Electrical Engineer Salary | Jobs, Internships & What They Do – Complete Guide
In 2025, the average electrical engineer salary is about $119,680–146,000 per year, which is equal to ($43 – $58 per hour). For more details like electrical engineer salary according to their experience, what they do, and all details related to electrical engineers are given below in a very comprehensive view:
What is Electrical Engineering?
Electrical engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the study of electrical equipment & devices and use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. This field plays a very important role in the technology and infrastructure.
What do Electrical Engineers do?
- Plan: They think and draw how electrical things should be made.
- Build: They help make things like lights, phones, and computers.
- Test: They check if everything works safely.
- Fix: They solve problems when things don’t work.
- Work Together: They help other people build big projects.
How Much do Electrical Engineers Make?
The electrical engineer salary totally depends on their experience and education, and the salaries of electrical engineers according to their experience are given below:
| Experience Level | Salary Per Year | Salary Per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0–2 years) | $60,000 – $90,000 | $29 – $43 per hour |
| Mid-Level (3–5 years) | $90,000 – $120,000 | $43 – $58 per hour |
| Senior-Level (5+ years) | $120,000 – $160,000 | $58 – $77 per hour |
| Top Level / Manager | $160,000 – $200,000+ | $77 – $96+ per hour |
Explore Electrical Engineer Salary in every State of the USA
Electrical engineer salary can differ greatly from state to state due to demand, industry presence, and cost of living.
High Paying States (≥ $110,000)
| State | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| California | $120,022 |
| Texas | $115,178 |
| District of Columbia | $114,336 |
| Illinois | $112,276 |
| Maryland | $112,451 |
| New Mexico | $112,281 |
| Maine | $112,180 |
| Wyoming | $111,371 |
| Nebraska | $110,471 |
| Indiana | $110,252 |
| Connecticut | $110,220 |
| Ohio | $110,152 |
Median Paying States ($90,000 – $109,999)
| State | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $109,732 |
| Alabama | $109,349 |
| Idaho | $109,016 |
| Iowa | $108,827 |
| Missouri | $105,340 |
| Ohio (duplicate) | $104,773 |
| Texas (Austin) | $104,110 |
| Washington | $97,834 |
| District of Columbia (duplicate) | $97,612 |
| New York | $94,503 |
| Massachusetts | $94,338 |
| Alaska | $93,027 |
| Vermont | $91,845 |
| North Dakota | $91,398 |
| Oregon | $91,329 |
| New Brunswick* | $91,093 |
| Colorado | $90,831 |
| Iowa (Cedar Rapids) | $90,664 |
Low Paying States (< $90,000)
| State | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $89,746 |
| Nevada | $87,962 |
| New Jersey | $87,697 |
| Wisconsin | $87,189 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,588 |
| Delaware | $86,455 |
| South Dakota | $86,381 |
| Virginia | $85,640 |
| California (duplicate) | $85,249 |
| Minnesota | $84,602 |
| Rhode Island | $84,594 |
| New Hampshire | $84,006 |
Is Electrical Engineering hard?
Yes, electrical engineering is a little bit hard because it contains subjects like math and science, which are tough subjects compared to other subjects. But it totally depends on your mentality and hard wor,k and interest. If you have the passion to become an electrical engineer, you can do it easily and become an expert electrical engineer.
How long does it take to become an Electrical Engineer?
- Finish High School (4 years)
Focus on math (especially algebra, geometry, calculus) and science (physics). - Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (4 years)
This is the main step. You’ll learn all the basics, do labs, and start building skills. - Optional: Get a Master’s Degree (1-2 years)
If you want to specialize or get better job opportunities, you can study more. - Get Licensed (Optional, usually after 4 years of work experience)
Becoming a Professional Engineer (PE) can help your career, but takes time and exams. - Start Working and Gain Experience
You’ll keep learning on the job and grow your skills.
Is Electrical Engineering harder than Mechanical?
Electrical engineering is a little bit harder than mechanical engineering because the electrical engineering subjects are tougher than the mechanical engineering subjects. But this concept is not the same for everyone. Some people are good at math and science, so electrical engineering becomes easy for those students.
Top Institutions in the USA for studying Electrical Engineering
| University | Location | Website Links |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, MA | Visit Website |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | Visit Website |
| University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | Berkeley, CA | Visit Website |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | Pasadena, CA | Visit Website |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) | Atlanta, GA | Visit Website |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL | Visit Website |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Visit Website |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Visit Website |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Visit Website |
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | Visit Website |
