What is the salary and career path for a electrical engineer?
Electrical engineer maps exactly to the Electrical Engineers occupation (SOC 17-2071). Per OEWS May 2025, half of the code earned above $120,630 a year ($58.00 an hour); the bottom decile came in near $76,550 and the top decile near $184,300. BLS forecasts 7.2% job growth from 2024 to 2034 — well ahead of the average occupation — with roughly 11,700 openings each year. The path starts with an ABET electrical engineering degree; the NCEES FE and, for stamped power or facilities work, the PE license follow.
- Electrical Engineers earn a national median $120,630/yr ($58.00/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2071); the top 10% clear $184,300.
- Electrical engineering is a degree-gated profession: an ABET degree plus the NCEES FE, and a PE for work that must be stamped.
- 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 electrification and renewables.
- 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 an electrical engineer?
Entry electrical engineer (EIT)
Producing schematics, calculations and test support under a senior engineer; entry pay sits near the 10th percentile of $76,550.
Electrical engineer
Owning circuit, power or controls designs and simulations around the $120,630 median for the code.
Senior / lead electrical engineer
Leading system architecture and cross-discipline design pays toward the 75th percentile of $152,950.
Principal / engineering manager
Setting technical direction or managing an engineering group reaches the 90th percentile of $184,300.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays electrical engineers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2071. National median: $120,630. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does electrical engineer pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles electrical engineers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: electrical engineers rank 3 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 electrical 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 (electrical 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 electrical engineers need?
An ABET electrical engineering degree, the baseline credential for the profession. See all state licences →
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, the first step toward the PE.
The NCEES Professional Engineer license required to stamp electrical designs in power, facilities and consulting.
IEEE involvement and command of IEEE and NEC standards that signal professional depth.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do electrical engineers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 17-2071
Salary Levers
How do electrical engineers earn above the $120,630 BLS median?
PE license for stamped work
A PE lets an engineer seal power and facility designs and moves pay from the $76,550 entry band toward the upper percentiles.
High-demand specialization
Power electronics, semiconductor, RF or embedded expertise commands premiums above the $120,630 median.
Lead, principal and management roles
System architecture and engineering-management responsibility push earnings toward the $184,300 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an electrical 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
Electrical Engineer Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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