Electrical Engineer salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Electrical Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $166,030 a year ($79.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $97,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,070 for the top 10%. That is 38% higher than the national median of $120,630. Pay here is 15% higher than the California statewide median of $144,040. There are 1.0 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $162,170, close to the median.
Pay range for electrical engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,500 | $46.87 |
| 25th percentile | $124,720 | $59.96 |
| Median | $166,030 | $79.82 |
| 75th percentile | $204,490 | $98.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,070 | $105.32 |
| Average (mean) | $162,170 | $77.97 |
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 | $13,835.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,917.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,385.77 |
| Weekly | $3,192.88 |
| Hourly | $79.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $166,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Electrical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $187,060 | 4,160 |
| 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 |
See Electrical Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $130,160 | $62.58 |
| Industrial Engineer | $132,230 | $63.57 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $161,370 | $77.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $159,800 | $76.83 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $203,890 | $98.02 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,440 | $78.10 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $140,660 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Engineer | $138,840 | $66.75 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $191,260 | $91.95 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $147,220 | $70.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $129,480 | $62.25 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $140,520 | $67.56 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $173,790 | $83.55 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for electrical engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $166,030 a year, or $79.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $97,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $219,070 a year. The top 25% earn $204,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $97,500 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $124,720 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 2,470 electrical engineers are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.