Electrical Engineer Hourly Pay in Little Rock, AR: $54.17 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a electrical engineer working in Little Rock, AR runs $54.17 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $112,668 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2071). Weighted against Little Rock's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.4, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $60.61 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $67,601 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Little Rock, Arkansas, the electrical engineer hourly pay in 2026 is projected to be $54.17, which is below the national hourly median of $60.11. This rate is particularly significant for those working part-time or in per-diem roles. For instance, a part-time electrical engineer working three days a week (24 hours) can expect to earn about $27,000 annually based on the hourly median, which is comparable to roles typically filled in various settings such as tech company hardware labs or clean rooms in semiconductor fabrication. The hourly range for electrical engineers in Little Rock starts at $37.95 for entry-level positions and can go up to $70.46 for the top earners, illustrating a broad spectrum of earning potential across this profession.
Electrical Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37.95 | $303.57 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $43.34 | $346.69 |
| Median (P50) | $54.17 | $433.34 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68.16 | $545.28 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $70.46 | $563.69 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Little Rock
Based on $54.17/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $54.17/hr, a electrical engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Little Rock, AR can expect to earn approximately $112,668 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $65,001. With a cost-of-living index of 89.36 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Little Rock.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Little Rock
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,166.70 | $9,389 | $112,668 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,300.02 | $5,633 | $67,601 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $866.68 | $3,756 | $45,067 |
Compare EE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineer (Little Rock) | $54.17 |
| Mechanical Engineer (National Avg) | $48.61 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer (National Avg) | $69.00 |
| Electronics Engineer (National Avg) | $58.25 |
| Electrical Engineering Technician (National Avg) | $35.08 |
Electrical Engineers in Little Rock, AR earn a median of $112,668 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.89% lower than the national median of $125,033 and 3.70% above the Arkansas state average of $108,648.
Electrical Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $54.17/hr = $67,601/year (purchasing power: $75,647).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $112,668/year (purchasing power: $126,078).
CoL index: 89.364 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$40.63/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$52.26/hr
2026 Current Est.
$54.17/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+38.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Electrical Engineers in Little Rock (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.65% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $40.63/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $44.24/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $47.62/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $48.58/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $47.85/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $50.86/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $52.26/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54.17/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $56.14/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for electrical engineers in Little Rock grew 28.6% from $40.63/hr (2019) to $52.26/hr (2025). At a 3.65% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $56.14/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem electrical engineers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Little Rock 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.
Working as an Hourly Electrical Engineer in Little Rock
For many electrical engineers in Little Rock, part-time work provides a flexible lifestyle that can yield respectable earnings. A professional working 24 hours a week can see a comfortable income, but the earning potential doesn't stop there; per diem electrical engineer pay in Little Rock often ranges significantly. Contract positions commonly bill between $90 and $170 per hour, while specialists—with expertise in chip design or cleared defense work—see rates soaring to $200-$400 per hour. Employers vary widely, from major tech firms like Apple and Nvidia to defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin. While these organizations may offer differing rates, engineers often face a trade-off between higher hourly wages without benefits and lower rates that may include health insurance. Negotiating for hourly roles means being clear about the value of those benefits versus immediate cash, a critical consideration in this competitive field.
More salary data for Little Rock, AR:
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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.65% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for electrical engineers in Little Rock. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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