What are the main factors that influence an Electrical Engineer I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Electrical Engineer 's salary?

An Electrical Engineer 's salary grows with experience: an Electrical Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $81,904, an Electrical Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $99,279, an Electrical Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $120,758, an Electrical Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $143,786, an Electrical Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $166,803,

What are the highest paying states for an Electrical Engineer I?

Electrical Engineer I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Electrical Engineer I roles are District of Columbia $90,684, California $90,340, Massachusetts $89,136. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Electrical Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Electrical Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Electrical Engineer VI: $200,764; Electrical Controls Engineer III: $123,103; Electrical Controls Engineer II: $102,219; Intermediate Electrical Engineer: $99,269; Electrical Engineering Supervisor I: $98,446.

How do different companies affect an Electrical Engineer I's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Electrical Engineer I roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Electrical Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does an Electrical Engineer I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Electrical Engineer I in the United States is $81,904 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an Electrical Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,433
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,274 to $89,509
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,327

10% $67,327

50% (Median) $81,904

90% $96,433

Electrical Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,509	$7,459	$1,721	$43
Average	$81,904	$6,825	$1,575	$39
25th Percentile	$74,274	$6,190	$1,428	$36

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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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 I 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): $81,904
Electrical Engineer II (2-4 years): $99,279
Electrical Engineer III (4-7 years): $120,758
Electrical Engineer IV (7+ years): $143,786
Electrical Engineer V (7-10 years): $166,803

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Electrical Engineer I	0-2 years	$81,904
Electrical Engineer II	2-4 years	$99,279
Electrical Engineer III	4-7 years	$120,758
Electrical Engineer IV	7+ years	$143,786
Electrical Engineer V	7-10 years	$166,803

View as Graph

How Do Electrical Engineer Is Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Electrical Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $90,684.
California: $90,340.
Massachusetts: $89,136.

District of Columbia $90,684 California $90,340 Massachusetts $89,136 Washington $88,809 New Jersey $88,776 Alaska $88,661 Connecticut $87,531 New York $87,072

Hawaii $85,606 Rhode Island $84,918 Maryland $84,451 Minnesota $83,812 Colorado $83,567 Illinois $83,485 Oregon $83,174 Delaware $82,944

New Hampshire $82,800 Virginia $82,477 Pennsylvania $81,535 Nevada $81,060 North Dakota $80,905 Michigan $80,659 Wisconsin $80,569 Vermont $80,389

Texas $79,889 Maine $79,856 Arizona $79,807 Ohio $79,750 Georgia $78,996 Indiana $78,620 Wyoming $78,546 Utah $78,431

Iowa $78,382 Kansas $77,989 Louisiana $77,874 North Carolina $77,833 Missouri $77,817 Florida $77,498 Montana $77,326 Nebraska $77,162

Kentucky $77,072 South Carolina $76,744 Tennessee $76,539 Idaho $76,457 New Mexico $75,859 Oklahoma $75,728 Alabama $75,245 South Dakota $74,434

Arkansas $73,992 West Virginia $73,755 Mississippi $73,042

Top Paying Cities for Electrical Engineer I

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: $103,306
San Francisco: $102,174
Oakland: $100,021

