Entry-Level Electrical Engineer Salary in Springfield, IL: $64,636 (2026)
Quick Answer:New electrical engineers entering the Springfield, IL job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $64,636 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 17-2071, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Springfield's local price level (BEA RPP 92.7 — 7% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $69,692 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($105,661) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, new graduates entering the electrical engineering field in Springfield, Illinois, can anticipate a starting salary around $64,636, significantly lower than the city's median annual salary of $105,661. This gap highlights the realistic expectations for entry-level positions and emphasizes that younger engineers typically begin their careers within this range before moving up the ladder. With earnings projected to increase over the first few years, entry-level engineers might reach the 25th percentile of earners at approximately $84,506 after gaining valuable experience. Considering the local job market, Springfield presents a decent opportunity for new grads looking to establish their careers in electrical engineering, especially as the industry sees a steady growth rate of 3.65% annually.
Career Earnings Timeline in Springfield
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 Springfield
Entry-level electrical engineers in Springfield, IL typically start between $64,636 and $84,506 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $77,748 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $105,661 — 15.49% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average electrical engineering program cost in Illinois of $80,000 represents just 123.77% of the starting electrical engineer pay ($64,636/year) in Springfield. 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 Springfield
- 1Research the Springfield market: entry-level electrical engineer pay ranges from $64,636 to $84,506, 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 IL often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Springfield, 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 Springfield for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Springfield'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 Springfield is $77,748 ( 120.29%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $64,636, experienced hygienists can earn up to $142,384.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$70,200
2025 BLS Actual
$62,360
2026 Current Est.
$64,636
2019–2027 Growth
+-4.6%
Salary Trajectory for Electrical Engineers in Springfield (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.65% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,200 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,160 | Actual |
| 2021 | $72,400 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,220 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,090 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,260 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,360 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,636 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,995 | Projected |
Entry-level electrical engineer compensation (10th percentile) in Springfield, IL grew -11.2% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $70,200 in 2019 to $62,360 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $66,995. New graduates entering the Springfield job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Springfield 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 Springfield
Several employers in Springfield actively seek to onboard new graduates in electrical engineering roles. Major companies in the semiconductor sector, such as Apple, Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, often favor candidates with advanced degrees for their structured programs and benefits like Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Defense contractors like Lockheed and Northrop tend to prioritize applicants who have completed internships requiring security clearance, while utilities focus on hiring entry-level Engineers-in-Training (EITs) through training programs in power systems. Candidates looking to enhance their starting electrical engineer salary in Springfield may benefit from pursuing an ABET-accredited Bachelor’s degree and sitting for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam prior to graduation. Continuing education, such as obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license or a master's degree, can further elevate earning potential. Those entering the semiconductor industry often see higher salary trajectories compared to other fields, while defense roles usually offer a premium due to security clearance requirements. Realistically, employees can expect their pay to increase notably within the first couple of years, especially if they align their skills with high-demand areas like chip design.
More salary data for Springfield, IL:
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 Springfield. 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