What is the salary and career path for a distribution engineer?
Distribution engineer falls under the broad Electrical Engineers occupation (SOC 17-2071), which BLS uses for power-system design engineers. That code paid a median of $120,630 ($58.00 hourly) in OEWS May 2025, with the lowest tenth earning under $76,550 and the top tenth above $184,300. Employment is projected to rise 7.2% between 2024 and 2034 — quicker than the all-occupation average — generating roughly 11,700 openings annually. An ABET electrical degree is the entry requirement, and a PE (Power) license, reached via the NCEES FE first, is needed to seal feeder designs.
- Distribution Engineers earn a national median $120,630/yr ($58.00/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2071); the top 10% clear $184,300.
- This is a degree-gated engineering role: an ABET electrical degree plus the NCEES FE, and a PE (Power) to stamp distribution designs.
- BLS projects 7.2% growth for Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071) through 2034 — faster than average — with about 11,700 openings a year, lifted by DER and EV interconnections.
- Pay runs from an entry EIT near $76,550 to a principal or engineering manager at the $184,300 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become a distribution engineer?
Entry distribution EIT
Running feeder load-flow and transformer-sizing calcs under a PE; entry pay sits near the 10th percentile of $76,550.
Distribution engineer
Designing feeder upgrades, protection and DER interconnections around the $120,630 median for the code.
Senior / planning engineer
Leading distribution planning and reliability programs pays toward the 75th percentile of $152,950.
Principal / engineering manager
Setting distribution standards or managing a planning group reaches the 90th percentile of $184,300.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays distribution engineers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2071. National median: $120,630. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does distribution engineer pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles distribution engineers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: distribution engineers rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +7.2% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly distribution engineers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2071 (distribution engineers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do distribution engineers need?
An ABET electrical engineering degree, the baseline credential for distribution engineering. See all state licences →
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam toward PE licensure.
NCEES Professional Engineer license required to stamp distribution designs.
Working command of CYME, Milsoft or Synergi feeder-analysis software.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do distribution engineers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 17-2071
Salary Levers
How do distribution engineers earn above the $120,630 BLS median?
PE license and stamping authority
A PE in Power lets an engineer seal designs and moves pay from the $76,550 entry band toward the upper percentiles.
DER and planning specialization
Distributed-energy interconnection and long-range planning expertise commands premiums above the $120,630 median.
Principal and management roles
Distribution standards ownership and team management push earnings toward the $184,300 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a distribution engineer worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2071. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Distribution Engineer Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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