How to become an electrical and electronics technician
Official title: Electrical and electronics technicians
Also called: Technician, Craft technician, Avionics technician, Telemetry technician, Electronics assistant, Electrical technician, Electronic technician, Electronics technician, Clinical engineering technician, Electrical maintenance technician, Signals officer, Assistant engineer
Electrical and electronics technicians perform a variety of miscellaneous technical support functions to assist with the design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of electrical and electronic systems.
Main tasks
- Plans and prepares work and test schedules based on specifications and drawings
- Sets up equipment, undertakes tests, takes readings, performs calculations and records and interprets data
- Plans installation methods, checks completed installation for safety and controls or undertakes the initial running of the new electrical or electronic equipment or system
- Diagnoses and detects faults and implements procedures to maintain efficient operation of systems and equipment
- Visits and advises clients on the use and servicing of electrical and electronic systems and equipment
- Interprets and reviews technical drawings
How to become one
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades, a BTEC/ SQA award or a relevant certificate/diploma. Vocational qualifications in Electrical Installation, Electrical Engineering and other relevant fields at levels 2 to 4 and apprenticeships are available.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £35,126 a year The middle half earn £27,856 to null.
- About 19,700 people work in this job now, and about 21,100 are projected by 2035. (+7.3%)
Related jobs
- Laboratory technicians
- Engineering technicians
- Building and civil engineering technicians
- Quality assurance technicians
- Planning, process and production technicians
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become an electrical and electronics technician?
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades, a BTEC/ SQA award or a relevant certificate/diploma. Vocational qualifications in Electrical Installation, Electrical Engineering and other relevant fields at levels 2 to 4 and apprenticeships are available.
How much does an electrical and electronics technician earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £35,126 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is an electrical and electronics technician a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 19,700 to about 21,100 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become an electrical and electronics technician?
Not always. 29% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03