Electrical Engineers Salary
In New York, electrical engineers earn $119,010 at the median, or about $57.22 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $121,179 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $119K get you in New York?
About electrical engineers
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What this looks like in New York
Electrical engineers pay in New York tracks closely to the national median, $119K locally vs. $121K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level electrical engineers (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $119K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $94K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical Engineers salary by metro in New York
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $128K | +8% | 6,290 |
| Binghamton | $126K | +6% | 270 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $125K | +5% | 170 |
| Syracuse | $111K | -7% | 700 |
| Rochester | $108K | -9% | 1,000 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $106K | -11% | 720 |
| Ithaca | $106K | -11% | 60 |
| Glens Falls | $103K | -14% | 30 |
| Utica-Rome | $102K | -14% | 100 |
| Kingston | $100K | -16% | 50 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $98K | -18% | 550 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $119K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for electrical engineers in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical engineers typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,492/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 New York?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $119K locally vs. $121K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does New York compare to the national average for electrical engineers?
New York pays $119K median vs. the U.S. average of $121K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do electrical engineers make in New York?
The median is $119,010 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,870, and experienced electrical engineers can clear $168,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $119K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,167/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 26.7% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median electrical engineers salary is worth about $121,179 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.