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Electrical Engineer V Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Electrical Engineer V in the United States is $166,803 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $183,187
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $155,336 to $175,379
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $144,896

Key Factors That Influence Electrical Engineer V Salaries

An Electrical Engineer V'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 V Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Electrical Engineer V'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 III (4-7 years): $120,758
  • Electrical Engineer IV (7+ years): $143,786
  • Electrical Engineer V (7-10 years): $166,803
  • Electrical Engineer VI (10-12 years): $200,764
  • Electrical Engineering Supervisor I (12+ years): $98,446
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Electrical Engineer III4-7 years$120,758
Electrical Engineer IV7+ years$143,786
Electrical Engineer V7-10 years$166,803
Electrical Engineer VI10-12 years$200,764
Electrical Engineering Supervisor I12+ years$98,446

Top Paying Cities for Electrical Engineer V

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: $210,389
  • San Francisco: $208,085
  • Oakland: $203,700

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.44% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 3.02% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.44%
AutoCAD 3.02%
CAD 1.58%

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 V's salary.

  • Renewable Energy: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Renewable Energy $181,815
9%
Insight $175,143
5%
Prototyping $171,807
3%

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

Electrical Engineer V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $186,726. While startup companies pay approximate $157,966.

Electrical Engineer V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $157,966
Growth Stage 51~500 $167,068
Established 501~5000 $180,317
Enterprise 5000+ $186,726

Electrical Engineer V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Electrical Engineer V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% 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 V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Electrical Engineer V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$216,844$104.030%
Energy & Utilities$200,164$96.020%
Software & Networking$200,164$96.020%
Pharmaceuticals$191,823$92.015%
Internet$183,483$88.010%

How Education impacts an Electrical Engineer V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Electrical Engineer V 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 V with a Bachelor's Degree is between $164,616 and $172,376.

Electrical Engineer V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Electrical Engineer V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.6%
Bachelors 43.2%
Masters 38.0%
Doctorate 17.6%

Electrical Engineer V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Electrical Engineer V'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$155,336
Average $166,803/year
$175,379
$12,945
Average $13,900/month
$14,615
$2,987
Average $3,208/week
$3,373
$75
Average $80/hour
$84
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $175,379 $14,615 $3,373 $84
Average $166,803 $13,900 $3,208 $80
25th Percentile $155,336 $12,945 $2,987 $75

Electrical Engineer V Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Electrical Engineer V, 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 V Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Signal & Image Processing Engineer VI $217,064 30%
Electrical Engineer VI $200,764 20%
Electronics Engineer VI $221,531 33%
Radio Frequency Engineer VI $182,342 9%

Most common benefits for Electrical Engineer V

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

Common company salaries for Electrical Engineer V

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

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FAQ about Electrical Engineer V

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

An Electrical Engineer V'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 V earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Electrical Engineer V is $210,389.

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

The highest pay for Electrical Engineer V is $183,187.

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

The lowest pay for Electrical Engineer V is $144,896.

4. What are the responsibilities of Electrical Engineer V?

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. Typically requires a master's degree in electrical engineering. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Electrical Engineer V roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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