Electrical Engineer Salary in Washington, DC
Electrical Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $126,420 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,897 take-home, or $7,491 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,075
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,838
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,833
- District of Columbia income tax$7,777
- Take-home pay$89,897
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,820 | $40.78 | $64,260 | $5,355 |
| 25th percentile | $98,550 | $47.38 | $72,752 | $6,063 |
| Median (50th) | $126,420 | $60.78 | $89,897 | $7,491 |
| 75th percentile | $165,690 | $79.66 | $113,400 | $9,450 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 | $131,718 | $10,977 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,420 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrical engineer's $89,897 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 about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #48 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 |
| 48 | Washington, DC | $126,420 | $89,897 | $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 →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Washington, DC?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $126,420 a year, or about $60.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,550 and $165,690.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $126,420 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $89,897 a year ($7,491 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,777 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,562 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #48 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 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 Washington, DC
- Nuclear Engineer — $180,360
- Aerospace Engineer — $166,420
- Marine Engineer and Naval Architect — $159,700
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $159,480
- Engineers, All Other — $151,340
- Materials Engineer — $140,640
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,000
- Chemical Engineer — $132,820
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,990
- Environmental Engineer — $120,580
- Industrial Engineer — $117,600
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $110,390