Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
In California, electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians earn $86,090 at the median, or about $41.39 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $81,110 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 45.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $86K get you in California?
About electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in California
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 45.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in California
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano | $103K | +20% | 540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $98K | +13% | 690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $95K | +11% | 2,880 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $92K | +6% | 1,980 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $91K | +6% | 1,570 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $86K | -1% | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $82K | -5% | 3,230 |
| Fresno | $81K | -6% | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $80K | -7% | 460 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $79K | -8% | 670 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $77K | -11% | 30 |
| Visalia | $76K | -12% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 45.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,575/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 69% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians?
California pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians make in California?
The median is $86,090 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,590, and experienced electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians can clear $138,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 45.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $81,110 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.