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Electrical, electronic, telecommunications engineers (except communication network engineers)

How to become an Electrical Engineer

Also called: Electrical installation design engineer, Electrical equipment production engineer, Electrical machinery manufacturing engineer

Develops and improves electrical equipment and machines, and carries out maintenance, management and upgrade work so they run safely.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university or high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but people usually join after studying electrical or electronic engineering at a technical high school, a science and engineering senmon gakko (vocational college), or a university or postgraduate programme. Many work for power companies, railway companies, or makers of heavy electrical equipment such as transformers, switchboards and control equipment and substation equipment. After joining, you have induction training and specialist training in your department before going on site, where you build knowledge and skills through practical experience. Even after starting work, you may take regular training to keep up to date and improve your expertise. A qualification related to construction work is electrical construction management engineer. For safety and supervision in the construction, maintenance and operation of electrical facilities there is chief electrical engineer. Both are national qualifications, and you become eligible to sit them based on work experience, so you gain them as needed. Because the work can involve hazardous materials, depending on the job you may also need qualifications such as first-class chief boiler and turbine engineer or certified energy manager. You need an interest in and knowledge of electricity and power. A small problem can lead to an accident, so great care and awareness of safety are needed to prevent accidents. Care for the environment is also important.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Electrical Engineer?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but people usually join after studying electrical or electronic engineering at a technical high school, a science and engineering senmon gakko (vocational college), or a university or postgraduate programme. Many work for power companies, railway companies, or makers of heavy electrical equipment such as transformers, switchboards and control equipment and substation equipment. After joining, you have induction training and specialist training in your department before going on site, where you build knowledge and skills through practical experience. Even after starting work, you may take regular training to keep up to date and improve your expertise. A qualification related to construction work is electrical construction management engineer. For safety and supervision in the construction, maintenance and operation of electrical facilities there is chief electrical engineer. Both are national qualifications, and you become eligible to sit them based on work experience, so you gain them as needed. Because the work can involve hazardous materials, depending on the job you may also need qualifications such as first-class chief boiler and turbine engineer or certified energy manager. You need an interest in and knowledge of electricity and power. A small problem can lead to an accident, so great care and awareness of safety are needed to prevent accidents. Care for the environment is also important.

How much does an Electrical Engineer earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥7,039,400 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Electrical, electronic, telecommunications engineers (except communication network engineers), which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Electrical Engineer?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 64% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of an Electrical Engineer?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026