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IEEE salary survey: communications technology engineers top survey with $150,000 median income; salary gender and ethnic gaps close
The IEEE salary survey ranked communications technology engineers as having the highest median pretax income of $150,000, while the overall median income for all IEEE-USA members surveyed was $133,000, up from $129,000 in 2013, and representing the largest increase since 2008. Energy and power engineering remains at the bottom.
The communications technology area of technical competence includes the following primary areas:
- Broadcast technology – $135,283 median; $287,700 highest decile
- Communications – $151,203 median; $234,300 highest decile
- Consumer electronics – $161,250 median; $266,850 highest decile
- Vehicular technology – $126,500 median; $188,000 highest decile
- Other – $145,000 median; $232,878 highest decile
Other primary areas of technical competence highlighted in the income survey insights include:
- Circuits and devices – $143,008 median, $230,000 highest decile
- Computers – $132,279 median; $224,990 highest decile
- Electromagnetics & radiation – $130,368 median; $200,000 highest decile
- Energy and power – $116,000 median; $185,000 highest decile
- Engineering & human environment – $140,000 median; $213,000 highest decile
- Industrial applications – $120,000 median; $189,800 highest decile
- Signals & applications – $141,062 median; $214,124 highest decile
- Systems & controls – $119,572 median; $205,000 highest decile
Other key survey takeaways include:
- The typical respondent is a male in his mid-to-late forties, with an advanced degree, and about 22 years of professional experience.
- Womens’ salaries continue to trail men’s by an average of $13,635, but the gap is down $3,000 from 2013.
- Salaries for African-Americans trail Caucasians’ salaries by an average of $15,482, but the gap is down $2,000 from 2013.
For more information, check out a video interview with Jim Jefferies, IEEE-USA president, and the infographic below:
