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Professional Electrical Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Professional Electrical Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Professional Electrical Engineer in the United States is $132,578 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $168,655
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $114,396 to $151,462
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $97,842
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Professional Electrical Engineer Salaries

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

How Do Professional Electrical Engineer 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 Professional Electrical Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $146,790.
  • California: $146,234.
  • Massachusetts: $144,285.

Top Paying Cities for Professional Electrical Engineers

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: $167,221
  • San Francisco: $165,390
  • Oakland: $161,904

What Skills Can Increase a Professional Electrical Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.5% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Academic Advising (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Academic advising is, according to the National Academic Advising Association, "a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes. Academic advising synthesizes and contextualizes students' educational experiences within the frameworks of their aspirations, abilities and lives to extend learning beyond campus boundaries and timeframes."
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.5%
Academic Advising 2.08%
Computer Science 2.08%
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 a Professional Electrical Engineer's salary.

  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Problem Solving $139,207
5%
Initiative $135,230
2%
Computer Science $133,904
1%
Get Latest Data

Professional Electrical Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Professional Electrical Engineer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 0% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 5% above the average. Conversely, Professional Electrical Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Professional Electrical Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Professional Electrical Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$139,207$67.05%

How Education impacts a Professional Electrical Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Professional Electrical Engineers enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Professional Electrical Engineer with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $137,104 and $161,921).

Professional Electrical Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Professional Electrical Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.3%
High School 91.7%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 8.3%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 91.7%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Professional Electrical Engineer'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 September 01, 2026
$114,396
Average $132,578/year
$151,462
$9,533
Average $11,048/month
$12,622
$2,200
Average $2,550/week
$2,913
$55
Average $64/hour
$73
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $151,462 $12,622 $2,913 $73
Average $132,578 $11,048 $2,550 $64
25th Percentile $114,396 $9,533 $2,200 $55

Most common benefits for Professional Electrical Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Professional Electrical Engineer

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

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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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