Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment.
Work Environment: Electrical and electronics engineers work in industries including research and development, engineering services, manufacturing, telecommunications, and the federal government. Electrical and electronics engineers generally work indoors in offices. However, they may have to visit sites to observe a problem or a piece of complex equipment.
How to Become One: Electrical and electronics engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs.
Salary: The median annual wage for electrical engineers is $100,420. The median annual wage for electronics engineers (except computer) is $104,820.
Job Outlook: Overall employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 3 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of electrical engineers with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as an electrical engineer with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Electrical Engineers Jobs
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Electrical Engineering Manager
- Kimmel & Associates
- Anaheim, CA
As the Electrical Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for guiding and reviewing the conceptual and detailed engineering for the construction (and life cycle) operations of the portfolio of ...
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Electrical Engineer
- MKA International, Inc.
- Walnut Creek, CA
Provide electrical support for the fire origin and cause consultants/ engineers to determine electrical causes of fires, a plus. * Communicate with clients, interface with code officials and ...
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Electrical Cost Engineer
- Quality Plus Services
- Chandler, AZ
Work closely with project managers, procurement teams, and electrical engineers to ensure alignment between cost estimates and project goals. * Provide support during project planning, procurement ...
Top 3 Electronics Engineers Jobs
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Electronics Maintenance Technologist
- LTD GLOBAL, LLC
- Berkeley, CA
... with engineers to design, develop, test, manufacture, and repair electrical and electronic equipment. Read and interpret schematics, sketches, parts lists, component layout diagrams, assembly ...
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Senior Procurement Specialist - Electronics
- Design West Technologies, Inc.
- Tustin, CA
... Electronics has primary responsibility for purchasing DoD compliant components, from local ... Work closely with engineering department to develop new programs, communicating BOM changes to SCM ...
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Electronics Technician
- eTeam
- San Diego, CA
Job Description Overview (what will they actually being doing day-to-day) • Perform chipset evaluation based upon engineering specifications • Troubleshoot complex electrical circuits as well as ...
What Electrical and Electronics Engineers Do[About this section] [To Top]
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, or power generation equipment. Electrical engineers also design the electrical systems of automobiles and aircraft.
Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, including broadcast and communications systems, such as portable music players and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. Many also work in areas closely related to computer hardware.
Duties of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Electrical engineers typically do the following:
- Design new ways to use electrical power to develop or improve products
- Perform detailed calculations to develop manufacturing, construction, and installation standards and specifications
- Direct the manufacture, installation, and testing of electrical equipment to ensure that products meet specifications and codes
- Investigate complaints from customers or the public, evaluate problems, and recommend solutions
- Work with project managers on production efforts to ensure that projects are completed satisfactorily, on time, and within budget
Electronics engineers typically do the following:
- Design electronic components, software, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, medical, military, or scientific applications
- Analyze customer needs and determine the requirements, capacity, and cost for developing an electrical system plan
- Develop maintenance and testing procedures for electronic components and equipment
- Evaluate systems and recommend design modifications or equipment repair
- Inspect electronic equipment, instruments, and systems to make sure they meet safety standards and applicable regulations
- Plan and develop applications and modifications for electronic properties used in parts and systems in order to improve technical performance
Electronics engineers who work for the federal government research, develop, and evaluate electronic devices used in a variety of areas, such as aviation, computing, transportation, and manufacturing. They work on federal electronic devices and systems, including satellites, flight systems, radar and sonar systems, and communications systems.
The work of electrical engineers and electronics engineers is often similar. Both use engineering and design software and equipment to do engineering tasks. Both types of engineers also must work with other engineers to discuss existing products and possibilities for engineering projects.
Engineers whose work is related exclusively to computer hardware are considered computer hardware engineers.
Work Environment for Electrical and Electronics Engineers[About this section] [To Top]
Electrical engineers hold about 192,400 jobs. The largest employers of electrical engineers are as follows:
| Engineering services | 21% |
| Electric power generation, transmission and distribution | 9% |
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | 7% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 5% |
| Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing | 4% |
Electronics engineers, except computer hold about 111,400 jobs. The largest employers of electronics engineers, except computer are as follows:
| Telecommunications | 18% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 15% |
| Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing | 10% |
| Engineering services | 8% |
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | 6% |
Electrical and electronics engineers generally work indoors in offices. However, they may visit sites to observe a problem or a piece of complex equipment.
Electrical and Electronics Engineer Work Schedules
Most electrical and electronics engineers work full time.
How to Become an Electrical or Electronics Engineer[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Electrical and Electronics Engineers near you!
Electrical and electronics engineers must have a bachelor's degree. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs, in which students earn academic credit for structured work experience.
Electrical and Electronics Engineer Education
High school students interested in studying electrical or electronics engineering benefit from taking courses in physics and math, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Courses in drafting are also helpful, because electrical and electronics engineers often are required to prepare technical drawings.
In order to enter the occupation, prospective electrical and electronics engineers need a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, electrical engineering technology, or a related engineering field. Programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies. Courses include digital systems design, differential equations, and electrical circuit theory. Programs in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electrical engineering technology should be accredited by ABET.
Some colleges and universities offer cooperative programs in which students gain practical experience while completing their education. Cooperative programs combine classroom study with practical work. Internships provide similar experience and are growing in number.
At some universities, students can enroll in a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. A graduate degree allows an engineer to work as an instructor at some universities, or in research and development.
Important Qualities for Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Concentration. Electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products. They must keep track of multiple design elements and technical characteristics when performing these tasks.
Initiative. Electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake. In addition, they must engage in continuing education to keep up with changes in technology.
Interpersonal skills. Electrical and electronics engineers must work with others during the manufacturing process to ensure that their plans are implemented correctly. This collaboration includes monitoring technicians and devising remedies to problems as they arise.
Math skills. Electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment.
Speaking skills. Electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians. They must be able to explain their designs and reasoning clearly and to relay instructions during product development and production. They also may need to explain complex issues to customers who have little or no technical expertise.
Writing skills. Electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as electrical and electronics engineers. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one's career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires
- A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
- A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
- Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years
- A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam
The initial FE exam can be taken after earning a bachelor's degree. Engineers who pass this exam commonly are called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE).
Each state issues its own licenses. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state's requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.
Other Experience for Electrical and Electronics Engineers
During high school, students can attend engineering summer camps to see what these and other engineers do. Attending these camps can help students plan their coursework for the remainder of their time in high school. The Engineering Education Service Center has a directory of engineering summer camps.
Advancement for Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Electrical and electronic engineers may advance to supervisory positions in which they lead a team of engineers and technicians. Some may move to management positions, working as engineering or program managers. Preparation for managerial positions usually requires working under the guidance of a more experienced engineer. For more information, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.
For sales work, an engineering background enables engineers to discuss a product's technical aspects and assist in product planning and use. For more information, see the profile on sales engineers.
Electrical and Electronics Engineer Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
Salary Calculator
Entry Level Experienced
The median annual wage for electrical engineers is $100,420. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,360, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $162,930.
The median annual wage for electronics engineers, except computer is $104,820. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $73,630, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $166,890.
The median annual wages for electrical engineers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | $125,080 |
| Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing | $107,190 |
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | $102,110 |
| Electric power generation, transmission and distribution | $101,780 |
| Engineering services | $99,330 |
The median annual wages for electronics engineers, except computer in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing | $128,560 |
| Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing | $128,330 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $117,730 |
| Engineering services | $102,390 |
| Telecommunications | $100,290 |
Most electrical and electronics engineers work full time.
Job Outlook for Electrical and Electronics Engineers[About this section] [To Top]
Overall employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 3 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 20,100 openings for electrical and electronics engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Employment growth is expected to be tempered by slow growth or decline in some industries, such as manufacturing and utilities.
Job growth for electrical and electronics engineers is projected to occur largely in professional, scientific, and technical services firms, as more companies are expected to tap the expertise of engineers for projects involving electronic devices and systems. These engineers also will be needed to develop sophisticated consumer electronics.
The rapid pace of technological innovation will create some demand for electrical and electronics engineers in research and development, an area in which engineering expertise will be needed to design distribution systems related to new technologies. These engineers will play key roles in new developments with solar arrays, semiconductors, and communications technologies.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 303,800 | 313,600 | 3 | 9,800 |
| Electrical engineers | 192,400 | 195,500 | 2 | 3,100 |
| Electronics engineers, except computer | 111,400 | 118,000 | 6 | 6,700 |
More Electrical and Electronics Engineer Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about general engineering education and career resources, visit
American Society for Engineering Education
Technology Student Association
For more information about licensure as an electrical or electronics engineer, visit
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
National Society of Professional Engineers
International Society of Automation
For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit
For more information about engineering summer camps, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.