Average Salary and Benefits

• Electrical engineers earned average annual salaries of $87,770, according to May 2010 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their salaries are often based on their experience level, the size and budgets of their employers and the geographical areas where they reside and work. Full-time workers are usually eligible for benefits such as hospital and life insurance, paid vacations, holidays and sick days and retirement plans.
  
  

Salary by Industry

• Electrical engineers earn significantly more in certain industries. For example, they earned their highest annual salaries in the motion picture and video industries at $114,700, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They earned comparatively high salaries in support functions of mining activities at $110,390 per year. Those in the oil and gas extraction industry earned annual salaries of $109,110. These workers earned salaries closer to the national average in the communications equipment manufacturing industry at $87,090 annually. And those working in the electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry made $85,370 per year in salaries.
  
  

Salary by State

• Salaries for electrical engineers can vary considerably by state as well. Often, salaries are greater in states with higher living costs. They earned their highest salaries in Massachusetts at $103,350 per year, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in California earned annual salaries of $99,120. These professionals earned closer to average salaries in Idaho and Delaware at $87,850 and $87,030 per year, respectively. And those in Florida earned about 10 percent less at $79,880 per year.
  
  

Job Outlook

• Jobs for those in engineering, including electrical engineers, are only expected to increase 2 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the December 2009 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Much of the job growth will be driven by the production of electrical devices such as generators, global positioning systems, high-powered batteries and devices for wireless phones. Those who work as consultants to manufacturers and other electrical clients will also find more job opportunities.