How to Become an Electrical or Electronics Engineer
Electrical and electronics engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value practical experience, so graduates of cooperative engineering programs, in which students earn academic credit for structured work experience, are valuable as well.
Pay
The median annual wage of electrical engineers was $84,540 in May 2010. The median annual wage of electronics engineers was $90,170 in May 2010.
Job Outlook
Employment of electrical and electronics engineers is expected to grow 6 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of electrical and electronics engineers with similar occupations.
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What Electrical and Electronics Engineers Do
Electronics engineers analyze the requirements and costs of electrical systems.
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 such as broadcast and communications systems, from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPS). Many also work in areas closely related to computer hardware.
Duties
Electrical engineers typically do the following:
Design new ways to use electrical power to develop or improve products
Do detailed calculations to compute manufacturing, construction, and installation standards and specifications
Direct manufacturing, installing, and testing to ensure that the product as built meets specifications and codes
Investigate complaints from customers or the public, evaluate problems, and recommend solutions
Work with project managers on production efforts to ensure 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 electrical system requirements, capacity, cost, and customer needs and then develop a system plan
Develop maintenance and testing procedures for electronic components and equipment
Evaluate systems and recommend repair or design modifications
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 to improve technical performance
Electronics engineers who work for the federal government research, develop, and evaluate electronic devices used in diverse technologies, 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 must also 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. For more information about this occupation, see the profile on computer hardware engineers.
Work Environment
Electrical and electronic engineers are mostly employed in industries conducting research and development or engineering service firms.
Electrical and electronics engineers held about 294,000 jobs in 2010.
Electrical and electronics engineers worked primarily in engineering services firms, electric power generation, manufacturing, and research and development in 2010:
Architectural, engineering, and related services 22%
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing 10
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 10
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing 7
Scientific research and development services 5
Electronics engineers work mostly for the federal government, semiconductor manufacturing, and telecommunications companies. Industries employing the largest number of electronics engineers in 2010 were as follows:
Federal government, excluding postal service 14%
Wired telecommunications carriers 11
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing 11
Architectural, engineering, and related services 8
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing 8
Electrical and electronics engineers generally work indoors in offices. However, they may visit sites to observe a problem or a piece of complex equipment.
Most of these engineers work full time, and overtime is not uncommon.
How to Become an Electrical or Electronics Engineer
Becoming an electrical or electronics engineer involves study of math and engineering.
Electrical and electronics engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value practical experience, so graduates of cooperative engineering programs, in which students earn academic credit for structured work experience, are valuable as well. Having a Professional Engineer license may improve an engineer’s chances for employment.
Education
High school students interested in studying electrical or electronics engineering benefit from taking courses in physics and mathematics—algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Courses in drafting are also helpful, as these engineers are often required to prepare technical drawings.
Entry-level jobs in electrical or electronics engineering generally require a bachelor’s degree. Programs typically last 4 years and include classroom, laboratory, and field studies. Courses include digital systems design, differential equations, and electrical circuit theory. Programs in electrical engineering should be accredited by ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).
Some colleges and universities offer cooperative programs in which students gain practical experience while completing