90% OFF - $9.99
11:59:59
Claim Lifetime Deal
2026 Salary Data — Columbus, OH
Updated April 28, 2026

Electrical Engineer Salary in Columbus: $107K Median

Electrical Engineers in Columbus, OH earn between $73K and $170K per year.

That's -3% below the US national median of $110,540 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Electrical Engineer salary in Columbus, OH is $107,224 per year — -3% below the US national median of $110,540. Salaries range from $72,750 (entry, 25th percentile) to $169,750 (90th percentile). Electrical Engineers in Columbus earned approximately $18,811 in 2025, representing 470.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$107,224
+470.0% YoY · $8,935/mo
Entry
$72,750
0–2 years
Experienced
$140,650
5+ years
Top 10%
$169,750
Senior/lead
Electrical Engineer Salary — Columbus vs Nearby
Columbus
$107K
Cleveland
$102K
+5% vs Columbus
Albuquerque
$99K
+8% vs Columbus
San Antonio
$103K
+4% vs Columbus

Free ATS scan · Columbus employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Electrical Engineers in Columbus

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

Columbus Job Market

Mid-size hub with major Intel semiconductor investment underway.

Population
906K
Cost of Living
93
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.9%
Median Home
$280K

Top Industries in Columbus

InsuranceFinanceTech (Intel fab)HealthcareEducation

Top Employers Hiring Electrical Engineers

Major employers active in Columbus 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 — Columbus

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$72,750$107,224$169,750
Monthly$6,063$8,935$14,146
Weekly$1,399$2,062$3,264
Hourly$35$52$82

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($110,540) adjusted for Columbus's cost-of-living multiplier (0.97×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Electrical Engineer Take-Home Pay in Columbus

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$78,368.884
Per month$6,531
Biweekly paycheck$3,014
Effective tax rate26.9%

Tax Breakdown on $107,224

Gross salary$107,224
Federal income tax−$15,291.28
Ohio state tax−$2,680.6
Columbus local tax−$2,680.6
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$8,202.636
Take-home (net)$78,368.884

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 — Columbus

Career-stage progression for Electrical Engineers in Columbus.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$66,930
2–3 yr$72,750
4–6 yr$106,700
7–10 yr$140,650
11–15 yr$165,967
15+ yr$155,200

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Columbus's 0.97× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+470.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$18,811
2026 median:$107,224
Change:+$88,413

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
$115,295
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Electrical Engineer Salary in Columbus

Walk-away anchor: $95,736 (offers below this are below market for Columbus).

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 $141K–$170K for experienced roles, citing Columbus market data and your specific Power electronics for EV/Semiconductors expertise.

Electrical Engineer Salary FAQ — Columbus

What is the average Electrical Engineer salary in Columbus, OH?
The average Electrical Engineer salary in Columbus is $107,224 per year as of April 2026 — $8,935/month, $2,062/week, or about $52/hour. Salaries range from $72,750 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $169,750 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Columbus's cost-of-living multiplier (0.97×).
Is $107,224 a good Electrical Engineer salary in Columbus?
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. Columbus's cost-of-living index is 93 (vs 100 nationally), giving $107,224 a real purchasing power of approximately $115,295 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $107,224 in Columbus?
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 Columbus specifically (median home price $280,000), a $107,224 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $107,224 enough for a single person in Columbus?
A single adult in Columbus typically needs ~$41,850 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $107,224 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $107,224 enough for a couple in Columbus?
A couple (one earner) in Columbus typically needs ~$66,960 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $107,224 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $107,224 each ($214,448 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $107,224 enough for a family of 4 in Columbus?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Columbus typically needs ~$102,300 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $107,224 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 Columbus typically run $14K-$26K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Electrical Engineer in Columbus?
On a $107,224 Electrical Engineer salary in Columbus, OH, you take home approximately $78,368.884 per year ($6,531/month, $3,014 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $15,291.28, state $2,680.6, local $2,680.6, FICA $8,202.636. Effective tax rate: 26.9%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Electrical Engineers in Columbus earn compared to the US average?
Electrical Engineers in Columbus earn approximately 3% less than the US national median for this role ($110,540 nationally vs $107,224 in Columbus). However, Columbus's cost-of-living index of 93 means real purchasing power is approximately $115,295 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Electrical Engineer earn in Columbus?
Entry-level Electrical Engineers in Columbus typically start at around $72,750 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Electrical Engineers earn $140,650 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $169,750+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Electrical Engineer salaries in Columbus increase in 2026?
Yes — Electrical Engineer salaries in Columbus grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $18,811 in 2025 to $107,224 in 2026 (+$88,413). 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 Columbus?
Strong 9% growth driven by EV, renewable energy, semiconductors, and AI hardware demand. Columbus's top industries include Insurance, Finance, Tech (Intel fab), and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.9% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
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 Columbus.
Who are the top employers hiring Electrical Engineers in Columbus?
Top employers hiring Electrical Engineers in or near Columbus 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 Columbus?
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 Columbus?
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 Columbus?
Bachelor's degree (ABET); MS preferred for advanced roles is the typical path. However, Columbus'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 Columbus are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($110,540) by Columbus's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.97× — 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 Columbus

Mechanical Engineer →Civil Engineer →

Electrical Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Phoenix, AZ$111KSan Antonio, TX$103KJacksonville, FL$102KIndianapolis, IN$103KDetroit, MI$103KNashville, TN$111KLas Vegas, NV$105KMilwaukee, WI$105K

Land a $107K+ Electrical Engineer Role in Columbus

Knowing the salary is step one. Step two: getting past the ATS. CVCraft scans your resume, finds missing keywords, and fixes formatting issues in 60 seconds.

Scan My Resume Free

No signup required · Works for all Engineering roles