Designs and tunes the radio systems behind cell networks, public safety radio, satellite links and wireless devices so signals reach where they need to. BLS does not publish separate figures for electrical engineers; it counts them within electrical engineer (SOC 17-2071), whose median pay is $120,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2071
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
RF Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $120,630a year, or $58.00/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $77KTop 10% $184K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +9.9%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+9.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +9.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 11,400199,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025199.7K
- Projected 2035219.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 199.7K Projected 2035 219.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's11%
- Bachelor's81.6%
- Master's7.3%
Highest education held by electrical engineers Segment Value Associate's 11% Bachelor's 81.6% Master's 7.3%
Also advertised as: Radio Frequency Engineer, Wireless RF Engineer, RF Design Engineer, RF Optimization Engineer, Wireless Network Engineer.
Pay
How much do Electrical Engineers make?
Every rf engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$120,630
Middle half earn $92,830 to $152,950
- 10th
- $76,550
- 25th
- $92,830
- 75th
- $152,950
- 90th
- $184,300
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,550 |
| 25th | $92,830 |
| Median | $120,630 |
| 75th | $152,950 |
| 90th | $184,300 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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 $104,110, this is 16% 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 84% of the 1,741 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.
Pay by state
Which states pay Electrical Engineers the most?
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.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Mexico | $158,520 | $171,908 | 2,560 |
| 2California | $144,040 | $130,094 | 24,230 |
| 3District of Columbia | $143,000 | $130,117 | 330 |
| 4New Hampshire | $135,710 | $130,284 | 1,600 |
| 5Washington | $132,710 | $124,013 | 7,610 |
| 6Texas | $129,450 | $133,375 | 20,870 |
| 7Idaho | $129,340 | $135,443 | 1,000 |
| 8Massachusetts | $127,720 | $120,767 | 5,040 |
| 9Delaware | $126,970 | $127,214 | 660 |
| 10Alaska | $125,970 | $123,067 | 350 |
Job outlook
Is RF Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +9.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineers | +9.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Electrical Engineers to change 9.9% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.8× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 19,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 11,400 openings are projected each year, 5.7% of the 199,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a RF Engineer
RF engineers usually have a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, with coursework in electromagnetics, signals and communications, and hardware design roles often prefer a master's. Hands-on experience with network planning tools, spectrum analyzers and drive testing helps new graduates stand out.
The IEEE is the main professional body, and its communications and microwave societies publish the technical standards and research the field relies on. Some engineers earn the FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License or iNARTE certifications for regulatory and testing work. Common starting points are carrier and tower company engineering teams, network deployment contractors, public safety radio vendors and defense electronics firms.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
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 degree11%
- Master's Degree7.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 81.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11% |
| Master's Degree | 7.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a RF Engineer do?
RF engineers work with radio waves. In wireless carriers and the companies that build networks for them, RF engineers decide where to put cell sites and antennas, model coverage and interference, and tune networks after launch by adjusting antenna tilts, power levels and frequencies based on drive tests and performance data.
Other RF engineers design the hardware itself: antennas, amplifiers, filters and radios in phones, satellites, radar and defense systems. Public safety RF engineers design the radio networks police and firefighters depend on, including in-building systems that keep radios working inside large buildings. Across all of these, the job involves simulation software, lab and field measurements with spectrum analyzers, and working within the frequency rules set by the Federal Communications Commission.
Day-to-day tasks
- Model radio coverage and interference for new sites
- Select antenna types, heights and orientations
- Run drive tests and analyze network performance data
- Optimize power, tilt and frequency settings
- Design in-building and public safety radio systems
- Measure signals with spectrum analyzers and test equipment
- Prepare frequency coordination and licensing documents
- Troubleshoot interference complaints
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
RF engineers work in offices and labs, with field time for site surveys, drive tests and installs, sometimes on rooftops or towers alongside climbing crews. Network launches and outages can bring night work, since changes are often made during low-traffic hours.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Writing4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Monitoring3.5
- Mathematics3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Coordination3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Operations Analysis3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
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.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a RF Engineer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IRC) built on O*NET's Electrical Engineer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | RF Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
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.
- Realistic6.0
- Investigative5.6
- Conventional4.5
- Enterprising2.4
- Artistic2.1
- Social1.7
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.
Explore further
Careers related to RF Engineer
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
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$78,190median a year
Most earn $50K to $116K
+2.4%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
$74,090median a year
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+0.3%Certificate - Architecture and Engineering
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More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with electrical engineers highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- RF Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| RF Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists RF Engineer appears on
Questions
RF Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Electrical Engineers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for electrical engineers. It counts them within electrical engineer, whose median pay is $120,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $92,830 and $152,950, and the top 10% earn $184,300 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a RF 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 RF Engineer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.9% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 11,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a RF Engineer do?
RF engineers work with radio waves. A typical task: model radio coverage and interference for new sites. 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 a RF 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 1,731 careers in the bank.