Electrical Engineer Hourly Pay in Cincinnati, OH: $52.50 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a electrical engineer working in Cincinnati, OH runs $52.50 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $109,195 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2071). Weighted against Cincinnati's regional price level (BEA RPP 95.4, 5% below national), each hour of work buys what $55.05 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $65,518 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the electrical engineer hourly pay in Cincinnati, Ohio, is projected to sit at $52.50. This figure falls below the national median hourly rate of $60.11, reflecting a regional discrepancy that could influence job decisions among local engineers. For professionals contemplating part-time work, such as a schedule of three days per week, this hourly rate enables a reasonable income particularly in specialized settings. Common work environments include tech company hardware labs, semiconductor fabrication clean rooms, and defense contractor facilities, where salaries can range from $38.67 at the entry level to around $79.42 for experienced engineers. These official BLS estimates suggest a broad spectrum of employment options available to electrical engineers in Cincinnati, contributing positively to the local economy.
Electrical Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38.67 | $309.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $44.00 | $352.00 |
| Median (P50) | $52.50 | $419.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $64.30 | $514.44 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $79.42 | $635.33 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cincinnati
Based on $52.50/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $52.50/hr, a electrical engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cincinnati, OH can expect to earn approximately $109,197 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $62,998. With a cost-of-living index of 95.37 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cincinnati.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cincinnati
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,099.95 | $9,100 | $109,197 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,259.97 | $5,460 | $65,518 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $839.98 | $3,640 | $43,679 |
Compare EE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineer (Cincinnati) | $52.50 |
| 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 Cincinnati, OH earn a median of $109,195 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.67% lower than the national median of $125,033 and 5.40% above the Ohio state average of $103,601.
Electrical Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $52.50/hr = $65,518/year (purchasing power: $68,699).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $109,197/year (purchasing power: $114,499).
CoL index: 95.37 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$42.54/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$50.65/hr
2026 Current Est.
$52.50/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Electrical Engineers in Cincinnati (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.65% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42.54/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $42.62/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $45.95/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $48.64/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $49.92/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $49.05/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $50.65/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52.50/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $54.41/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for electrical engineers in Cincinnati grew 19.1% from $42.54/hr (2019) to $50.65/hr (2025). At a 3.65% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $54.41/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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
While full-time positions provide stable annual earnings, part-time electrical engineers often face a different financial reality. Working three days a week for 24 hours amounts to an annual income significantly lower than that of full-time engineers, yet it still meets the desires for work-life balance. On the per-diem side, contracts frequently yield higher fees, with rates that can reach as much as $90-$170 per hour for common assignments. For specialized roles, such as security-cleared defense contractors, hourly pay can accelerate to between $150 and $280, while those in chip design consulting may command $200 to $400 per hour. Hourly compensation varies by employer type; leading tech firms and defense contractors often reflect higher wages due to demand for specific skill sets, such as semiconductor knowledge and security clearances. Due to the lack of benefits with contract work, some electrical engineers in Cincinnati may accept lower hourly pay for the security and health insurance that full-time roles offer. Negotiating effectively in this market requires understanding the value of certain credentials, expected rates, and the dynamics of the job market in Cincinnati’s engineering sector.
More salary data for Cincinnati, 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
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 Cincinnati. 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