San Jose, CA $103,306

San Francisco, CA $102,174

Oakland, CA $100,021

New York, NY $94,303

Paramus, NJ $93,157

Queens Village, NY $93,153

Passaic, NJ $93,075

Bergenfield, NJ $93,068

Stamford, CT $92,887

Huntington, NY $92,854

Newark, NJ $92,248

Bridgeport, CT $92,076

Vallejo, CA $91,913

New Brunswick, NJ $91,880

Petaluma, CA $91,831

Middlesex, NJ $91,675

Somerset, NJ $91,618

Santa Cruz, CA $91,511

Boston, MA $91,012

Monterey, CA $90,724

Seattle, WA $90,537

Santa Rosa, CA $90,520

Los Angeles, CA $90,496

Juneau, AK $90,283

Washington, DC $90,193

Orange, CA $89,901

Santa Ana, CA $89,685

Long Beach, CA $89,603

Anaheim, CA $89,587

Anchorage, AK $89,546

Santa Maria, CA $89,300

Everett, WA $89,284

Danbury, CT $88,995

Bremerton, WA $88,882

Tacoma, WA $88,587

New Suffolk, NY $88,586

Sacramento, CA $88,563

Santa Barbara, CA $88,473

Trenton, NJ $88,383

San Diego, CA $88,383

Brockton, MA $88,293

Fairbanks, AK $88,092

Lompoc, CA $87,883

Lowell, MA $87,817

Ventura, CA $87,801

Nashua, NH $87,785

Stockton, CA $87,777

Modesto, CA $87,179

Poughkeepsie, NY $86,998

Olympia, WA $86,843

Kennewick, WA $86,843

New Haven, CT $86,810

Lawrence, MA $86,515

Hartford, CT $86,433

Riverside, CA $86,417

New Bedford, MA $86,335

Richland, WA $86,335

Bakersfield, CA $86,220

San Bernardino, CA $86,188

New Britain, CT $86,179

Atlantic City, NJ $86,179

New London, CT $86,147

Norwich, CT $86,122

Portsmouth, NH $86,106

Boulder, CO $85,932

Portland, OR $85,819

Worcester, MA $85,811

Minneapolis, MN $85,557

Philadelphia, PA $85,442

Honolulu, HI $85,172

Saint Paul, MN $85,133

Vineland, NJ $85,115

Providence, RI $84,877

Chicago, IL $84,640

Bellingham, WA $84,541

Springfield, MA $84,476

Baltimore, MD $84,451

Chico, CA $84,246

Pittsfield, MA $84,025

Manchester, NH $83,870

Spokane, WA $83,509

Denver, CO $83,501

Albany, NY $83,116

Troy, NY $83,083

Nassau, NY $82,996

Schenectady, NY $82,911

Wilmington, DE $82,846

Burlington, VT $82,731

Salem, OR $82,698

Portland, ME $82,445

Yakima, WA $82,363

Rochester, MN $82,109

Reno, NV $82,068

Fresno, CA $82,068

Milwaukee, WI $81,994

Detroit, MI $81,912

Ann Arbor, MI $81,898

Allentown, PA $81,888

Colorado Springs, CO $81,748

Syracuse, NY $81,707

Carson City, NV $81,707

Houston, TX $81,593

Eugene, OR $81,552

Gary, IN $81,454

Springfield, OR $81,388

Bismarck, ND $81,372

Galveston, TX $81,314

Medford, OR $81,191

Fort Collins, CO $81,159

Concord, NH $81,118

Austin, TX $81,093

Mesa, AZ $80,921

Reading, PA $80,913

Phoenix, AZ $80,905

Dallas, TX $80,880

Saint Cloud, MN $80,802

Madison, WI $80,692

Utica, NY $80,471

Rochester, NY $80,340

Des Moines, IA $80,331

Raleigh, NC $80,323

Atlanta, GA $80,200

Battle Creek, MI $80,176

Salt Lake City, UT $80,151

Lancaster, PA $80,028

Harrisburg, PA $79,914

Kansas City, MO $79,832

Champaign, IL $79,815

Kansas City, KS $79,815

Fort Worth, TX $79,807

Columbus, OH $79,793

Boca Raton, FL $79,774

Pittsburgh, PA $79,742

Richmond, VA $79,709

Indianapolis, IN $79,693

Cleveland, OH $79,684

Las Vegas, NV $79,586

Cincinnati, OH $79,586

Petersburg, VA $79,463

Huntsville, AL $79,340

Lansing, MI $79,286

Lebanon, PA $79,275

Pueblo, CO $79,267

Appleton, WI $79,242

Buffalo, NY $79,209

Dayton, OH $79,185

Racine, WI $79,168

Charlotte, NC $79,160

Saint Louis, MO $79,136

York, PA $79,087

Elkhart, IN $79,087

Gastonia, NC $79,071

Billings, MT $79,051

Beaumont, TX $79,029

Lorain, OH $79,013

Benton Harbor, MI $78,996

Toledo, OH $78,980

Binghamton, NY $78,939

Rock Hill, SC $78,931

Rockford, IL $78,890

Springfield, IL $78,857

