SOC 17-2072 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Electronics Engineers, Except Computer in California is $160,520 per year, 23.3% above the national median of $130,220.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Electronics Engineers, Except Computer in California is $160,520 per year, 23.3% above the national median of $130,220. Pay ranges from under $97,140 at the tenth percentile to more than $225,400 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $125,040 to $202,730.
The area has 20,830 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 1st by median wage. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $194,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 47th of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $97,140 | −25.4% |
| 25th | $125,040 | −4.0% |
| Median (50th) | $160,520 | +23.3% |
| 75th | $202,730 | +55.7% |
| 90th | $225,400 | +73.1% |
| Mean | $161,520 | +24.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $194,370 | 5,970 | |
| 2 | Santa Cruz | $182,840 | 30 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $172,290 | 290 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $162,440 | 2,000 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $156,480 | 3,450 | |
| 6 | Oxnard | $147,180 | 830 | |
| 7 | Sacramento | $142,460 | 900 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $140,530 | 4,880 | |
| 9 | Santa Maria | $135,810 | 160 | |
| 10 | Riverside | $130,940 | 580 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $160,520 buys what $145,005 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$160,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$145,005US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $160,520 a year, 23.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $97,140 to $225,400 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 20,830 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $194,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Electronics Engineers, Except Computer in California?
The median annual wage is $160,520, or $77.17 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $130,220, so pay in California is 23.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $225,400 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $97,140 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $194,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 20,830 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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