Electrical Engineer Salary in Columbus, OH
Electrical Engineers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $102,380 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,821 take-home, or $6,568 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,694
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,348
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,485
- Ohio income tax$2,033
- Take-home pay$78,821
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,590 | $36.34 | $60,711 | $5,059 |
| 25th percentile | $83,510 | $40.15 | $66,065 | $5,505 |
| Median (50th) | $102,380 | $49.22 | $78,821 | $6,568 |
| 75th percentile | $126,830 | $60.98 | $95,249 | $7,937 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,160 | $72.19 | $110,553 | $9,213 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,380 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical engineer's $78,821 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,562 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 less concentrated in Columbus, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #47 of 79 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $116,477 | $121,907 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $159,360 | $120,189 | $113,754 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN | $123,840 | $95,911 | $104,862 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 7 | Huntsville, AL | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $128,190 | $98,884 | $98,806 |
| 47 | Columbus, OH | $102,380 | $78,821 | $82,562 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 79 metros →
Electrical Engineer salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Dayton, OH — $103,720
- Cincinnati, OH — $105,350
- Akron, OH — $99,360
- Cleveland, OH — $98,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Columbus, OH?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $102,380 a year, or about $49.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,510 and $126,830.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $102,380 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $78,821 a year ($6,568 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,033 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,562 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #47 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Mechanical Engineer — $100,730
- Industrial Engineer — $100,570
- Engineers, All Other — $99,180
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $99,140
- Civil Engineer — $99,010
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $76,530
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $61,310
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $60,260