Electrical Engineer Salary in Lafayette, LA: $102,904 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time electrical engineer in Lafayette, LA earns a median $102,904/year (≈ $49.47/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2071). Once you factor in Lafayette's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 87.2), that paycheck buys what $117,997 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 20.7% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lafayette, Louisiana, the 2026 median electrical engineer salary is projected at $102,904, reflecting the city's unique industry dynamics. This amount supports a salary range that fluctuates from $69,984 at the 10th percentile to $177,231 at the 90th percentile. The data, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the contrast between local pay and the national median of $125,033, revealing a notable 17.70% shortfall. Lafayette's engineering market is influenced by a variety of sectors, with opportunities spanning semiconductor and chip design, utility power systems, and defense-related projects, impacting both competition and compensation.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,984 | $33.64 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,961 | $38.93 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $102,904 | $49.47 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $135,439 | $65.11 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $177,231 | $85.21 |
Median Salary Position
17.7% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lafayette
In Lafayette, LA, the electrical engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $107,247 (2026 est.). At $102,904, the local median is 17.7% below the national median of $125,033.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lafayette: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lafayette Electrical Engineer Pay Compares
Lafayette median: $102,904/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lafayette Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $129,765 | -20.70% less |
| National Average | $125,033 | -17.70% less |
Electrical Engineers in Lafayette, LA earn a median of $102,904 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.70% lower than the national median of $125,033 and 20.70% below the Louisiana state average of $129,765.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lafayette has a cost of living 12.79% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lafayette, LA has a cost-of-living index of 87.209 (below the national average of 100). A electrical engineer earning $102,904 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $117,997 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.67% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$87,550
2025 BLS Actual
$99,280
2026 Current Est.
$102,904
2019–2027 Growth
+21.8%
Salary Trajectory for Electrical Engineers in Lafayette (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.65% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $87,550 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,750 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,740 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,800 | Actual |
| 2023 | $88,940 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,070 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,280 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,904 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $106,660 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lafayette metropolitan area, the median electrical engineer salary grew 13.4% from $87,550 (2019) to $99,280 (2025). At a 3.65% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $106,660 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,110 (21.83%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lafayette 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $69,984 – $80,961 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,961 – $102,904 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $102,904 – $135,439 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $135,439 – $177,231 |
EE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual electrical engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Electrical Engineer Job Market in Lafayette
The local job market for electrical engineers includes around 40 professionals, but the cost of living index in Lafayette stands at 87.209, indicating a lower-than-average financial burden compared to national norms. This fact enhances the take-home purchasing power for engineers, making Lafayette an attractive option despite its lower salary figures. Employers like Apple, Intel, and Tesla lead the local market with competitive pay, particularly in chip design and automotive engineering segments. Variance in earnings arises from factors such as specialization in high-demand fields like semiconductor technology, security clearance requirements in defense roles, and distinctions between management versus individual contributor paths. To maximize salary, engineers should consider focusing on advanced skills, pursuing certifications like PE, and targeting sectors that offer lucrative compensation packages.
More salary data for Lafayette, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electrical engineers make in Lafayette, LA in 2026?
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Can electrical engineers make $100K in Lafayette?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted electrical engineer salary in Lafayette?
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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
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 BLS reported a median annual salary of $99,280 for electrical engineersin the Lafayette metropolitan area. A 3.65% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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