Salary guide, May 2025
Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A) pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in the United States was $120,630 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $92,830 and $152,950.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers
Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A) is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $76,550 | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 | $184,300 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36.80 | $44.63 | $58.00 | $73.53 | $88.61 |
BLS estimated 198,750 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $102,800 | $82,570 to $133,070 | 2,050 | 0.57 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $102,110 | $79,580 to $129,990 | 1,500 | 0.81 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $119,080 | $80,730 to $128,490 | 2,010 | 1.11 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,240 | $82,280 to $169,310 | 1,500 | 1.58 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $128,340 | $100,600 to $158,880 | 6,290 | 0.52 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $128,340 | $100,600 to $158,880 | 6,290 | 0.52 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $124,390 | $89,410 to $161,080 | 5,720 | 1.11 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $113,520 | $92,320 to $134,330 | 4,290 | 0.74 |
Rank every metro for Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A)
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$141,160
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$137,540
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$137,540
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$133,080
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$133,020
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$131,920
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$129,990
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$129,370
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$129,210
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$128,580
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$128,460
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$128,320
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$127,620
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$127,050
- Chemical Manufacturing$126,460
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 57,140 | $93,240 | $117,360 | $152,640 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 20,460 | $97,690 | $128,320 | $166,710 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 12,980 | $101,660 | $129,210 | $166,510 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 9,380 | $96,930 | $121,610 | $162,200 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 9,360 | $79,350 | $98,790 | $124,950 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 8,950 | $110,900 | $141,160 | $171,950 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 8,030 | $83,490 | $101,840 | $127,270 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 7,650 | $99,960 | $131,920 | $173,450 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 6,050 | $83,140 | $100,820 | $126,980 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 5,450 | $77,150 | $96,410 | $123,860 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 2,860 | $82,640 | $102,550 | $129,630 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 1,720 | $99,150 | $128,580 | $163,650 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 1,640 | $90,010 | $105,390 | $127,270 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 1,290 | $84,850 | $101,730 | $125,040 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 1,230 | $78,360 | $133,080 | $177,610 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 1,090 | $98,960 | $126,460 | $150,400 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 910 | $98,790 | $125,250 | $140,960 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 860 | $81,690 | $101,230 | $125,170 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 840 | $85,020 | $102,160 | $127,180 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 830 | $102,850 | $129,990 | $154,320 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 800 | $88,390 | $111,580 | $128,340 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 690 | $90,800 | $105,350 | $128,890 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 690 | $80,250 | $99,540 | $124,850 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 620 | $103,600 | $128,460 | $156,370 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 500 | $90,850 | $103,660 | $128,230 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 450 | $100,630 | $126,050 | $133,820 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 440 | $106,130 | $129,370 | $139,020 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 440 | $102,170 | $133,020 | $173,730 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $95,740 | $127,050 | $163,320 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 410 | $117,140 | $137,540 | $165,390 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 410 | $117,140 | $137,540 | $165,390 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 330 | $87,980 | $106,380 | $126,240 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 300 | $88,120 | $109,520 | $128,700 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 300 | $90,330 | $113,140 | $126,540 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 300 | $90,330 | $113,140 | $126,540 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 290 | $104,190 | $127,620 | $137,760 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 280 | $87,430 | $101,880 | $129,590 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 270 | $79,150 | $96,930 | $109,750 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 240 | $106,670 | $120,840 | $134,500 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 240 | $80,590 | $98,070 | $122,800 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 230 | $43,440 | $84,540 | $107,620 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 210 | $84,950 | $104,310 | $124,620 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 200 | $95,920 | $111,480 | $143,660 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 200 | $95,050 | $100,120 | $122,060 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 200 | $82,390 | $99,070 | $122,800 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 190 | $91,210 | $108,760 | $124,950 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 180 | $78,930 | $104,370 | $135,820 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 180 | $92,980 | $109,260 | $140,930 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 160 | $100,000 | $114,830 | $129,520 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 100 | $78,320 | $103,310 | $125,640 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 90 | $83,730 | $95,180 | $120,430 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 90 | $98,700 | $116,530 | $129,710 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 70 | $28,940 | $108,610 | $125,120 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 70 | $99,920 | $111,140 | $128,470 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 60 | $83,610 | $103,600 | $118,940 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 60 | $78,320 | $87,440 | $103,090 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 60 | $75,750 | $85,890 | $100,340 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 50 | $99,090 | $113,410 | $125,670 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 50 | $101,030 | $108,730 | $123,830 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 40 | $87,980 | $101,380 | $115,300 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 40 | $79,130 | $102,960 | $131,000 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 40 | $82,100 | $96,210 | $122,020 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 40 | $87,830 | $102,140 | $122,310 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 40 | $62,650 | $83,030 | $98,070 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 30 | $87,830 | $104,860 | $122,670 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $98,780 | $117,020 | $158,960 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A), clarify the base pay before discussing call-outs, travel or extra shifts. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $87,590 | $111,910 | $141,630 |
| May 2025 | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the authority you are offering?
