State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Electrical Engineer Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Electrical Engineers earn a median of $120,630 per year ($58.00/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 7.2% through 2034, with about 11,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 17-2071Architecture and EngineeringLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $120,630
- Projected growth
- +7.2%
- Openings a year
- 11,700
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Circuits Engineer, Design Engineer, Electrical Controls Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Electrical Project Engineer.
How much do Electrical Engineers make?
10th percentile$76,550
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$92,830
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$120,630
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$152,950
Upper quartile
90th percentile$184,300
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $120,630 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $58.00/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $125,100 |
| People employed | 198,750 |
Versus all US occupations
At $120,630, Electrical Engineers earn 137% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $69,650 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $102,440, this is 18% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $184,300 or more while the bottom 10% earn $76,550, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 88% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Mexico pays the most at $158,520, and still leads at $171,908 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Electrical Engineers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 | $171,908 | 2,560 |
| California | $144,040 | $130,094 | 24,230 |
| District of Columbia | $143,000 | $130,117 | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 | $130,284 | 1,600 |
| Washington | $132,710 | $124,013 | 7,610 |
| Texas | $129,450 | $133,375 | 20,870 |
| Idaho | $129,340 | $135,443 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 | $120,767 | 5,040 |
| Delaware | $126,970 | $127,214 | 660 |
| Alaska | $125,970 | $123,067 | 350 |
Is Electrical Engineer a growing career?
Electrical Engineers7.2%
All US occupations3.1%
+7.2% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Electrical Engineers to change 7.2% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.3× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 13,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 11,700 openings are projected each year, 6.1% of the 192,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment growth is expected as companies increasingly utilize the expertise of engineers for projects involving electrical and electronic devices, systems, and infrastructure. These engineers are expected to have key roles in developing sophisticated consumer electronics, solar arrays, semiconductors, and communications technologies.
How to become an Electrical Engineer
Licensure is not required for entry-level electrical and electronics engineering positions, and a large share of electrical engineers spend an entire career without a PE because they design products rather than offer services to the public. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer licence, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects and provide services directly to the public. If you do want one, the scheduling matters more here than in any other discipline: only one of the three PE Electrical and Computer exams is offered year round.
The credential path, step by step
- Earn a bachelor's degree in electrical or electronics engineering4 years
Programs include classroom, laboratory and field studies, with courses such as digital systems design, calculus and electrical circuit theory. Cooperative education programs and internships through partnerships with local businesses let students gain practical experience while completing the degree, and some employers prefer a master's.
- Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam
FE Electrical and Computer is computer-based, offered year round at Pearson test centres, and had a 70% first-time pass rate against 1,782 first-time takers in the most recent NCEES reporting period. The exam is 110 questions in a six-hour appointment for a $225 fee paid directly to NCEES.
- Build several years of relevant work experienceAbout 4 years
State licensure typically requires a bachelor's or higher degree in engineering, a passing score on the FE, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam. NCEES puts the common figure at four years of acceptable, progressive and verifiable experience.
- Pick your PE exam around the calendar, not just the subject
This is the trap. PE Electrical and Computer: Power is computer-based and offered year round. PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering and PE Electrical and Computer: Electronics, Controls, and Communications are single-day testing events held once a year because their examinee populations are small, and seats can be reserved up to a year in advance once you are registered with NCEES and approved by your board. Computer Engineering is 85 questions in a 9.5-hour appointment. Choosing the wrong depth area can cost you a year.
- Apply to your state board for the licence
Each state issues its own licences. Some boards require a separate application and application fee to approve you for an NCEES exam seat, so check your board's procedure before registering.
Exams you have to pass
Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE)
Generally the first step towards licensure, designed for students close to finishing or recent graduates of an EAC/ABET-accredited program. Computer-based and offered year round, 110 questions in a six-hour appointment, $225 paid directly to NCEES. Take FE Electrical and Computer.
Administered by NCEES, at Pearson test centres.
Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, Electrical and Computer (PE Electrical and Computer)
Three separate exams with very different availability. Power is offered year round and is by far the largest, with 1,344 first-time takers and a 62% first-time pass rate in the most recent NCEES reporting period. Electronics, Controls, and Communications runs once a year (175 first-time takers, 63%). Computer Engineering also runs once a year and is tiny, with 27 first-time takers and a 56% first-time pass rate; it is 85 questions in a 9.5-hour appointment. All are designed for engineers with a minimum of four years of post-college work experience.
Administered by NCEES, at Pearson test centres.
- Program accreditation
EAC/ABET · ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission
ABET accredits programs rather than institutions and issues no licences itself, but graduation from an ABET-accredited program is almost universally required to validate the education of a licence applicant in the United States, and states that do license non-ABET graduates may require an additional four to eight years of work experience instead.
