Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Electrical Engineer's pay go, state by state?
A Electrical Engineer's pay leaves the most room in New Mexico — about $8,832/mo take-home against $1,034/mo typical rent — and the least in Arkansas.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $8,832/mo | $1,034/mo | 12% |
| New Hampshire | $8,657/mo | $1,424/mo | 16% |
| California | $9,044/mo | $1,969/mo | 22% |
| Washington | $8,242/mo | $1,641/mo | 20% |
| Idaho | $7,744/mo | $1,163/mo | 15% |
| District of Columbia | $8,429/mo | $1,900/mo | 23% |
| Massachusetts | $8,156/mo | $1,716/mo | 21% |
| Oregon | $7,828/mo | $1,431/mo | 18% |
| Maryland | $7,816/mo | $1,683/mo | 22% |
| Iowa | $6,940/mo | $932/mo | 13% |
| Connecticut | $7,427/mo | $1,483/mo | 20% |
| North Dakota | $6,840/mo | $911/mo | 13% |
| Alabama | $6,863/mo | $967/mo | 14% |
| Wyoming | $6,692/mo | $979/mo | 15% |
| Maine | $6,801/mo | $1,104/mo | 16% |
| Louisiana | $6,697/mo | $1,028/mo | 15% |
| West Virginia | $6,515/mo | $848/mo | 13% |
| Virginia | $7,205/mo | $1,547/mo | 21% |
| Pennsylvania | $6,825/mo | $1,176/mo | 17% |
| Nebraska | $6,635/mo | $1,017/mo | 15% |
| Tennessee | $6,706/mo | $1,111/mo | 17% |
| Oklahoma | $6,555/mo | $970/mo | 15% |
| Delaware | $6,878/mo | $1,321/mo | 19% |
| Rhode Island | $6,833/mo | $1,289/mo | 19% |
| Ohio | $6,515/mo | $986/mo | 15% |
| Illinois | $6,768/mo | $1,246/mo | 18% |
| Colorado | $7,151/mo | $1,659/mo | 23% |
| Minnesota | $6,716/mo | $1,230/mo | 18% |
| Missouri | $6,469/mo | $997/mo | 15% |
| Mississippi | $6,392/mo | $933/mo | 15% |
| North Carolina | $6,576/mo | $1,147/mo | 17% |
| Utah | $6,812/mo | $1,396/mo | 20% |
| Michigan | $6,487/mo | $1,072/mo | 17% |
| Georgia | $6,725/mo | $1,320/mo | 20% |
| Arizona | $6,822/mo | $1,419/mo | 21% |
| New Jersey | $7,028/mo | $1,656/mo | 24% |
| Indiana | $6,388/mo | $1,022/mo | 16% |
| Texas | $6,676/mo | $1,328/mo | 20% |
| New York | $6,955/mo | $1,621/mo | 23% |
| Wisconsin | $6,362/mo | $1,033/mo | 16% |
| Hawaii | $7,182/mo | $1,927/mo | 27% |
| Alaska | $6,611/mo | $1,361/mo | 21% |
| South Carolina | $6,248/mo | $1,131/mo | 18% |
| Kansas | $6,091/mo | $1,025/mo | 17% |
| Florida | $6,513/mo | $1,542/mo | 24% |
| South Dakota | $5,775/mo | $910/mo | 16% |
| Montana | $5,889/mo | $1,031/mo | 18% |
| Nevada | $6,184/mo | $1,478/mo | 24% |
| Kentucky | $5,407/mo | $918/mo | 17% |
| Arkansas | $5,212/mo | $903/mo | 17% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.