All careersEngineering & science

Electrical Engineer

$120,630
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Design and test electrical equipment and systems, from power grids to electronics and chips.

Where you work

Offices and labs; desk design work plus testing and field visits.

The hours

Usually full-time; some long hours near deadlines.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$120,630
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~11,700
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+7%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: ABET degree.

License or certification

A Professional Engineer license helps for senior and public-facing roles.

What it takes

Math skillsProblem solvingAnalytical thinkingAttention to detail

The honest take

Grid modernization and chips — both hiring hard.

Standard Occupational Classification 17-2071. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.