- How long the training takes
4 years to enter the field; roughly 8 years to a PE for those who pursue one
No licence is needed for entry-level work. The PE adds the FE after graduation, several years of relevant experience, and the PE exam, with the caveat that two of the three electrical PE exams are offered only one day per year.
- Continuing education
Set by each state
Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licences; others do not. The requirement is set by each state board.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Each state issues its own licences and most recognise licensure from other states as long as the licensing state's requirements meet or exceed their own. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licences. The bigger practical variable is the exemption for employees of manufacturers, which is what keeps most electrical engineers out of the licensing system entirely: Texas, for example, construes its Engineering Practice Act as not applying to a private corporation or its full-time employees in connection with the research, development, design, fabrication, production, assembly, integration or service of products manufactured by that entity, and expressly defines those products to include computer software, firmware, hardware and semiconductor devices. It separately exempts most full-time employees of privately owned or cooperative utilities who lack final authority over designs incorporated into fixed works on the property of others or made available to the public.
Who governs the credential
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) — Writes and administers the FE and PE exams, publishes the exam specifications six months before their effective date, and provides the electronic reference handbook and design standards used during the exam. It is a council of the 69 state and territorial licensing boards and does not itself license engineers.
- State engineering licensing boards — Grant the licence, approve candidates for exam seats, decide what experience counts and define the exemptions that determine whether an electrical engineer needs a licence at all.
Credential detail for electrical engineers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Electrical and Electronics Engineers, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- NCEES — PE Electrical and Computer Exam (three exams, availability, format, pass rates) · checked August 23, 2026
- NCEES — FE Exam (format, fee, disciplines, pass rates) · checked August 23, 2026
- NCEES — Licensure (education, experience and examination requirements) · checked August 23, 2026
- ABET — Licensure, Registration and Certification · checked August 23, 2026
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1001, Texas Engineering Practice Act, sections 1001.057 and 1001.058 · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Electrical and electronics engineers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as electrical engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree81.6%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)11.0%
- Master's Degree7.3%
What does an Electrical Engineer do?
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, and test electrical and electronic equipment, components, and systems.
Day-to-day tasks
- Investigate customer or public complaints to determine the nature and extent of problems.
- Supervise or train project team members, as necessary.
- Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
- Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- Estimate labor, material, or construction costs for budget preparation purposes.
- Prepare technical drawings, specifications of electrical systems, or topographical maps to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most electrical and electronics engineers work full time.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where electrical engineers work
| Engineering services | 21% |
|---|---|
| Electric power generation, transmission and distribution | 11% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 5% |
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | 5% |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 5% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Writing4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Coordination3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3/5
- Systems Analysis3.3/5
- Systems Evaluation3.3/5
- Operations Analysis3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Instructing3.0/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- File versioning software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Electrical Engineer?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary6.0
Investigativeprimary5.5
Artistic2.1
Social1.7
Enterprising2.4
Conventionalprimary4.4
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Electrical Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Electrical Engineers make?
Electrical Engineers earn a median of $120,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 137% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $58.00/hr. The middle half earn between $92,830 and $152,950. The top 10% earn $184,300 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Electrical Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Electrical Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 81.6% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Electrical Engineer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.2% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 11,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Electrical Engineer do?
Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, and test electrical and electronic equipment, components, and systems. A core O*NET task: investigate customer or public complaints to determine the nature and extent of problems. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Electrical Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Electrical Engineers are New Mexico ($158,520), California ($144,040), District of Columbia ($143,000) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Electrical Engineer?
O*NET scores Electrical Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become an Electrical Engineer?
4 years to enter the field; roughly 8 years to a PE for those who pursue one. No licence is needed for entry-level work. The PE adds the FE after graduation, several years of relevant experience, and the PE exam, with the caveat that two of the three electrical PE exams are offered only one day per year.
Do you need a license to work as an Electrical Engineer?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Each state issues its own licences and most recognise licensure from other states as long as the licensing state's requirements meet or exceed their own. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licences. The bigger practical variable is the exemption for employees of manufacturers, which is what keeps most electrical engineers out of the licensing system entirely: Texas, for example, construes its Engineering Practice Act as not applying to a private corporation or its full-time employees in connection with the research, development, design, fabrication, production, assembly, integration or service of products manufactured by that entity, and expressly defines those products to include computer software, firmware, hardware and semiconductor devices. It separately exempts most full-time employees of privately owned or cooperative utilities who lack final authority over designs incorporated into fixed works on the property of others or made available to the public.
What exams do you have to pass to become an Electrical Engineer?
The FE (Fundamentals of Engineering exam) and the PE Electrical and Computer (Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, Electrical and Computer). Generally the first step towards licensure, designed for students close to finishing or recent graduates of an EAC/ABET-accredited program. Computer-based and offered year round, 110 questions in a six-hour appointment, $225 paid directly to NCEES. Take FE Electrical and Computer.