How to become an Electrical Engineer
Official title: Electrical Engineers
Also called: Circuits Engineer, Design Engineer, Electrical Controls Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Electrical Project Engineer, Engineer, Instrumentation and Electrical Reliability Engineer (I&E Reliability Engineer), Project Engineer, Test Engineer
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Main tasks
- Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
- Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
- Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
- Investigate or test vendors' or competitors' products.
- Inspect completed installations and observe operations to ensure conformance to design and equipment specifications and compliance with operational, safety, or environmental standards.
How to become one
Electrical and electronics engineers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in a related engineering field. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 49 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $120,630 a year The middle half earn $92,830 to $152,950.
- About 199,700 people work in this job now, and about 219,500 are projected by 2035. (+9.9%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Transportation Engineers
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become an Electrical Engineer?
Electrical and electronics engineers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in a related engineering field. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs.
How much does an Electrical Engineer earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $120,630 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $92,830 to $152,950.
Is an Electrical Engineer a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 199,700 to about 219,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Electrical Engineer?
Usually. 84% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Electrical Engineer?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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.