer Take-Home Pay in Cleveland

After federal, state, local, and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$74,756.99
Per month$6,230
Biweekly paycheck$2,875
Effective tax rate26.5%

Tax Breakdown on $101,697

Gross salary$101,697
Federal income tax−$14,075.34
Ohio state tax−$2,542.425
Cleveland local tax−$2,542.425
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,779.821
Take-home (net)$74,756.99

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Electrical Engineer Salary by Experience — Cleveland

Career-stage progression for Electrical Engineers in Cleveland.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$63,480
2–3 yr$69,000
4–6 yr$101,200
7–10 yr$133,400
11–15 yr$157,412
15+ yr$147,200

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Cleveland's 0.92× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$17,842
2026 median:$101,697
Change:+$83,855

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

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$115,565
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Electrical Engineer Salary in Cleveland

Walk-away anchor: $90,801 (offers below this are below market for Cleveland).

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 Salary, 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."

Anchor on $133K–$161K for experienced roles, citing Cleveland market data and your specific Power electronics for EV/Semiconductors expertise.

Electrical Engineer Salary FAQ — Cleveland

What is the average Electrical Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH?
The average Electrical Engineer salary in Cleveland is $101,697 per year as of April 2026 — $8,475/month, $1,956/week, or about $49/hour. Salaries range from $69,000 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $161,000 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×).
Is $101,697 a good Electrical Engineer salary in Cleveland?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Cleveland's cost-of-living index is 88 (vs 100 nationally), giving $101,697 a real purchasing power of approximately $115,565 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $101,697 in Cleveland?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Cleveland specifically (median home price $175,000), a $101,697 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $101,697 enough for a single person in Cleveland?
A single adult in Cleveland typically needs ~$39,600 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $101,697 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $101,697 enough for a couple in Cleveland?
A couple (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$63,360 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $101,697 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $101,697 each ($203,394 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $101,697 enough for a family of 4 in Cleveland?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$96,800 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $101,697 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single Electrical Engineer income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Cleveland typically run $13K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Electrical Engineer in Cleveland?
On a $101,697 Electrical Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH, you take home approximately $74,756.99 per year ($6,230/month, $2,875 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $14,075.34, state $2,542.425, local $2,542.425, FICA $7,779.821. Effective tax rate: 26.5%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Electrical Engineers in Cleveland earn compared to the US average?
Electrical Engineers in Cleveland earn approximately 8% less than the US national median for this role ($110,540 nationally vs $101,697 in Cleveland). However, Cleveland's cost-of-living index of 88 means real purchasing power is approximately $115,565 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Electrical Engineer earn in Cleveland?
Entry-level Electrical Engineers in Cleveland typically start at around $69,000 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Electrical Engineers earn $133,400 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $161,000+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Electrical Engineer salaries in Cleveland increase in 2026?
Yes — Electrical Engineer salaries in Cleveland grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $17,842 in 2025 to $101,697 in 2026 (+$83,855). This reflects the broader Engineering sector's compensation trend, driven by Power electronics for EV and Semiconductors demand.
What's the job outlook for Electrical Engineers in Cleveland?
Strong 9% growth driven by EV, renewable energy, semiconductors, and AI hardware demand. Cleveland's top industries include Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic), Finance, Manufacturing, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Electrical Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Electrical Engineers are: Power electronics for EV, Semiconductors, IoT, AI hardware, Renewable energy systems. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Cleveland.
Who are the top employers hiring Electrical Engineers in Cleveland?
Top employers hiring Electrical Engineers in or near Cleveland include: Apple, Tesla, Intel, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, GE. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Electrical Engineer salary in Cleveland?
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 negotiations: 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 for: 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.
How can I increase my Electrical Engineer salary in Cleveland?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (Power electronics for EV, Semiconductors, IoT) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., PE License or Six Sigma). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Electrical Engineer in Cleveland?
Bachelor's degree (ABET); MS preferred for advanced roles is the typical path. However, Cleveland's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Engineering roles.

Methodology & Sources

Electrical Engineer salary figures for Cleveland are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($110,540) by Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.92× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (470.0%) reflects the Engineering sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Cleveland

Mechanical Engineer →Civil Engineer →

Electrical Engineer Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$103KJacksonville, FL$102KColumbus, OH$107KIndianapolis, IN$103KDetroit, MI$103KMemphis, TN$97KOklahoma City, OK$97KLas Vegas, NV$105K

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