Drafters, Engineering Technicians, and Mapping Technicians

How to become an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician

Official title: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Also called: Communication Technician (Communication Tech), Communications Technologist, Electrical Engineering Technician (Electrical Engineering Tech), Electrical Technician (Electrical Tech), Electronic Engineering Technician (Electronic Engineering Tech), Electronic Technician (Electronic Tech), Electronics Engineering Technician, Electronics Technician, Relay Technician (Relay Tech), System Technologist

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

Main tasks

Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards.
Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components.
Assemble, test, or maintain circuitry or electronic components, according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, or knowledge of electronics, using hand or power tools.
Maintain system logs or manuals to document testing or operation of equipment.
Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
Compile and maintain records documenting engineering schematics, installed equipment, installation or operational problems, resources used, repairs, or corrective action performed.
Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
Supervise the installation or operation of electronic equipment or systems.

How to become one

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree.

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians (Nof).
Apprenticeship: Electronics Technician.
Apprenticeship: Instrumentation Technician.
Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General; Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician; Telecommunications Technology/Technician

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $78,190 a year The middle half earn $61,610 to $97,650.
About 96,900 people work in this job now, and about 99,200 are projected by 2035. (+2.4%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician?

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree.

How much does an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $78,190 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $61,610 to $97,650.

Is an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 96,900 to about 99,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician?

Usually not. Only 21% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians (Nof).

Will AI change the work of an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.