What the numbers say
Electrical Engineers in DC earned a median annual wage of $138,860 in 2024, about 21% above the national median of $114,360. With only 520 engineers employed across the district, the workforce is small and concentrated, which likely reflects the federal contracting and defense work that dominates DC's engineering sector.
The pay range runs from $86,530 at the 10th percentile to $179,260 at the 90th. That's a gap of roughly $93,000 between early-career and senior earners. A spread that wide usually points to meaningful differences in clearance level, seniority, and the mix of public-sector versus private-contractor roles.
DC's cost-of-living index sits at 117.7, meaning prices run about 18% above the national baseline. After accounting for that, the nominal premium shrinks. A median wage of $138,860 translates to roughly $117,900 in national-baseline purchasing power, which still clears the national median but by a smaller margin than the headline gap suggests.
BLS projects employment for Electrical Engineers to grow 7.1% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it categorizes as faster than average. For a market this small, even modest absolute job growth could shift the local wage picture noticeably. We will update these figures when BLS publishes revised projections.
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia electrical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $114,990 and $168,910, with a median of $138,860.
Electrical Engineers in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 10 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $108,984. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 6 | $89,864 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $115,234 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $170,019 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $154,024 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Electrical Engineers in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setty & Associates International, PLLC | Electrical Engineer | 2 | $89,864 |
| The Sweet Lobby LLC | Junior Facilities Manager | 1 | $119,500 |
| Exelon Business Services Company LLC | Principal Quantitative Engineer | 1 | $154,024 |
| Prime Partners Engineering | Distribution Designer | 1 | $89,440 |
| Potomac Electric Power Company, An Exelon Company | Supervisor, Designers | 1 | $110,968 |
| ART Engineering, LLC | Electrical Engineer | 1 | $89,440 |
| Burns Engineering, Inc. | Engineering Design Associate | 1 | $107,000 |
| Baker Botts LLP | Scientific Advisor (Patent Agent) | 1 | $135,000 |
| WSP USA Inc. | Assistant Vice President, Electrical Engineer | 1 | $170,019 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Junior Facilities Manager at The Sweet Lobby LLC$119,500WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Aug 27, 2025I-200-25232-254963
- Principal Quantitative Engineer at Exelon Business Services Company LLC$154,024WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-052663
- Distribution Designer at Prime Partners Engineering$89,440WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-032201
- Supervisor, Designers at Potomac Electric Power Company, An Exelon Company$110,968WashingtonWage Level IIDecided May 8, 2025I-200-25121-928521
- Electrical Engineer at Setty & Associates International, PLLC$89,440WashingtonWage Level IDecided Apr 25, 2025I-200-25108-881567
- Electrical Engineer at ART Engineering, LLC$89,440WashingtonWage Level IDecided Apr 25, 2025I-200-25108-880183
- Electrical Engineer at Setty & Associates International, PLLC$90,288WashingtonWage Level IDecided Apr 10, 2025I-200-25093-829213
- Engineering Design Associate at Burns Engineering, Inc.$107,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Dec 12, 2024I-200-24340-522292
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Electrical Engineers pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Electrical Engineers in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 10 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $90,288.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Setty & Associates International, PLLC | 7 | $90,288 |
| Energy and utilities | Exelon Business Services Company LLC | 2 | $132,496 |
| Manufacturing | The Sweet Lobby LLC | 1 | $119,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- 02
Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- 03
Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
- 04
Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
- 05
Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- 06
Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
- 07
Investigate or test vendors' or competitors' products.
- 08
Collect data relating to commercial or residential development, population, or power system interconnection to determine operating efficiency of electrical systems.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for electrical engineers in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$136,820
Compare Electrical Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Electrical Engineers in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in District of Columbia is $138,860.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Electrical Engineers?
- The District of Columbia median is +21.4% versus the BLS national figure of $114,360.
- What is the salary range for Electrical Engineers in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $86,530 and the 90th-percentile at $179,260, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Electrical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Electrical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.