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Electrical Engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Other titles employers use
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)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Subjects to know
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Design
- English Language
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.2 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.4 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.0 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 82%
- A two-year degree 11%
- A master's degree 7%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Operating system software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Development environment software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Project management software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Geographic information system
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 30,600
- Job openings each year
- 1,780
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 7.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 30,600 | 1,780 | 7.7% |
| Texas | 17,050 | 1,100 | 18.6% |
| New York | 10,280 | 60 | 6.5% |
| Michigan | 10,180 | 560 | 2.8% |
| Florida | 8,130 | 490 | 12.0% |
| Washington | 8,050 | 560 | 10.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 7,330 | 410 | 4.4% |
| Arizona | 6,630 | 400 | 10.7% |
| Ohio | 6,300 | 350 | 3.3% |
| North Carolina | 6,080 | 370 | 12.8% |
| Virginia | 5,560 | 310 | 4.3% |
| New Jersey | 5,110 | 290 | 4.9% |
| Georgia | 5,080 | 300 | 10.2% |
| Wisconsin | 5,070 | 300 | 8.8% |
| Maryland | 4,870 | 290 | 8.7% |
| Illinois | 4,580 | 250 | 2.5% |
| Colorado | 4,270 | 270 | 16.7% |
| Minnesota | 4,230 | 240 | 4.7% |
| Alabama | 4,000 | 230 | 5.0% |
| Indiana | 3,540 | 220 | 13.1% |
| Connecticut | 3,000 | 190 | 15.4% |
| South Carolina | 2,740 | 170 | 12.3% |
| Utah | 2,680 | 190 | 32.0% |
| Oregon | 2,650 | 170 | 14.7% |
| Missouri | 2,530 | 140 | 5.4% |
| Tennessee | 2,320 | 150 | 18.4% |
| New Hampshire | 2,210 | 130 | 7.8% |
| Kansas | 2,180 | 120 | 5.3% |
| Oklahoma | 1,970 | 110 | 5.3% |
| New Mexico | 1,880 | 110 | 11.2% |
| Massachusetts | 1,670 | 90 | 1.8% |
| Kentucky | 1,520 | 90 | 4.8% |
| Idaho | 1,300 | 80 | 17.1% |
| Mississippi | 1,290 | 80 | 16.2% |
| Iowa | 1,280 | 70 | 6.7% |
| Nevada | 1,100 | 70 | 11.1% |
| Louisiana | 1,060 | 60 | 6.0% |
| Maine | 940 | 50 | — |
| Arkansas | 920 | 50 | 7.0% |
| Nebraska | 890 | 50 | 6.0% |
| Montana | 760 | 50 | 13.4% |
| West Virginia | 720 | 40 | — |
| District of Columbia | 620 | 30 | 1.6% |
| Delaware | 550 | 30 | 3.8% |
| Rhode Island | 530 | 30 | 6.0% |
| Vermont | 460 | 30 | 2.2% |
| North Dakota | 370 | 20 | 12.1% |
| Puerto Rico | 370 | 20 | 5.7% |
| Wyoming | 330 | 20 | 6.5% |
| South Dakota | 320 | 20 | 6.7% |
| Alaska | 290 | 20 | 3.6% |
| Guam | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of California-Berkeley
- Degrees each year
- 480
- Admit rate
- 12%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryDirect to college
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Austin
- Degrees each year
- 342
- Admit rate
- 29%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryDirect to college
Open college NJRutgers University-New Brunswick
- Degrees each year
- 289
- Admit rate
- 65%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college TXTexas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 270
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryDirect to college
Open college WAUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Degrees each year
- 227
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college OHOhio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 217
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college FLFlorida International University
- Degrees each year
- 212
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college AZArizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 195
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryFirst-year program admission
Open collegeCompare every college offering electrical, electronics, and communications engineering