U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsResearch, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use employing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties. Design electronic circuits and components for use in fields such as telecommunications, aerospace guidance and propulsion control, acoustics, or instruments and controls. Excludes "Computer Hardware Engineers" (17-2061).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136,310 | 1.9 % | $45.51 | $94,670 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $28.30 | $34.86 | $43.99 | $54.93 | $67.07 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $58,870 | $72,510 | $91,500 | $114,260 | $139,500 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 17,570 | 0.85 | $49.13 | $102,200 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers | 15,890 | 2.69 | $40.26 | $83,730 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 15,280 | 4.03 | $47.70 | $99,210 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 14,830 | 1.15 | $48.60 | $101,080 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 8,740 | 2.15 | $44.57 | $92,690 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 4,870 | 4.31 | $47.10 | $97,960 |
| Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) | 7,060 | 4.16 | $43.47 | $90,410 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 15,280 | 4.03 | $47.70 | $99,210 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 590 | 3.30 | $39.62 | $82,420 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers | 15,890 | 2.69 | $40.26 | $83,730 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 50 | 0.21 | $57.70 | $120,020 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | 90 | 0.11 | $55.59 | $115,620 |
| Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage | 50 | 0.01 | $55.03 | $114,460 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 3,040 | 0.64 | $52.88 | $109,980 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 210 | 0.04 | $50.17 | $104,360 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 30,840 | 2.20 | 2.07 | $51.92 | $108,000 |
| Texas | 12,450 | 1.21 | 1.14 | $42.92 | $89,270 |
| Florida | 5,350 | 0.75 | 0.70 | $39.67 | $82,510 |
| Illinois | 4,970 | 0.89 | 0.84 | $40.87 | $85,010 |
| Virginia | 4,870 | 1.37 | 1.29 | $47.24 | $98,260 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 1,080 | 2.40 | 2.26 | $52.56 | $109,320 |
| California | 30,840 | 2.20 | 2.07 | $51.92 | $108,000 |
| Maryland | 4,760 | 1.92 | 1.81 | $49.29 | $102,520 |
| Arizona | 4,450 | 1.87 | 1.76 | $44.33 | $92,200 |
| Oregon | 2,730 | 1.72 | 1.62 | $45.64 | $94,920 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 750 | 1.16 | 1.09 | $52.95 | $110,140 |
| Rhode Island | 1,080 | 2.40 | 2.26 | $52.56 | $109,320 |
| California | 30,840 | 2.20 | 2.07 | $51.92 | $108,000 |
| New Jersey | 4,250 | 1.13 | 1.06 | $50.97 | $106,020 |
| Massachusetts | 4,750 | 1.50 | 1.42 | $50.68 | $105,400 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 8,940 | 10.20 | 9.60 | $58.31 | $121,290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 5,450 | 1.43 | 1.34 | $52.05 | $108,260 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 5,010 | 2.45 | 2.31 | $44.14 | $91,810 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 4,600 | 3.32 | 3.12 | $49.77 | $103,530 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 4,120 | 1.78 | 1.68 | $52.25 | $108,690 |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 3,870 | 1.08 | 1.02 | $41.10 | $85,480 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ | 3,760 | 2.21 | 2.08 | $44.95 | $93,490 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | 3,650 | 2.96 | 2.78 | $49.13 | $102,200 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 3,060 | 2.24 | 2.11 | $47.07 | $97,900 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 2,820 | 1.68 | 1.58 | $51.77 | $107,690 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins, GA | 1,180 | 20.76 | 19.54 | $39.78 | $82,750 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 8,940 | 10.20 | 9.60 | $58.31 | $121,290 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 810 | 6.34 | 5.97 | $55.63 | $115,720 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 1,100 | 5.82 | 5.48 | $38.03 | $79,110 |
| Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division | 610 | 5.38 | 5.07 | $47.74 | $99,310 |
| Huntsville, AL | 1,010 | 5.04 | 4.74 | $48.68 | $101,250 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 350 | 4.77 | 4.49 | $44.00 | $91,530 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,340 | 4.70 | 4.42 | $49.63 | $103,240 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 280 | 4.19 | 3.94 | $42.43 | $88,240 |
| Taunton-Norton-Raynham, MA NECTA Division | 170 | 3.79 | 3.57 | $46.60 | $96,930 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 8,940 | 10.20 | 9.60 | $58.31 | $121,290 |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY | 130 | 0.55 | 0.52 | $56.99 | $118,540 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 810 | 6.34 | 5.97 | $55.63 | $115,720 |
| Edison-New Brunswick, NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,890 | 1.97 | 1.85 | $55.47 | $115,390 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 230 | 0.96 | 0.91 | $55.39 | $115,210 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 520 | 1.58 | 1.49 | $53.38 | $111,020 |
| Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division | 630 | 1.13 | 1.06 | $53.32 | $110,910 |
| Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,110 | 2.06 | 1.94 | $52.46 | $109,120 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 140 | 0.49 | 0.46 | $52.43 | $109,060 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 220 | 1.75 | 1.65 | $52.31 | $108,800 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 1,470 | 34.79 | 32.74 | $52.29 | $108,750 |
| Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 9.61 | 9.04 | $53.90 | $112,110 |
| Northeastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 200 | 1.14 | 1.08 | $38.81 | $80,730 |
| Southeast Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 3.01 | 2.83 | $43.25 | $89,960 |
| Eastern Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.78 | 0.74 | $39.24 | $81,620 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 1,470 | 34.79 | 32.74 | $52.29 | $108,750 |
| Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 9.61 | 9.04 | $53.90 | $112,110 |
| Southeast Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 3.01 | 2.83 | $43.25 | $89,960 |
| Central Washington nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.15 | 1.09 | $33.65 | $70,000 |
| Northeastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 200 | 1.14 | 1.08 | $38.81 | $80,730 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 460 | 9.61 | 9.04 | $53.90 | $112,110 |
| St. Mary's County, Maryland nonmetropolitan area | 1,470 | 34.79 | 32.74 | $52.29 | $108,750 |
| Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.33 | 0.31 | $46.70 | $97,130 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.39 | 0.36 | $45.14 | $93,900 |
| Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.54 | 0.51 | $44.64 | $92,850 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012