Elyria, OH $78,849

Fargo, ND $78,849

Flagstaff, AZ $78,792

Fort Lauderdale, FL $78,743

Duluth, MN $78,693

Miami, FL $78,693

Cheyenne, WY $78,636

Grand Forks, ND $78,636

Bangor, ME $78,456

Cedar Rapids, IA $78,366

Durham, NC $78,331

Louisville, KY $78,325

Grand Rapids, MI $78,308

Hialeah, FL $78,300

Casper, WY $78,186

Scranton, PA $78,087

New Orleans, LA $78,063

Virginia Beach, VA $78,055

Akron, OH $78,014

Peoria, IL $77,907

Sarasota, FL $77,891

Nashville, TN $77,833

Omaha, NE $77,833

Green Bay, WI $77,833

Baton Rouge, LA $77,792

Charleston, SC $77,776

Jamestown, NY $77,735

Davenport, IA $77,735

Tucson, AZ $77,694

Saint Petersburg, FL $77,645

Tampa, FL $77,629

Evansville, IN $77,579

Port Arthur, TX $77,579

Bradenton, FL $77,547

Santa Fe, NM $77,399

Orlando, FL $77,252

Clearwater, FL $77,227

Canton, OH $77,055

La Crosse, WI $77,055

Albuquerque, NM $77,006

Newport News, VA $76,998

High Point, NC $76,973

Ogden, UT $76,941

Corpus Christi, TX $76,875

Norfolk, VA $76,826

Laramie, WY $76,826

Rock Island, IL $76,777

Saginaw, MI $76,760

Jacksonville, FL $76,752

Salisbury, NC $76,736

Boise, ID $76,719

Moline, IL $76,679

Fort Myers, FL $76,654

Memphis, TN $76,638

Tulsa, OK $76,597

Waterloo, IA $76,547

Spartanburg, SC $76,466

Lincoln, NE $76,425

Fort Wayne, IN $76,408

Provo, UT $76,400

Cedar Falls, IA $76,302

San Antonio, TX $76,269

Greensboro, NC $76,236

South Bend, IN $76,228

Savannah, GA $76,138

Muskegon, MI $76,105

Birmingham, AL $76,097

Winston Salem, NC $76,057

Lake Charles, LA $75,859

Anderson, IN $75,843

Lexington, KY $75,819

Augusta, GA $75,794

Greenville, SC $75,794

Lima, OH $75,728

Wichita, KS $75,720

Tuscaloosa, AL $75,720

Columbia, SC $75,647

Springfield, OH $75,630

Asheville, NC $75,499

Bloomington, IN $75,442

Knoxville, TN $75,147

Shreveport, LA $75,139

Wilmington, NC $75,032

Roanoke, VA $75,032

Topeka, KS $74,885

Frankfort, KY $74,876

Oklahoma City, OK $74,819

Chillicothe, OH $74,787

Longview, TX $74,778

Melbourne, FL $74,770

Sioux Falls, SD $74,639

Mobile, AL $74,631

Terre Haute, IN $74,598

Altoona, PA $74,549

Amarillo, TX $74,492

Killeen, TX $74,467

Fayetteville, AR $74,402

Chattanooga, TN $74,377

Sioux City, IA $74,303

Idaho Falls, ID $74,287

Lynchburg, VA $74,221

Gainesville, FL $74,115

Portsmouth, OH $74,074

Little Rock, AR $74,058

Lafayette, LA $74,025

Youngstown, OH $74,025

Daytona Beach, FL $73,976

Clarksville, TN $73,968

Pensacola, FL $73,959

Temple, TX $73,954

Hopkinsville, KY $73,714

Erie, PA $73,697

Florence, SC $73,664

Charleston, WV $73,533

Great Falls, MT $73,492

Macon, GA $73,378

Tallahassee, FL $73,370

Fayetteville, NC $73,353

Waco, TX $73,337

Helena, MT $73,280

Pine Bluff, AR $73,248

Vincennes, IN $73,148

Lubbock, TX $73,116

Alamogordo, NM $73,067

Twin Falls, ID $72,993

Rapid City, SD $72,968

Jackson, MS $72,821

Huntington, WV $72,815

Greenville, MS $72,813

Parkersburg, WV $72,729

Montgomery, AL $72,714

Wichita Falls, TX $72,632

Springfield, MO $72,632

Biloxi, MS $72,592

Monroe, LA $72,510

Johnstown, PA $72,452

Sumter, SC $72,420

Columbus, GA $72,411

Pascagoula, MS $72,256

Abilene, TX $72,256

Kingsport, TN $72,043

Albany, GA $72,043

Gulfport, MS $72,018

Alexandria, LA $71,748

Fort Smith, AR $71,543

El Paso, TX $71,322

Las Cruces, NM $70,953

Harlingen, TX $70,745

Pocatello, ID $70,732

Florence, AL $70,626

Brownsville, TX $70,609

Mcallen, TX $70,437

Dothan, AL $70,323

Columbus, MS $69,836

Altus, OK $69,455

Lawton, OK $69,299

Pierre, SD $69,004

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.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	7.91%
