Salaries › Electrical Engineer › California
Electrical Engineer Salary in California (2026)
$69.25 per hour · take-home ≈ $100,398/year ($8,367/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Electrical Engineers (2nd of 51), with a median about 21% above the national average. Of the 24,230 Electrical Engineer jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $144,040 a year — though pay ranges from $81,840 for newcomers to $217,760 at the top.
Electrical Engineer pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $81,840 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $106,100 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $144,040 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $185,520 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $217,760 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 24,230 Electrical Engineer jobs in California (occupation code 17-2071, “Electrical Engineers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Electrical Engineer salary of $144,040 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $100,398 — an effective tax rate of 30.3%.
| Gross (median) | $144,040 |
| Federal income tax | −$23,304 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$11,019 |
| California state income tax | −$9,319 |
| Take-home (annual) | $100,398 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $8,367 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Electrical Engineer make in California?
- The median Electrical Engineer salary in California is $144,040 per year ($69.25 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $106,100 and $185,520.
- What is the take-home pay for a Electrical Engineer in California?
- On the median salary of $144,040, a single filer in California takes home about $100,398 per year ($8,367 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 30.3%.
- How many Electrical Engineer jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 24,230 Electrical Engineer jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Electrical Engineers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.