Electrical Engineering Salary in Maine: Is It a Good Career?
Maine · 2026 BLS salary data
Electrical Engineering pay in Maine
The median wage is $114,620/yr — 5% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Maineranks #20 of 49 states by median pay.
The numbers in Maine
Real BLS state-level figures for Electrical Engineering.
- Median salary
- $114,620/yr
- Pay range (25th–75th)
- $97,590 – $133,580
- National median
- $120,630/yr
- Employed in Maine
- 1,150
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.
What that pay is really worth in Maine
Salary alone can mislead — Maine costs 3% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).
- Cost of living (US=100)
- 97
- Nominal median
- $114,620
- Adjusted for cost of living
- ≈ $118,165
- State income tax
- Up to 7.15%
Maine's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #23 of 49, down from #20 on raw salary.
Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.
FAQ
How much do electrical engineering professionals make in Maine?
The median annual wage is $114,620 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $97,590 and $133,580. That's 5% below the national median.
Is Maine a good state for electrical engineering?
By raw pay, Maine ranks #20 of 49 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Maine costs 3% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $118,165. Maine's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #23 of 49, down from #20 on raw salary.
Are electrical engineering professionals in demand in Maine?
About 1,150 people work in this field in Maine (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +7.2% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.
The verdict
Yes — electrical engineering offers high pay from a bachelor's degree and demand riding the chip, energy, and electrification booms. It's one of the harder degrees, but the payoff and stability are excellent.
- Worth it If you want high pay from a bachelor's in a growing field
- Worth it If you're strong in math and can handle a rigorous degree
- Not worth it If you struggle with heavy math or want an easy path
Pros & cons
Pros
- High pay from a bachelor's degree
- Demand from chips, energy, and electrification
- Versatile across hardware, power, and embedded systems
- Faster-than-average projected growth
- Strong path into specialized, high-paying niches
Cons
- One of the most rigorous, math-heavy degrees
- Steep learning curve
- Some roles require on-site or lab work
- PE license needed for certain positions
Who it's for
✓ A good fit if…
- Strong math students who like abstract systems
- People wanting high pay from a bachelor's
- Anyone drawn to electronics, power, or hardware
✗ Probably not if…
- People who struggle with heavy math
- Those wanting a low-effort degree
What people are actually asking
Real Reddit discussions on whether Electrical Engineering is worth it — titles link to the original threads.
- “Is electrical engineering a good career?”r/ElectricalEngineeringquestioning
- “Is it worth becoming an electrical engineer?”r/ElectricalEngineeringquestioning
- “Is electrical engineering as fun and interesting when you ...”r/ElectricalEngineeringmixed
- “Is EE degree overrated or no how is the pay and are you ...”r/ElectricalEngineeringmixed
- “Future outlook of Electrical Engineering”r/ElectricalEngineeringfuture/AI-anxiety
- “Do you guys feel like electrical engineering is a good ...”r/ElectricalEngineeringmixed
- “Pros and cons of studying EE?”r/ElectricalEngineeringnegative/caution