Electrical Engineering Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Electrical Engineering degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$120K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$173K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.3 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Electrical Engineering in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/year here — near the national average for public universities. Electrical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Circuit Design and Signal Processing. The adjusted starting salary in Philadelphia is approximately $120,000.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Electrical Engineering Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Electrical Engineering salary: $80,000 starting, $115,000 mid-career, $142,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Electrical Engineering ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Electrical Engineering degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$67,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
2.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$1,347,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,500,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Electrical Engineering in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Electrical Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Electrical Engineering in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Electrical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Electrical Engineering Job Titles
Electrical Engineering in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$92K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$90K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$94K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$96K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$76K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$96K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$100K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$73K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Philadelphia
Petroleum Engineering
$75K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$123K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$120K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$117K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$75K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering Degree in Philadelphia — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Electrical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Philadelphia.