Quick answer: California employs about 13,450 electrical and electronic engineering technologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state engineering licensing board. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Licensing and Credentials in California
Engineering technology is the degree where accreditation commission matters most. ABET accredits these programs under its Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) rather than the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) that covers BS engineering degrees. That distinction carries into Professional Engineer licensure: state boards differ on whether an ETAC degree qualifies a candidate to sit for the PE exam, whether it requires additional qualifying experience, and how it is treated under comity with other states. The national constants are the ABET accreditation itself and the NCEES exam sequence.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state engineering licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 157 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
California State University-Los Angeles
📍
Los Angeles, CA
•104.2 miles away•BOC Score
73.0
Tuition$7,160 - $19,760
Contact
5151 State University Dr Los Angeles, CA 90032-8506
What Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Earn in California
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians in California earn a median $86,090 per year, above the national median of $78,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Engineering Technology Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$86,090
$78,190
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$59,590
$49,510
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$73,550
$61,610
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$112,200
$97,650
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$138,400
$115,700
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
13,450
95,130
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.21
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
0.6%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $86,090 sits above the national median of $78,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.21 puts California well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Engineering technology roles follow the region’s manufacturing plants, utilities, automation integrators and instrumentation employers rather than the national picture.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
4,280
$84,099
$86,832
$49,643
$130,296
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
3,040
$96,342
$96,374
$66,984
$127,405
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
2,470
$94,243
$98,217
$61,233
$137,049
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
2,150
$101,751
$98,888
$62,957
$132,771
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
1,260
$83,523
$89,478
$58,359
$131,468
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
790
$101,237
$92,706
$47,918
$123,941
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
780
$96,149
$97,298
$49,440
$149,593
Bakersfield-Delano
650
$102,060
$105,358
$75,217
$137,060
Stockton-Lodi
180
$105,800
$103,970
$52,120
$133,350
Fresno
170
$111,228
$102,746
$61,419
$134,984
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
170
$88,430
$93,047
$63,345
$122,099
Visalia
110
$84,045
$84,565
$58,602
$115,295
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
90
$95,680
$98,020
$55,380
$131,020
Vallejo
70
$95,950
$101,400
$47,960
$134,940
Salinas
50
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Modesto
40
$133,990
$116,830
$67,380
$133,990
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
30
$76,750
$82,470
$47,460
$124,950
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electrical and electronic engineering technologists make in California?
The median annual wage for electrical and electronic engineering technologists in California is $86,090, above the national median of $78,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $73,550 at the 25th percentile to $112,200 at the 75th.
How many electrical and electronic engineering technologists work in California?
California holds about 13,450 engineering technologist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 95,130, and BLS projects about 8,400 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a engineering technologist in California?
Engineering technology is the degree where accreditation commission matters most. ABET accredits these programs under its Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) rather than the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) that covers BS engineering degrees. That distinction carries into Professional Engineer licensure: state boards differ on whether an ETAC degree qualifies a candidate to sit for the PE exam, whether it requires additional qualifying experience, and how it is treated under comity with other states. The national constants are the ABET accreditation itself and the NCEES exam sequence. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state engineering licensing board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn an ABET-accredited ETAC bachelor's online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state engineering licensing board.
What is the highest-paying area of California for electrical and electronic engineering technologists?
Among California metro areas with published data, Bakersfield reports the highest median at $103,170 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for electrical and electronic engineering technologists?
On pay, the state median of $86,090 sits above the national $78,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.21 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
