Electrical Engineer Salary in Riverside, CA
Electrical Engineers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $109,990 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,779 take-home, or $6,565 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,368
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,819
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,595
- California income tax$5,999
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,430
- Take-home pay$78,779
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,570 | $36.81 | $58,788 | $4,899 |
| 25th percentile | $91,430 | $43.96 | $67,689 | $5,641 |
| Median (50th) | $109,990 | $52.88 | $78,779 | $6,565 |
| 75th percentile | $136,840 | $65.79 | $94,521 | $7,877 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,680 | $80.13 | $111,753 | $9,313 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $109,990 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical engineer's $78,779 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,011 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #76 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 |
| 76 | Riverside, CA | $109,990 | $78,779 | $74,011 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $187,060
- San Francisco, CA — $166,030
- Sacramento, CA — $136,190
- Bakersfield, CA — $126,960
- Los Angeles, CA — $139,780
- Oxnard, CA — $129,880
- San Diego, CA — $127,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Riverside, CA?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $109,990 a year, or about $52.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $91,430 and $136,840.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $109,990 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $78,779 a year ($6,565 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,429 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,011 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #76 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $130,940
- Civil Engineer — $115,120
- Mechanical Engineer — $104,910
- Industrial Engineer — $101,700
- Surveyor — $100,510
- Engineers, All Other — $100,110
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $80,710
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $79,370
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $70,580