Electrical Engineers Salary
In California, electrical engineers earn $144,040 at the median, or about $69.25 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $135,708 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $144K get you in California?
About electrical engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for electrical engineers, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $121K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 engineers (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $144K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $136K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical Engineers salary by metro in California
20 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $187K | +30% | 4,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $166K | +15% | 2,470 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $165K | +14% | 100 |
| Vallejo | $160K | +11% | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $140K | -3% | 8,970 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $136K | -5% | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $136K | -5% | 1,420 |
| Fresno | $135K | -6% | 400 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $135K | -7% | 230 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $134K | -7% | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $131K | -9% | 160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $130K | -10% | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $127K | -12% | 2,400 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $127K | -12% | 460 |
| Salinas | $126K | -12% | 50 |
| Redding | $126K | -12% | 70 |
| Visalia | $124K | -14% | 90 |
| Yuba City | $124K | -14% | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $110K | -24% | 1,150 |
| Modesto | $110K | -24% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 20 metros
Compare to other states
Track electrical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $144K, rent takes 29.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for electrical engineers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical engineers typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,910/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electrical engineer a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $144K here vs. $121K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for electrical engineers?
California pays $144K median vs. the U.S. average of $121K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do electrical engineers make in California?
The median is $144,040 a year, that works out to about $69 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,840, and experienced electrical engineers can clear $217,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $144K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,306/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 29.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a electrical engineers 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 engineers salary is worth about $135,708 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical engineers 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.