Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Electrical engineers work in a field that combines strong earning potential with solid demand across the country. Nationally, the median annual salary is $111,910, and employment stands at about 192,000. The occupation is projected to grow by 7.2%, with around 12,000 annual openings, indicating an ongoing need for new talent. Opportunities are dispersed nationally, with notable concentrations in certain states and metro areas that offer particularly competitive salaries and opportunity scores. The role draws on a mix of technical and professional strengths, including computers and information technology, mathematics, science, and project management, supported by critical thinking, problem solving, and strong communication skills. People who are detail oriented, creative, and comfortable with analytical work and leadership responsibilities may find this path appealing. For most roles, a bachelor’s degree is the typical educational starting point, making this a structured and accessible option for students and career changers planning a long-term technical career.
Electrical engineers benefit from relatively strong pay, with a national median salary of $111,910. Within this field, earnings vary by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $144,040, while Washington offers $132,710 and Massachusetts $127,720. New York and Colorado fall in a similar band at $119,010 and $120,760, respectively. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area shows a median salary of $187,060, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA reports $166,030. Other leading metros such as New York–Newark–Jersey City, Boston–Cambridge–Newton, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria have median pay in the $126,000–$129,000 range. These patterns suggest that geographic choice can significantly influence earning potential for electrical engineers.
Electrical engineers have a solid employment outlook, with national employment of about 192,000 and projected growth of 7.2%. This growth rate, combined with roughly 12,000 annual openings, indicates a steady flow of opportunities from both new positions and ongoing workforce turnover. The consistent 7.2% projected growth rate appears across the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting a relatively uniform expansion for this occupation in key markets. States such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all share this projection while differing in employment size, from California’s 24,230 jobs to Colorado’s 4,200. Major metro areas like San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, New York–Newark–Jersey City, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria show the same growth rate alongside notable employment counts. For students and professionals planning ahead, these figures point to a profession with ongoing demand and a stable employment landscape.
Location has a meaningful impact on opportunity for electrical engineers. At the state level, California offers a combination of high median salary ($144,040), large employment (24,230), and a 7.2% growth rate, leading to the highest opportunity score (67.38) among the listed states. Massachusetts and New York follow closely with opportunity scores around 66, both offering six-figure median salaries and mid-sized employment bases. Colorado and Washington also provide six-figure pay and the same 7.2% growth, though with smaller employment totals and somewhat lower opportunity scores in the mid-50s. Metro-level data shows even sharper distinctions. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA leads with a very high opportunity score of 77.42, paired with a median salary of $187,060. The New York–Newark–Jersey City metro closely matches that opportunity score (77.27) with a lower, but still high, median salary of $128,340. Other metros—San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton—offer strong salaries and opportunity scores in the 60s, providing multiple concentrated markets for this career.
The typical educational requirement for electrical engineers is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the broad and technical skill set associated with the role. Success in this field draws heavily on computers and information technology, mathematics, and science, indicating the need for strong quantitative and technical preparation. Project management skills are also important, reflecting the role of planning, coordinating, and overseeing work. Core cognitive abilities such as critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, are central to evaluating options and addressing complex challenges. Writing and reading skills support documentation and communication, while creativity and innovation contribute to developing new ideas and approaches. Being detail oriented helps ensure accuracy and reliability in technical work, and leadership skills support guiding teams and initiatives. Together, these skills paint a picture of a profession that values both technical depth and well-rounded professional competencies, all built on a bachelor’s-level educational foundation.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
