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Hourly Wage for Electrical Engineer I Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Electrical Engineer I?

As of February 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Electrical Engineer I in the United States is $39, which translates to an annual salary of about $81,911.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36 to $43 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $36 10% $32 90% $46 75% $43 $39 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Electrical Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,503 $7,459 $1,721 $43
Average $81,911 $6,826 $1,575 $39
25th Percentile $74,282 $6,190 $1,429 $36
Check out Electrical Engineer I Job Openings in the United States
Custodial Engineer

Southeast Technical College - BUFFALO RIDGE, SD

Electrical Engineer Dispatchable

Xcel Energy - MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Electrical Engineer

Bowhead / UIC Technical Services - DAHLGREN, VA

Electrical Engineer

Bowhead / UIC Technical Services - DAHLGREN, VA

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Key Factors That Influence Electrical Engineer I Salaries

An Electrical Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Electrical Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Electrical Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Electrical Engineer I (0-2 years): $81,911
  • Electrical Engineer II (2-4 years): $99,287
  • Electrical Engineer III (4-7 years): $120,760
  • Electrical Engineer IV (7+ years): $143,789
  • Electrical Engineer V (7-10 years): $166,839
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Electrical Engineer I0-2 years$81,911
Electrical Engineer II2-4 years$99,287
Electrical Engineer III4-7 years$120,760
Electrical Engineer IV7+ years$143,789
Electrical Engineer V7-10 years$166,839
$81,911 Electrica...
$99,287 Electrica...
$120,760 Electrica...
$143,789 Electrica...
$166,839 Electrica...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Electrical Engineer Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $103,314
  • San Francisco: $102,299
  • Oakland: $100,030

What Skills Can Increase an Electrical Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.91% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Design Engineering (Mentioned in 3.02% Job Postings): Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.91%
Design Engineering 3.02%
Programming 1.59%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Electrical Engineer I's salary.
  • Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Circuit Design: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Facilitation
 $99,112
21%
Circuit Design
 $86,007
5%
Prototyping
 $85,187
4%
Product Development
 $84,368
3%
System Design
 $84,368
3%
Collaboration
 $83,549
2%
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How Education impacts an Electrical Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Electrical Engineer Is enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Electrical Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $78,469 and $81,318).

Electrical Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Electrical Engineer I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 1.8%
Associates 3.2%
Bachelors 64.6%
Masters 26.1%
Doctorate 4.2%
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Electrical Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Electrical Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on February 01, 2026
$74,282
Average $81,911/year
$89,503
$6,190
Average $6,826/month
$7,459
$1,429
Average $1,575/week
$1,721
$36
Average $39/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $89,503 $7,459 $1,721 $43
Average $81,911 $6,826 $1,575 $39
25th Percentile $74,282 $6,190 $1,429 $36

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FAQ about Electrical Engineer I

1. What are the responsibilities of Electrical Engineer I?

Designs, develops, and tests electrical equipment, components, circuits, or systems. Applies mathematical and engineering principles and methods to designs. Performs extensive testing and validation of designs to ensure reliability, performance, and safety standards are achieved. Conducts research and studies new technologies to innovate and design solutions or products. Requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Electrical Engineer I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Design Engineering: Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.

3.)

Programming: Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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