Electrical Engineers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $219,070 or more. The middle half of electrical engineers in San Francisco earn between $124,720 and $204,490.
- $98K10th
- $125K25th
- $166KMedian
- $204K75th
- $219K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $162,170 | $13,514 | $77.97 |
| Median | $166,030 | $13,836 | $79.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $124,720 | $10,393 | $59.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $204,490 | $17,041 | $98.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electrical Engineers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Electrical engineers in San Francisco earn 7% more than the California average ($151,180) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($125,100). At the median the gap is +38% against the U.S. median of $120,630.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $162,170 | $166,030 | $97,500 | $219,070 | 2,470 |
| California | $151,180 | $144,040 | $81,840 | $217,760 | 24,230 |
| United States | $125,100 | $120,630 | $76,550 | $184,300 | 198,750 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electrical Engineers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $162,170, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $111,119 a year, or $9,260 a month and $4,274 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for electrical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $162,170 buys what about $140,270 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Electrical Engineers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($189,370).
- San Jose$189,370
- San Francisco$162,170
- Santa Rosa$148,660
- Santa Cruz$147,650
- Los Angeles$145,760
- Vallejo$144,580
- Santa Maria$141,670
- Sacramento$141,080
- Fresno$137,150
- Salinas$136,120
Highest-paying cities for electrical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($189,370).
- San Jose, CA$189,370
- San Francisco, CA$162,170
- Albuquerque, NM$158,230
- Austin, TX$157,930
- Manchester, NH$149,130
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Electrical Engineers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do electrical engineers make an hour in San Francisco?
$77.97 an hour on average, and $79.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electrical engineers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $124,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electrical engineers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $111,119 a year ($9,260 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $162,170. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do electrical engineers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($125,100).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2071; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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