ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS II (Cont’d)

How to become an electrical engineer

Official title: Electrical engineer

Also called: Electrical circuit engineer, Electrical equipment engineer, Electrical surveyor, Electro-mechanical engineer, Illumination engineer, Lighting engineer, Motor design engineer (electrical), Protective relay engineer, Service engineer (electrical), Signal systems engineer (electrical), Traction engineer (electric power), Senior Assistant Engineer/Assistant Engineer (Power)

Electrical engineer conducts research and advises on, designs, and directs the construction and operation of electrical systems and equipment, and plans and supervises their development, construction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair. He/she studies operating requirements for industrial and domestic electrical machinery and appliances and other electrical equipment, and engages in research and development work. He/she designs electrical systems and equipment, prepares working drawings and specifications, and supervises technical aspects of manufacturing processes.

Main tasks

Advising on and designing power stations and systems which generate, transmit and distribute electrical power
Supervising, controlling and monitoring the operation of electrical generation, transmission and distribution systems
Advising on and designing systems for electrical motors, electrical traction and other equipment, or electrical domestic appliances
Specifying electrical installation and application in industrial and other buildings and objects
Establishing control standards and procedures to monitor performance and safety of electrical generating and distribution systems, motors and equipment
Determining manufacturing methods for electrical systems, as well as maintenance and repair of existing electrical systems, motors and equipment

Ways in

University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 4 universities in Singapore
Licence or registration: Anyone can work as an engineer, but only a registered Professional Engineer with a practising certificate may supply professional engineering services, such as signing off civil, mechanical, electrical or chemical engineering plans submitted to the authorities. Registration needs an approved degree, at least four years of practical experience, the PEB's Fundamentals and Practice of Professional Engineering exams, and an interview. Law: Professional Engineers Act 1991. Regulator: Professional Engineers Board Singapore (PEB) (https://www1.peb.gov.sg).

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $72,000 a year. The middle half earn $56,244 to $97,860 a year.
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

How do I become an electrical engineer?

Ways in include: Engineering degrees.

How much does an electrical engineer earn in Singapore?

Median full-time pay is $72,000 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $56,244 to $97,860.

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

Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026