Electrical Engineers
SOC 17-2071 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Electrical Engineers is $106,950, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $117,680, and an estimated 185,430 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +6.1% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -9.9% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 7.2% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Electrical Engineers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $106,950 | $106,950 | 185,430 |
| 2022 | $103,320 | $107,573 | 182,210 |
| 2021 | $100,420 | $112,921 | 186,020 |
| 2020 | $100,830 | $118,709 | 185,220 |
Nominal change
+6.1%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-9.9%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+7.2%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
192,000
Projected 2034
205,700
Annual Openings
11,700
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Electrical Engineers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $106,950. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $141,750 | +32.5% | 40 |
| California | $139,140 | +30.1% | 28,170 |
| New Mexico | $135,880 | +27.1% | 1,720 |
| Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $135,420 | +26.6% | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $133,180 | +24.5% | 1,540 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $129,800 | +21.4% | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $129,670 | +21.2% | 530 |
| Central Utah nonmetropolitan area | $129,080 | +20.7% | 40 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $127,880 | +19.6% | 380 |
| Washington | $126,800 | +18.6% | 9,060 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$69,320
25th Pct
$83,200
Median
$106,950
75th Pct
$137,140
90th Pct
$172,050
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | CA | 49 | $198,252 |
| General Motors Company | MI | 31 | $119,600 |
| Texas Instruments Incorporated | TX | 21 | $115,000 |
| RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC | CA | 20 | $188,370 |
| Cummins Inc. | IN | 14 | $112,798 |
| MIRAFRA INC | CA | 14 | $142,000 |
| Caterpillar Inc | IL | 12 | $106,378 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | CA | 12 | $244,020 |
| Aptiv Corporation | MI | 11 | $105,000 |
| Micron Technology, Inc. | ID | 10 | $108,895 |
| Microsoft Corporation | OR | 9 | $172,100 |
| Rivian Automotive, LLC | IL | 9 | $127,194 |
| MediaTek USA Inc. | CA | 9 | $172,500 |
| Google LLC | CA | 9 | $171,000 |
| Analog Devices, Inc. | MA | 8 | $105,000 |
| FORD MOTOR COMPANY | MI | 8 | $136,125 |
| Apple Inc. | TX | 8 | $184,495 |
| FCA US LLC | MI | 7 | $123,504 |
| Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation | WI | 7 | $92,500 |
| E.M.B. Electrical, Inc. | GU | 6 | $53,685 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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