Design Engineering	3.02%
Programming	1.59%

See More Skills

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	$99,104	21%
Circuit Design	$85,999	5%
Prototyping	$85,180	4%

Get Latest Data

Electrical Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Electrical Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $91,687. While startup companies pay approximate $77,565.

Electrical Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$77,565
Growth Stage	51~500	$82,034
Established	501~5000	$88,540
Enterprise	5000+	$91,687

Electrical Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Electrical Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Electrical Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Electrical Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Electrical Engineer I

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services	$98,285	$47.0	20%
Pharmaceuticals	$98,285	$47.0	20%
Biotechnology	$94,190	$45.0	15%
Software & Networking	$94,190	$45.0	15%
Energy & Utilities	$90,094	$43.0	10%

How Education impacts an Electrical Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Electrical Engineer I enter the field with a Bachelor's 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

$83,000
$82,300
$81,700
$81,100
$80,400
$79,800
$79,200
$78,500

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%

View as Graph

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.

$74,274

Average $81,904/year

$89,509

$6,190

Average $6,825/month

$7,459

$1,428

Average $1,575/week

$1,721

$36

Average $39/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,509	$7,459	$1,721	$43
Average	$81,904	$6,825	$1,575	$39
25th Percentile	$74,274	$6,190	$1,428	$36

Electrical Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Electrical Engineer I

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Electrical Engineer I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Electrical Engineer I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Signal & Image Processing Engineer II	$99,499	21%
Electrical Engineer II	$99,279	21%
Electronics Engineer II	$99,500	21%
Radio Frequency Engineer II	$99,500	21%

Salary Trends for Electrical Engineer I

Salaries for an Electrical Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $91,966 in 2023 to around $89,144 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Electrical Engineer I salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Electrical Engineer I Over Time

$???
$91,966
$90,794
$89,144
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$91,966
2024	$90,794
2025	$89,144
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Electrical Engineer I

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Electrical Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Electrical Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Electrical Engineer I

1. Where can an Electrical Engineer I earn the most?

An Electrical Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Electrical Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Electrical Engineer I is $103,306.

2. What is the highest pay for Electrical Engineer I?

The highest pay for Electrical Engineer I is $96,433.

3. What is the lowest pay for Electrical Engineer I?

The lowest pay for Electrical Engineer I is $67,327.

4. 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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Electrical Engineer I?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Electrical Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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