Electronics Engineers: Salary Overview
Electronics engineers design and develop broadcast and communication systems, computer hardware parts, and other electronic equipment.
Their job description varies depending on the industry of employment and their role within the company.
Electronics engineers typically design electronic components, analyze customer needs, develop maintenance and testing procedures for electronic components, evaluate systems, and recommend repairs or modifications.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for electronics engineers was $105,570 as of May 2019 which means that half of all engineers in this specialty earned more than this amount and half earned less.
Salaries vary depending on a variety of factors, including the region and the industry of employment and the engineer’s education and experience level.
In 2019 the lowest 10 percent reported salaries that were below $66,620 while the top 10 percent earned more than $164,210 per year.
Electronics Engineer Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electronics engineers held around 134,900 jobs in the United States in 2019, most of them working in the telecommunications field, for manufacturers of semiconductors and other electronic components, or for the federal government.
Salaries vary widely depending on the employer and the industry of employment but also depending on the engineer’s area of expertise.
Electronics engineers who worked in telecommunications reportedly earned $103,340 per year on average, as of May 2019.
The average annual wage was $114,220 for electronics engineers who were employed by manufacturers of semiconductors and other electronic components and $110,790 for those who worked for the federal executive branch.
Electronics engineers who worked for companies that provide engineering services reportedly earned $107,010 per year while those who worked in scientific research earned $132,240.
Therefore, the highest-paying industry for electronics engineers (except computer engineers) is the research field.
Engineers who specialize in manufacturing computer hardware typically earn more- with the median annual wage calculated at $117,220.
The best-paying engineers are those who manufacture computers and peripheral equipment.
In this sector, the median annual wage for this profession was $140,840 as of May 2019.
The report published by BLS shows that salaries in this field are greatly influenced by the region and the state of employment.
The numbers show that the top-paying state for electronics engineers (except computer) in 2019 was the District of Columbia- where the average annual wage reported by workers in this profession was $130,460.
Other top-paying states are California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island- where average annual salaries were above the $120,000 mark.
Electronics engineers in Wisconsin, on the other hand, earned a little over $80,000 per year on average.
Other states where salaries for this profession were below the national average are Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maine, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.
Salaries By Education and Skills
Education is also important for an electronics engineer.
Although a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field may be enough for entry-level employment, a master’s degree in your area of expertise can improve your earning prospects.
Licensure is not a requirement in this field but earning a Professional Engineer credential will give you more independence and will qualify you for supervisory positions which are typically remunerated better.
Having management and communication skills and maybe some training in the field is also important if you’re targeting a supervisory position.
Some electronics engineers work in sales and in this case, their salary package includes a fixed sum plus commission and bonuses which vary depending on their customer service skills and communication abilities.
In conclusion, this profession requires several years of training beyond high school but it can be well-remunerated especially if you’re an experienced engineer or if you specialize in manufacturing computer hardware.
* Based on information from the May 2021 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Electronics Engineers. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.