Electrical Engineer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Electrical Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $139,780 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,219 take-home, or $8,018 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,281
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,666
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,027
- California income tax$8,770
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,817
- Take-home pay$96,219
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,230 | $38.09 | $60,400 | $5,033 |
| 25th percentile | $103,770 | $49.89 | $75,062 | $6,255 |
| Median (50th) | $139,780 | $67.20 | $96,219 | $8,018 |
| 75th percentile | $179,520 | $86.31 | $119,168 | $9,931 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,460 | $100.70 | $137,921 | $11,493 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $139,780 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical engineer's $96,219 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,725 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrical Engineer jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $139,780 | $96,219 | $84,725 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $187,060
- San Francisco, CA — $166,030
- San Diego, CA — $127,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $139,780 a year, or about $67.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $103,770 and $179,520.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $139,780 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $96,219 a year ($8,018 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,587 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,725 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #9 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Aerospace Engineer — $163,280
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,530
- Engineers, All Other — $125,060
- Mechanical Engineer — $123,900
- Industrial Engineer — $113,040
- Civil Engineer — $108,640
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,170
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $81,940
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $76,630