Electrical Engineer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Electrical Engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $133,560 a year ($64.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $103,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,820 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $120,630. Pay here is 7% lower than the California statewide median of $144,040. There are 0.95 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $147,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical engineers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,910 | $49.96 |
| 25th percentile | $122,080 | $58.69 |
| Median | $133,560 | $64.21 |
| 75th percentile | $171,230 | $82.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,820 | $97.99 |
| Average (mean) | $147,650 | $70.99 |
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 | $11,130 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,565 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,136.92 |
| Weekly | $2,568.46 |
| Hourly | $64.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $118,050 | $56.76 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $132,920 | $63.91 |
| Engineers, All Other | $141,150 | $67.86 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $169,370 | $81.43 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $182,840 | $87.90 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $67,930 | $32.66 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for electrical engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $133,560 a year, or $64.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $103,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $203,820 a year. The top 25% earn $171,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $103,910 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $122,080 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 90 electrical engineers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.