Entry-Level Electrical Engineer Salary in Akron, OH: $81,282 (2026)
Quick Answer:New electrical engineers entering the Akron, OH job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $81,282 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 17-2071, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Akron's local price level (BEA RPP 93.4 — 7% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $87,054 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($102,987) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
Akron offers promising opportunities for entry-level electrical engineers in 2026, with starting salaries positioned at $81,282 for new graduates. This figure, while a solid entry point, sits below the city's median annual salary of $102,987. However, there's room for growth as early-career professionals can expect their pay to rise through the P25 level of $86,237 within the first couple of years, illustrating a trajectory that leads toward the median as they gain experience. Overall, Akron remains a viable job market for recent graduates, especially given its competitive cost of living index of 93.37, which is below the national average, making it an attractive place to kickstart an engineering career.
Career Earnings Timeline in Akron
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Akron
Entry-level electrical engineers in Akron, OH typically start between $81,282 and $86,237 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $73,177 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $102,987 — 17.63% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average electrical engineering program cost in Ohio of $58,000 represents just 71.36% of the starting electrical engineer pay ($81,282/year) in Akron. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates cover ABET-accredited undergraduate electrical engineering programs at public and private universities. Many electrical engineers pursue master's degrees or specialization in power, controls, or electronics.
EE Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Akron
- 1Research the Akron market: entry-level electrical engineer pay ranges from $81,282 to $86,237, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the electrical engineering field — employers in OH often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Akron, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Akron for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Akron's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Electrical Engineer Compensation Range
The electrical engineer wage spread in Akron is $73,177 ( 90.03%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $81,282, experienced hygienists can earn up to $154,459.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$58,930
2025 BLS Actual
$78,420
2026 Current Est.
$81,282
2019–2027 Growth
+43.0%
Salary Trajectory for Electrical Engineers in Akron (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.65% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $58,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,370 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,930 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,120 | Actual |
| 2024 | $72,820 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,420 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $81,282 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84,249 | Projected |
Entry-level electrical engineer compensation (10th percentile) in Akron, OH grew 33.1% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $58,930 in 2019 to $78,420 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $84,249. New graduates entering the Akron job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Akron metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.65% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your electrical engineering Career in Akron
In the Akron job market, a variety of companies actively seek new graduates in electrical engineering, notably in sectors like semiconductors and defense. Firms such as AMD, Intel, and Nvidia typically recruit candidates with advanced credentials, while traditional utility companies offer solid entry-level training programs for BS EITs. To enhance their starting electrical engineer salary in Akron, new graduates should consider obtaining their Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) license during their senior year and aiming for their Professional Engineer (PE) license after gaining supervised experience. Networking through professional organizations like IEEE can open doors in both tech and defense sectors, which often provide premium compensations for roles that require security clearance. Although growth may be more stagnant in utility roles compared to high-tech positions, strategic early career moves can lead to higher earnings, positioning new engineers favorably for a lucrative future in Ohio's expanding job landscape.
More salary data for Akron, OH:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Amina Patel, MEng, PE
Career Analyst
Amina has over 10 years of experience in power systems engineering. She works at a utility company specializing in renewable energy integration.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new electrical engineering graduates. A 3.65% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Akron. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.65%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for electrical engineers (SOC 17-2071).
Compiled and verified by Amina Patel, MEng, PE, a licensed electrical engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov