Electrical Engineering Salary in Nigeria 2025: Full Details

Electrical Engineering Salary in Nigeria 2025: Full Details With Complete Breakdown

Overview

Electrical engineers in Nigeria design, develop, test, and maintain electrical systems and equipment, working in industries such as power generation, telecommunications, oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing. Known for competitive salaries, electrical engineering is a sought-after profession due to Nigeria’s demand for infrastructure development and reliable power supply. Salaries vary by experience, education, location, industry, and skills. This breakdown provides a comprehensive overview of compensation, including base salary, hourly rates, bonuses, benefits, and influencing factors.

Average Salary

  • Annual Salary: The average annual salary for an electrical engineer in Nigeria is approximately ₦3,792,300 (USD 2,298).
  • Monthly Salary: This translates to an average of ₦316,025 per month.
  • Salary Range:
    • Lowest Average: ₦1,777,700/year (₦148,142/month; USD 1,077).
    • Highest Average: ₦5,989,600/year (₦499,133/month; USD 3,630).
  • Median Salary: ₦4,019,900/year (₦334,992/month; USD 2,436). 50% of electrical engineers earn less than this, and 50% earn more.
  • Percentile Breakdown:
    • 25th Percentile: ₦2,605,500/year (₦217,125/month; USD 1,579). 25% of engineers earn less than this.
    • 75th Percentile: ₦4,128,000/year (₦344,000/month; USD 2,503). 75% of engineers earn less than this.
  • Alternative Estimates:
    • PayScale: ₦1,238,449/year (₦103,204/month; USD 751), based on 2025 data.
    • Glassdoor: ₦2,594,004/year (₦216,167/month; USD 1,573), with additional pay of ₦16,167/month.
    • SalaryExplorer: ₦3,600,000/year (₦300,000/month; USD 2,182), with a range of ₦1,776,000–₦5,988,000/year.
    • MySalaryScale: ₦1,752,000/year net (₦146,000/month; USD 1,063), based on 88 employees.
    • GrabJobs: ₦1,367,460/year (₦113,955/month; USD 829), with entry-level at ₦1,162,344/year.
    • UNDP Travel: ₦1,068,000–₦3,588,000/year (₦89,000–₦299,000/month; USD 648–USD 2,176).
    • Nexford University: ₦1,235,236/year (₦102,936/month; USD 749).
    • NigerianListshub: ₦2,340,000/year (₦195,000/month; USD 1,418).

Note: Variations in reported salaries stem from differences in sample size, survey methodologies, inclusion of benefits, gross vs. net pay, and role specificity. The primary estimate (₦3,792,300/year) from worldsalaries.com is used due to its comprehensive data compilation.

Hourly Wage

  • Average Hourly Rate: Assuming a standard work schedule of 40 hours per week, 5 days a week, and 52 weeks per year (2,080 hours annually), the average hourly wage is approximately ₦1,823 (USD 1.11).
  • Minimum Hourly Rate: Based on the lowest reported salary (₦1,777,700/year), the minimum hourly rate is around ₦855 (USD 0.52).
  • Maximum Hourly Rate: Based on the highest reported salary (₦5,989,600/year), the maximum hourly rate is around ₦2,879 (USD 1.75).
  • Calculation Formula: Hourly wage = (Annual salary) ÷ (40 hours × 52 weeks).
  • Alternative Estimate: Glassdoor reports ₦126/hour (USD 0.08) for electrical/electronics engineers, though this seems inconsistent with monthly figures.

Salary Distribution

  • Common Salary Ranges:
    • 65% of electrical engineers earn between ₦182,000 and ₦261,000 per month.
    • 20% earn below ₦182,000 per month (entry-level or low-skill roles).
    • 10% earn between ₦261,000 and ₦297,000 per month (mid-level roles).
    • 5% earn above ₦297,000 per month (senior or specialized roles).
  • Competitive Salary Range: A competitive compensation package typically falls between ₦300,000 and ₦344,000 per month, particularly for experienced engineers in high-demand sectors.

Salary by Experience Level

  • Entry-Level (0–2 years):
    • Average: ₦2,052,200/year (₦171,017/month; USD 1,243).
    • Range: ₦1,162,344–₦2,520,000/year (₦96,862–₦210,000/month; USD 704–USD 1,527).
    • Example: PayScale reports ₦1,600,000/year (₦133,333/month; USD 970) for <1 year experience.
  • Early Career (2–5 years):
    • Average: ₦2,831,100/year (₦235,925/month; USD 1,717).
    • Range: ₦2,520,000–₦4,200,000/year (₦210,000–₦350,000/month; USD 1,527–USD 2,545).
    • Example: PayScale reports ₦1,100,000/year (₦91,667/month; USD 667) for 1–4 years.
  • Mid-Career (5–10 years):
    • Average: ₦4,032,000/year (₦336,000/month; USD 2,442).
    • Range: ₦3,600,000–₦5,000,000/year (₦300,000–₦416,667/month; USD 2,182–USD 3,030).
    • Example: PayScale reports ₦1,400,000/year (₦116,667/month; USD 848) for 1–4 years, likely underestimated.
  • Senior-Level (10–15+ years):
    • Average: ₦4,920,000/year (₦410,000/month; USD 2,982).
    • Range: ₦4,200,000–₦6,000,000/year (₦350,000–₦500,000/month; USD 2,545–USD 3,636).
    • Example: Senior roles in oil and gas may reach ₦12,000,000/year (₦1,000,000/month; USD 7,273).

Salary by Education Level

  • Bachelor’s Degree:
    • Average: ₦3,792,300/year (₦316,025/month; USD 2,298).
    • Range: ₦1,777,700–₦5,989,600/year (₦148,142–₦499,133/month).
  • Master’s Degree:
    • Average: ₦5,183,700/year (₦431,975/month; USD 3,142), a 37% increase over a Bachelor’s.
    • Range: ₦4,000,000–₦7,000,000/year (₦333,333–₦583,333/month).
  • PhD:
    • Limited data, but estimated at ₦6,000,000–₦8,000,000/year (₦500,000–₦666,667/month; USD 3,636–USD 4,848), primarily in academia or specialized roles.

Salary by Industry

  • Oil and Gas:
    • Average: ₦7,000,000/year (₦583,333/month; USD 4,242).
    • Range: ₦5,000,000–₦12,000,000/year (₦416,667–₦1,000,000/month).
    • Example: Graduate trainees at IOCs earn ₦12,000,000/year (₦1,000,000/month).
  • Power Generation/Distribution:
    • Average: ₦4,000,000/year (₦333,333/month; USD 2,424).
    • Range: ₦2,500,000–₦6,000,000/year (₦208,333–₦500,000/month).
  • Telecommunications:
    • Average: ₦5,000,000/year (₦416,667/month; USD 3,030).
    • Range: ₦3,000,000–₦7,000,000/year (₦250,000–₦583,333/month).
  • Construction:
    • Average: ₦3,000,000/year (₦250,000/month; USD 1,818).
    • Range: ₦1,500,000–₦4,500,000/year (₦125,000–₦375,000/month).
  • Manufacturing:
    • Average: ₦3,500,000/year (₦291,667/month; USD 2,121).
    • Range: ₦2,000,000–₦5,000,000/year (₦166,667–₦416,667/month).
  • Government/Public Sector:
    • Average: ₦2,500,000/year (₦208,333/month; USD 1,515).
    • Range: ₦1,200,000–₦3,600,000/year (₦100,000–₦300,000/month).

Salary by Specific Skills

  • Project Management (e.g., PMP): Increases salaries by 10–20%, especially in oil and gas or construction.
  • Renewable Energy (e.g., Solar, Wind): Adds 5–15% due to growing demand.
  • PLC Programming (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley): Boosts earnings by 10–15% in manufacturing.
  • Telecommunications Systems: Enhances salaries by 5–10% in telecom roles.
  • AutoCAD/3D Modeling: Adds 5–10% in design-heavy roles.

