Electrical Engineer salary in California
Electrical Engineers in California earn a median of $144,040 a year ($69.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 24,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,760 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $120,630. California ranks 2nd of 49 states for electrical engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.3 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $151,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,840 | $39.35 |
| 25th percentile | $106,100 | $51.01 |
| Median | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| 75th percentile | $185,520 | $89.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,760 | $104.69 |
| Average (mean) | $151,180 | $72.68 |
Half of electrical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,003.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,001.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,540 |
| Weekly | $2,770 |
| Hourly | $69.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrical Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $187,060 | 4,160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $166,030 | 2,470 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $164,880 | 100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $160,060 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $139,780 | 8,970 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $136,240 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $136,190 | 1,420 |
| Fresno, CA | $134,780 | 400 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $134,640 | 230 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $133,560 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $131,080 | 160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,880 | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $127,270 | 2,400 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $126,960 | 460 |
| Salinas, CA | $126,460 | 50 |
| Redding, CA | $126,170 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $124,010 | 90 |
| Yuba City, CA | $123,700 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $109,990 | 1,150 |
| Modesto, CA | $109,970 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for electrical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $158,520 |
| California | $144,040 |
| District of Columbia | $143,000 |
| New Hampshire | $135,710 |
| Washington | $132,710 |
| Texas | $129,450 |
| Idaho | $129,340 |
| Massachusetts | $127,720 |
| Delaware | $126,970 |
| Alaska | $125,970 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| Materials Engineer | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in California?
The median salary for electrical engineers in California is $144,040 a year, or $69.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in California?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in California earn at least $217,760 a year. The top 25% earn $185,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,840 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $106,100 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in California?
About 24,230 electrical engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.