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Lead Electrical Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Electrical Engineer in the United States is $140,466 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $68.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $155,471
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $130,082 to $148,320
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $120,628
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Lead Electrical Engineer Salaries

A Lead Electrical Engineer'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 Lead Electrical Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Electrical Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $96,587
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $117,485
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $139,888
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $162,277
  • Expert (over 8 years): $195,318
Levels Salary
Electrica... Level Lead Electrical Engineer$96,587
Electrica... Level Lead Electrical Engineer$117,485
Lead Elec... Level Lead Electrical Engineer$139,888
Electrica... Level Lead Electrical Engineer$162,277
Electrica... Level Lead Electrical Engineer$195,318
View as Graph

How Do Lead 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 Lead Electrical Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $155,524.
  • California: $154,934.
  • Massachusetts: $152,869.

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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: $177,170
  • San Francisco: $175,230
  • Oakland: $171,537

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.89% 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 3.29% 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.
  • Renewable Energy (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Using renewable energy sources for more sustainable business operations to drive environmental risk and cost reduction.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.89%
AutoCAD 3.29%
Renewable Energy 1.63%
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 Lead Electrical Engineer's salary.

  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Circuit Design: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping $148,894
6%
Verbal Communication $146,085
4%
Circuit Design $146,085
4%
Get Latest Data

Lead Electrical Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lead Electrical Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 52% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Insurance and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Lead Electrical Engineer positions in Internet or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Electrical Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lead Electrical Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$171,369$82.022%
Energy & Utilities$161,536$78.015%
Aerospace & Defense$157,322$76.012%
MFG Nondurable$157,322$76.012%
Construction$154,513$74.010%

How Education impacts a Lead Electrical Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead Electrical Engineers 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 a Lead Electrical Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $135,331 and $141,444).

Lead Electrical Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Electrical Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.5%
Bachelors 44.6%
Masters 41.6%
Doctorate 12.6%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Lead 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
$130,082
Average $140,466/year
$148,320
$10,840
Average $11,706/month
$12,360
$2,502
Average $2,701/week
$2,852
$63
Average $68/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $148,320 $12,360 $2,852 $71
Average $140,466 $11,706 $2,701 $68
25th Percentile $130,082 $10,840 $2,502 $63

Most common benefits for Lead Electrical Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Lead Electrical Engineer

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

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FAQ about Lead Electrical Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Electrical Engineer?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Electrical Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 22% 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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