Electrical Engineers Salary in San Francisco, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $163,840 +46.4% vs national
Median hourly $78.77
10th percentile $97,450
90th percentile $215,690
Employed locally 2,860
National median $111,910

Compare Electrical Engineers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Francisco, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Electrical Engineers
in
San Francisco, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $97,450
    25th
    $126,320
    50th (median)
    $163,840
    75th
    $191,700
    90th
    $215,690

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Electrical Engineers salary vs area income 122% Median Electrical Engineers salary is 22% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Electrical Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $186,920
    Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $167,010
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $156,670
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $151,040
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $150,670
    Albuquerque, NM $143,850

    Nearby metros — Electrical Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $186,920
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $150,670
    California $140,360
    Vallejo, CA $139,840
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $134,900
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $134,620

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Civil Engineers $126,560
    Computer Hardware Engineers $172,920
    Engineers, All Other $156,140
    Mechanical Engineers $145,640
    Industrial Engineers $133,790
    Architects, Except Landscape and Naval $125,950

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Electrical Engineers make per hour in San Francisco?

    The median hourly wage for Electrical Engineers in San Francisco, CA is $78.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $105.32 or more per hour.

    Is San Francisco above or below average for Electrical Engineers salaries?

    The median Electrical Engineers salary in San Francisco, CA is 46.4% above the national median of $111,910. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Electrical Engineers in San Francisco?

    Entry-level Electrical Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $97,450 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $126,320.