Electrical Engineers Salary
In Pennsylvania, electrical engineers earn $110,820 at the median, or about $53.28 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $116,689 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $111K get you in Pennsylvania?
About electrical engineers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Electrical engineers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $111K locally vs. $121K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level electrical engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $111K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical Engineers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $128K | +15% | 3,520 |
| Johnstown | $118K | +7% | 50 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $112K | +1% | 410 |
| Erie | $109K | -1% | 200 |
| York-Hanover | $107K | -3% | 330 |
| Altoona | $105K | -5% | 50 |
| Lancaster | $105K | -5% | 170 |
| Pittsburgh | $105K | -5% | 1,630 |
| Chambersburg | $104K | -6% | 40 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $104K | -6% | 230 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $104K | -6% | 120 |
| Reading | $103K | -8% | 260 |
| Williamsport | $98K | -12% | 50 |
| State College | $97K | -12% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $111K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for electrical engineers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,659/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is electrical engineer a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $111K locally vs. $121K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for electrical engineers?
Pennsylvania pays $111K median vs. the U.S. average of $121K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — below the national median.
How much do electrical engineers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $110,820 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,650, and experienced electrical engineers can clear $167,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $111K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,912/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 19.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $116,689 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.