Electrical Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Electrical Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $131,070 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $100,852 take-home, or $8,404 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,191
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,126
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,901
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$100,852
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,170 | $37.10 | $63,119 | $5,260 |
| 25th percentile | $95,990 | $46.15 | $76,359 | $6,363 |
| Median (50th) | $131,070 | $63.01 | $100,852 | $8,404 |
| 75th percentile | $164,240 | $78.96 | $123,524 | $10,294 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,990 | $100.00 | $154,812 | $12,901 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,070 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical engineer's $100,852 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,254 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.4× the national concentration of electrical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #3 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $140,210 | $107,100 | $96,371 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $111,378 | $96,337 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $124,390 | $96,287 | $93,400 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,730 | $94,648 | $92,291 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $128,610 | $92,960 | $85,863 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: electrical engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Electrical Engineer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $145,360
- Dallas, TX — $124,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $131,070 a year, or about $63.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,990 and $164,240.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $131,070 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $100,852 a year ($8,404 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,254 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #3 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
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- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Civil Engineer — $100,950
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $97,590
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $76,120
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $63,120
- Surveying and Mapping Technician — $49,570