Electrical Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Electrical Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $126,420 a year ($60.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $120,630. Pay here is 12% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $143,000. There are 1.4 electrical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $134,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,820 | $40.78 |
| 25th percentile | $98,550 | $47.38 |
| Median | $126,420 | $60.78 |
| 75th percentile | $165,690 | $79.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $134,230 | $64.53 |
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 | $10,535 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,267.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,862.31 |
| Weekly | $2,431.15 |
| Hourly | $60.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,420 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | $129,250 | 60 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $128,900 | 420 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,730 | 3,520 |
| Beckley, WV | $123,450 | 40 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $122,600 | 110 |
| Richmond, VA | $116,760 | 1,160 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $116,650 | 2,770 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $115,850 | 50 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $114,280 | 40 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $111,310 | 40 |
| Roanoke, VA | $108,930 | 270 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $107,120 | 110 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $103,210 | 1,410 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $103,080 | 50 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $100,900 | 130 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $98,670 | 160 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $95,920 | 160 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,340 | $72.76 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,780 | $48.93 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $126,990 | $61.05 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $166,420 | $80.01 |
| Industrial Engineer | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $159,480 | $76.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $180,360 | $86.71 |
| Environmental Engineer | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $159,700 | $76.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $140,640 | $67.62 |
| Chemical Engineer | $132,820 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,760 | $60.46 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for electrical engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $126,420 a year, or $60.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of electrical engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $165,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,820 a year, and a quarter of electrical engineers earn $98,550 or less.
How many electrical engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 4,450 electrical engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.