Settle panel design responsibility rather than field commissioning alone before outreach begins. An attractive title cannot repair unclear responsibility for industrial control-panel drawings and component selection once someone arrives. We put the difference around panel design responsibility rather than field commissioning alone in front of you so the interview tests missing experience rather than assuming it is already there.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A)?
The median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in the United States was $120,630 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $92,830 and $152,950. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $76,550. 90% earned less than $184,300.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A) at a plant?
Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A) is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 198,750 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
Controls Engineer pay Automation Engineer pay PLC Programmer pay Robotics Engineer pay Machine Vision Engineer pay Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A) pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A) recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
National industry benchmarks illustrate the value of design engineering in specialized sectors. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing shows a median of $141,160, and Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing reports $137,540. These national figures do not break down into local plant wages and must be considered in the context of their specific industries.
Manufacturing Headhunters presents this salary breakdown for the Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A), mapped to the SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers classification. The national median for this occupation is $120,630, an increase of $8,720 from the May 2024 median. The middle-band width of $60,120 spans from the P25 at $92,830 to the P75 at $152,950, reflecting the wide range of technical expertise required for senior design roles. As the data utilizes the broader electrical engineering SOC, it captures a mix of engineering roles, meaning it does not solely represent panel design or UL 508A specialized work.
National industry benchmarks illustrate the value of design engineering in specialized sectors. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing shows a median of $141,160, and Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing reports $137,540. These national figures do not break down into local plant wages and must be considered in the context of their specific industries. BLS data excludes variable compensation, such as project bonuses and equity, which may be relevant for senior design roles, making these figures representative of baseline annual salary trends only.
Metropolitan area data displays Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim with a median of $139,780 and a middle-band width of $75,750. New York-Newark-Jersey City shows a median of $128,340 with a middle-band width of $58,280. These metros are used because of their high occupational employment. A location quotient describes the concentration of the occupation but does not represent local labor market pay or specific candidate accessibility. These figures represent the broad electrical engineering market across all local industries rather than a niche panel-design specialty.
The screening context focuses on a panel review covering protection, ratings, and production wiring details, requiring panel design responsibility rather than just field-level commissioning. Given the broad SOC 17-2071 classification, the provided figures are generalized across diverse electrical engineering roles. These are exact figures from the provided packet; no estimations were made. Use these ranges as a baseline for assessing market parity, ensuring that the specific design and regulatory responsibilities of the panel engineer role align with the general expectations of electrical engineering management.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Is the Panel Design Engineer (UL 508A) salary data exclusively for panel design?
No, the data is drawn from the broad electrical engineering category (SOC 17-2071). It provides a general market range for electrical engineering but does not specifically track panel-design roles.
Why is the middle-band width so wide for this engineering role?
The $60,120 width shows that market pay for senior electrical engineers varies greatly based on technical seniority, industry vertical, and local demand for electrical design skill sets.
Are the provided industry-specific medians for Aerospace and Petroleum reflective of design engineering pay?
These medians capture the pay level for electrical engineers within those specific industries at the national level. They provide a more focused, industry-relevant benchmark than the broad electrical engineering average.
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