Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Summary

What Electrical and Electronics Engineers Do About this section

Electronics engineers analyze the requirements and costs of electrical systems.

Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, and test electrical and electronic equipment, components, and systems.

Duties

Electrical and electronics engineers typically do the following:

• Design and develop electrical and electronic devices, products, and systems
• Determine product or system requirements
• Use engineering or design software or equipment to create models, diagrams, and layouts
• Inspect and test reliability and safety of electrical and electronic devices, products, and systems
• Supervise the manufacturing or construction of products or systems
• Prepare documentation covering product or system requirements and maintenance
• Evaluate systems and recommend design modifications or equipment repair

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical systems and 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 the components and circuitry of electronic products. They may supervise the manufacturing and testing of these electronic products, such as audio-visual equipment or radar and sonar systems.

The work of electrical engineers and electronics engineers is often similar, and they frequently work together and with other types of engineers on projects. Some may specialize in a specific area of electrical or electronics engineering, such as electric power, radio communications, or control systems. 

Engineers who focus primarily on computers or computer-related equipment are covered in the profile for computer hardware engineers.

Work Environment About this section

Electrical and electronic engineers work in various industries, including engineering services, research and development, and manufacturing.

Electrical engineers held about 189,100 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of electrical engineers were as follows:

Electronics engineers, except computer held about 98,700 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of electronics engineers, except computer were as follows:

Electrical and electronics engineers generally work in an office setting. Travel may be required, such as visiting project sites to observe a problem or a piece of complex equipment.

Work Schedules

Most electrical and electronics engineers work full time.

How to Become an Electrical or Electronics Engineer About this section

Becoming an electrical or electronics engineer involves the study of math and engineering.

Electrical and electronics engineers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs.

Education

High school students interested in studying electrical or electronics engineering benefit from taking courses in physics and math, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Other courses, such as those in engineering, digital electronics, and drafting and design may also be helpful.

Electrical and electronics engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a related engineering field. Programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies. Courses include digital systems design, calculus, and electrical circuit theory. Programs in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electrical engineering technology are accredited by ABET.

Students also may choose to participate in cooperative education programs or internships. Through partnerships with local businesses, these programs allow students to gain practical experience while they complete their education. Some employers may prefer to hire workers with a master’s degree.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level electrical and electronics engineer positions. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public.

State licensure typically requires a bachelor’s or higher degree in engineering, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam.

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.

Advancement

Electrical and electronics engineers may advance to supervisory or management positions in which they lead a team of engineers and technicians. For more information, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.

Important Qualities

Computer skills. Electrical and electronics engineers use computer-aided design software to perform engineering tasks. Electrical and electronics engineers also need a working knowledge of programming languages.

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 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.

Problem-solving skills. Electrical and electronics engineers must troubleshoot issues that arise in designing products and systems and devise safe and efficient solutions.

Project management skills. Electrical and electronics engineers coordinate project schedules and work processes with other departments and contractors. They also must monitor project costs and resources.

Communication skills. Electrical and electronics engineers must be able to convey complex information, both orally and in writing, to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for electrical engineers was $111,910 in May 2024. 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 $74,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $175,460.

The median annual wage for electronics engineers, except computer was $127,590 in May 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $79,390, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $199,060.

In May 2024, the median annual wages for electrical engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

In May 2024, the median annual wages for electronics engineers, except computer in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most electrical and electronics engineers work full time.

Job Outlook About this section

Overall employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 19,000 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

Employment growth is expected as companies increasingly utilize the expertise of engineers for projects involving electrical and electronic devices, systems, and infrastructure. These engineers are expected to have key roles in developing sophisticated consumer electronics, solar arrays, semiconductors, and communications technologies.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

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

ABET

O*NET

Electrical Engineers

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer

Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists