Electrical Engineers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$81,840
- 25th Percentile — Junior$106,100
- 50th Percentile — Median$144,040
- 75th Percentile — Senior$185,520
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$217,760
Half of Electrical Engineers in California earn more than $144,040. The top 10% make $217,760 or more, while entry-level workers start around $81,840.
Electrical Engineers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 49 states for Electrical Engineers pay, at $151,180 per year (20.8% above the U.S. average of $125,100).
- 24,230 people work as Electrical Engineers in California — 12.2% of all U.S. Electrical Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.04: Electrical Engineers jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $81,840; the top 10% earn over $217,760.
- Hourly equivalent: $72.68 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $155,400.
- Among engineering jobs in California, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($190,590).
Electrical Engineers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Electrical Engineers here earn $151,180 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $151,180 is roughly equivalent to $106,465 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Mexico ($155,400), District of Columbia ($142,760), New Hampshire ($142,360) are the closest alternatives for Electrical Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Computer Hardware Engineers $190,590/yr California +26.1% vs this role
- Nuclear Engineers $160,980/yr California +6.5% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $159,960/yr California +5.8% vs this role
- Petroleum Engineers $147,940/yr California 2.1% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $139,670/yr California 7.6% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $136,660/yr California 9.6% vs this role
- Biomedical Engineers $132,400/yr California 12.4% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $131,090/yr California 13.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Electrical Engineers salary in California?
The average Electrical Engineers salary in California is $151,180 per year (median $144,040), which is 20.8% above the national average of $125,100.
How does California rank for Electrical Engineers pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($155,400/yr).
How much do entry-level Electrical Engineers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Electrical Engineers in California earn about $81,840 per year and the 25th percentile is $106,100.
How much do Electrical Engineers make per hour in California?
About $72.68 per hour, based on the $151,180 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Electrical Engineers work in California?
BLS counts 24,230 Electrical Engineers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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