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Chief electrical engineer salary
Average chief electrical engineer salary
$94,236
Average Chief Electrical Engineer Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Chief Electrical Engineer is $94,236 annually, or about $45 per hour. This position entails overseeing the design and implementation of electrical systems, ensuring compliance with regulations, and managing teams effectively. The salary can vary based on several factors, including experience, education, and geographic location.
Salary by State
California, Texas, and New York typically offer the highest salaries for this role. For instance, in California, the average salary often exceeds $110,000, reflecting the demand for skilled engineers in tech hubs. Other states like Florida and Texas present competitive salaries, making them attractive locations for electrical engineers.
Career Growth Opportunities
Chief Electrical Engineers have opportunities for advancement, including roles in project management or executive leadership. Additionally, continuing education and certifications can help professionals increase their earning potential.
Salary Trends
Over the years, salaries for Chief Electrical Engineers have shown a steady increase, mirroring the growing importance of technology and infrastructure development. Staying informed about industry trends can aid in negotiating better compensation.
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Where can a Chief Electrical Engineer earn more?
Chief electrical engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average chief electrical engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for chief electrical engineers are Alaska, New York, and New Mexico. The lowest average chief electrical engineer salary states are Arizona, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief electrical engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $108,591 | $52.21 |
| 2 | Vermont | $106,141 | $51.03 |
| 3 | New York | $109,138 | $52.47 |
| 4 | Alaska | $121,959 | $58.63 |
| 5 | Washington | $103,964 | $49.98 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $103,681 | $49.85 |
| 7 | Virginia | $101,778 | $48.93 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $104,709 | $50.34 |
| 9 | California | $104,436 | $50.21 |
| 10 | Maryland | $101,303 | $48.70 |
| 11 | Iowa | $95,780 | $46.05 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $103,746 | $49.88 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $97,056 | $46.66 |
| 14 | Delaware | $96,145 | $46.22 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $100,669 | $48.40 |
| 16 | Alabama | $92,073 | $44.27 |
| 17 | Idaho | $98,710 | $47.46 |
| 18 | Texas | $94,062 | $45.22 |
| 19 | Maine | $94,454 | $45.41 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $100,140 | $48.14 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $94,110 | $45.25 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $94,451 | $45.41 |
| 23 | Michigan | $87,598 | $42.11 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $86,728 | $41.70 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $91,692 | $44.08 |
| 26 | Colorado | $89,538 | $43.05 |
| 27 | Missouri | $89,949 | $43.24 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $90,505 | $43.51 |
| 29 | Oregon | $88,885 | $42.73 |
| 30 | Florida | $88,499 | $42.55 |
| 31 | Nevada | $86,519 | $41.60 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $90,988 | $43.74 |
| 33 | Georgia | $85,127 | $40.93 |
| 34 | Kansas | $84,555 | $40.65 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $91,899 | $44.18 |
| 36 | Illinois | $86,781 | $41.72 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $84,788 | $40.76 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $86,529 | $41.60 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $84,438 | $40.60 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $83,548 | $40.17 |
| 41 | Arizona | $77,850 | $37.43 |
| 42 | Indiana | $81,266 | $39.07 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $83,171 | $39.99 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $77,806 | $37.41 |
| 45 | Utah | $75,011 | $36.06 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $77,904 | $37.45 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $79,036 | $38.00 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $80,512 | $38.71 |
| 49 | Ohio | $76,572 | $36.81 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $77,646 | $37.33 |
| 51 | Montana | $76,712 | $36.88 |
Highest paying cities for chief electrical engineers
The highest-paying cities for chief electrical engineers are Andover, MA, Pasadena, CA, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andover, MA | $103,825 | $49.92 |
| 2 | Pasadena, CA | $100,822 | $48.47 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $94,333 | $45.35 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $92,103 | $44.28 |
| 5 | Chesterfield, MO | $90,089 | $43.31 |
| 6 | Orlando, FL | $88,866 | $42.72 |
| 7 | Farmington Hills, MI | $87,655 | $42.14 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $85,311 | $41.01 |
| 9 | Brookfield, WI | $77,777 | $37.39 |
Chief electrical engineer salary details
A chief electrical engineer's salary ranges from $73,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $121,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief electrical engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $121,000 | $10,083 | $58 |
| 75th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| Average | $94,236 | $7,853 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
Highest paying chief electrical engineer jobs
The highest paying types of chief electrical engineers are electrical engineer lead, senior electrical engineer, and chief engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System Design Engineer | $107,704 | $8,975 | $51.78 | 113,582 |
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | $92,464 | $7,705 | $44.45 | 51,065 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Instrumentation Engineer | $88,783 | $7,399 | $42.68 | 45,735 |
| Electrical & Instrumentation Designer | $81,188 | $6,766 | $39.03 | 81,243 |
| Outside Plant Engineer | $85,603 | $7,134 | $41.16 | 34,742 |
Top companies hiring chief electrical engineers now:
Which companies pay chief electrical engineers the most?
Chief electrical engineer salaries at Waters and Navistar are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief electrical engineer salary at companies like International Trucks and Pennsylvania Company Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waters | $121,265 | $58.30 |
| 2 | Navistar | $109,384 | $52.59 |
| 3 | International Trucks | $104,419 | $50.20 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Company Inc | $95,202 | $45.77 |
| 5 | Delaware County | $94,239 | $45.31 |
| 6 | C&S Engineers | $94,154 | $45.27 |
| 7 | Milwaukee Tool | $93,066 | $44.74 |
| 8 | The Austin Company | $90,802 | $43.65 |
| 9 | NJ Transit | $90,716 | $43.61 |
| 10 | Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County | $89,629 | $43.09 |
| 11 | Quality Electrodynamics | $89,374 | $42.97 |
| 12 | Resolution Copper | $88,987 | $42.78 |
| 13 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | $85,949 | $41.32 |
| 14 | City of Coral Gables | $78,623 | $37.80 |
| 15 | Alfred University | $77,437 | $37.23 |
| 16 | Express Employment Indy South | $74,821 | $35.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief electrical engineer salary trends
The average chief electrical engineer salary has risen by $13,935 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief electrical engineer earned $80,301 annually, but today, they earn $94,236 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for chief electrical engineers over the last decade.
Compare chief electrical engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief electrical engineer salary over time
Compare chief electrical engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief electrical engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $94,200 | $45.31 | +2.3% |
| 2025 | $92,100 | $44.27 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $90,300 | $43.42 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $88,800 | $42.71 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $88,000 | $42.33 | +1.3% |
Recently added chief electrical engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotek | Electrical Chief | Minneapolis, MN | 06/28/2025 | $66,784 |
| Metropolitan Transportation Commission | Assistant Chief Officer, Electrical Engineering | New York, NY | 06/24/2025 | $134,183 |
| Aerotek | Warehouse/Electrical Chief | Minneapolis, MN | 05/22/2025 | $66,784 |
| General Atomics | Electrical Engineer, Chief Engineer | San Diego, CA | 03/22/2025 | $140,940 |
| Marriott International | Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | Chula Vista, CA | 02/25/2025 | $112,000 |
| Sitio de Experiencia de Candidatos | Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | Chula Vista, CA | 02/25/2025 | $112,000 |
| Stronghold Engineering | Chief Electrical Utility Engineer | Coachella, CA | 02/03/2025 | $175,000 |
| Insight Global | Chief Electrical Engineer | Quantico, VA | 01/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Targetedcreative | Chief Electrical Engineer | Chicago, IL | 12/10/2024 | $66,150 |
| Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. | Chief Electrical Engineer | Bagdad, AZ | 11/23/2024 | $113,000 |
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