Factors Affecting Salary

  1. Experience:
    • The most significant factor, with senior engineers earning up to 3x entry-level salaries.
  2. Education:
    • Advanced degrees (Master’s, PhD) or certifications (e.g., COREN, PMP) increase earnings by 10–37%.
  3. Location:
    • Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt: Higher salaries (₦200,000–₦1,000,000/month) due to industry concentration and cost of living.
    • Smaller cities (e.g., Ibadan, Enugu): Lower salaries (₦100,000–₦300,000/month).
  4. Industry:
    • Oil and gas and telecommunications pay 6–10% more than construction or government sectors.
  5. Employer Type:
    • Multinational companies (e.g., Shell, ExxonMobil) pay higher than local firms.
    • Private sector pays 6% more than public sector on average.
  6. Gender:
    • Male engineers earn 15% more than female engineers (₦4,093,700 vs. ₦3,553,500/year).
  7. Skills/Certifications:
    • Specialized skills (e.g., renewable energy, PLC programming) command higher pay.

Additional Compensation

  • Bonuses:
    • Performance Bonuses: Range from 1–5% of annual salary, with 54% of engineers receiving a bonus annually.
    • Additional Pay: Glassdoor estimates ₦16,167/month (₦194,004/year) for cash bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing.
  • Benefits:
    • Housing and Transport: Common in oil and gas, telecom, and large firms.
    • Health Insurance: Standard in most corporate roles.
    • Retirement Plans: Available in public sector and multinationals.
    • Training/Certifications: Sponsorship for COREN, PMP, or technical courses.
  • Vacation:
    • Average 15–20 paid vacation days annually, plus 12 public holidays.
  • Other Perks:
    • Offshore allowances for oil and gas roles.
    • Overtime pay for hourly or contract roles.

Salary Trends

  • Annual Increase: Salaries rise by 11% every 19 months in the same firm.
  • Inflation Impact: Nigeria’s 30%+ inflation rate in 2025 erodes real income unless salaries adjust.
  • Demand Growth: High demand in power, telecom, and renewable energy drives salary growth.
  • USD-Based Salaries: Some multinational roles are paid in USD, protecting against NGN depreciation.

Comparison with Other Engineering Disciplines

  • Petroleum Engineering: ₦5,000,000–₦15,000,000/year (highest-paid).
  • Software Engineering: ₦5,064,000/year (₦422,000/month).
  • Computer Engineering: ₦3,088,622/year (₦257,385/month).
  • Civil Engineering: ₦1,236,000–₦2,700,000/year (₦103,000–₦225,000/month).
  • Mechanical Engineering: ₦2,000,000–₦5,000,000/year (₦166,667–₦416,667/month).

Challenges

  • Inflation Impact: High inflation reduces real income for NGN-based salaries.
  • Gender Pay Gap: 15% disparity between male and female engineers.
  • Limited Data: Small sample sizes for some estimates (e.g., MySalaryScale’s 88 respondents).
  • Taxation: Salaries are gross (pre-tax); net pay varies by tax rates and sector.
  • Brain Drain: Low salaries compared to global standards drive professionals abroad.

Job Requirements

  • Education:
    • Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related fields.
    • Preferred: Master’s degree or certifications (e.g., COREN, PMP) for senior roles.
  • Skills:
    • Technical: Circuit design, PLC programming, AutoCAD, renewable energy systems.
    • Analytical: Problem-solving, project management, system testing.
    • Soft Skills: Communication, teamwork, leadership.
  • Experience: Entry-level roles require 0–2 years; senior roles need 5–10+ years.
  • Work Hours: Typically 40 hours/week, Monday to Friday, with a 30-minute lunch break. Offshore or project roles may involve overtime or shift work.
  • Certifications: COREN registration mandatory for practicing in Nigeria; PMP or renewable energy certifications enhance pay.
  • Licensing: Registration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) required.

Where to Find Jobs

  • Locations: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu.
  • Employers:
    • Multinationals: ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, Schneider Electric.
    • Local Firms: Sinoma Nigeria, Dangote Group, Ikeja Electric.
    • Government: Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Ministry of Power.
  • Job Boards:
  • Sample Job Postings:
    • Intermediate Electrical Engineer, Sinoma Nigeria, Lagos: ₦100,000–₦150,000/month, requires 3–5 years’ experience.
    • Senior Electrical Engineer, Oil and Gas, Port Harcourt: ₦500,000–₦1,000,000/month, requires 7+ years and COREN.
    • Electrical Design Engineer, Lagos: ₦294,000/month median, requires AutoCAD skills.

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