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Electrical engineer salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$144,040median pay per year in California, or $69.25 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $81,840lowest 10% earn less
  2. $106,10025th percentile
  3. $144,040median
  4. $185,52075th percentile
  5. $217,760top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $120,630[3]

The median pay for electrical engineers in California was $144,040 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $23,410 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
24,230[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+19.4%[6]

How much do electrical engineers make in California?

Half of the electrical engineers in California earned more than $144,040 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $69.25 an hour[1]. The average was a bit higher, at $151,180 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $120,630[3]. California came out 19.4% above that[6]. It had the 2nd highest median for this job among the 48 states and DC with a published median[5].

For all jobs in the state, the median was $58,240 a year[8]. Electrical engineers earned $85,800 more than that[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $81,840[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $217,760[2]. About 24,230 people held these jobs in the state[4].

Pay differs by area. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 20 metro areas with a published figure, at $187,060[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $166,030[11]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 8,970 jobs and a median of $139,780[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and its wages skip nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for electrical engineers in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$144,040[1]$120,630[3]
Median per hour$69.25[1]$58.00[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$81,840[2]$76,550[13]
Top 10% earn more than$217,760[2]$184,300[13]
Jobs24,230[4]198,750[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for electrical engineers, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$139,7808,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$187,0604,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$166,0302,470
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$127,2702,400
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$136,1901,420
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$109,9901,150
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$126,960460
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$129,880460

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for electrical engineers in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$125,1602,540
Nevada$107,4001,100
Arizona$100,5505,370

Median pay for electrical engineers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for electrical engineers are projected to grow 9.9% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an electrical engineer make in California?
The median was $144,040 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $151,180 a year[7].
How much does an electrical engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $69.25[1]. The average was $72.68 an hour[7].
Which city in California pays electrical engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median annual wage among California metro areas with a published figure, at $187,060[10].
Is California a good state for electrical engineers?
California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for this job among the 48 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was 19.4% higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become an electrical engineer in California?
Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is a Bachelor's degree[16]. This is a national figure, not one for California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Electrical Engineers in California was $144,040 per year and $69.25 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Electrical Engineers in California: 10th percentile $81,840, 25th percentile $106,100, 75th percentile $185,520, 90th percentile $217,760. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Electrical Engineers in the US as a whole was $120,630 per year and $58.00 per hour, with about 198,750 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 24,230 people worked as Electrical Engineers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Electrical Engineers out of the 48 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in California ($144,040) was $23,410 (19.4%) higher than the US median ($120,630). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Electrical Engineers in California was $151,180 per year and $72.68 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in California was $85,800 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 20 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Electrical Engineers, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $187,060. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Electrical Engineers in the US: 10th percentile $76,550, 25th percentile $92,830, 75th percentile $152,950, 90th percentile $184,300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $125,160; Nevada $107,400; Arizona $100,550. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Electrical Engineers is projected to grow 9.9% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 11,400 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Electrical Engineers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.