Electrical Engineer Salary, Outlook & Career Guide

What Does an Electrical Engineer Do?

Electrical Engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment and systems. This includes power generation and distribution systems, electric motors, communications systems, navigation equipment, and electrical components for vehicles, aircraft, and consumer electronics.

A typical day involves using computer-assisted design (CAD) software to create electrical schematics, analyzing test data to troubleshoot systems, collaborating with other engineers on product development, and ensuring designs meet safety standards and regulations. Work environments vary from office settings for design work to laboratories for testing and manufacturing facilities for oversight. Some positions require occasional travel to project sites or client facilities.

Education & Requirements

Typical Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology required. ABET-accredited programs preferred by most employers.
Certifications: Professional Engineer (PE) license required for many positions, especially those involving public safety or offering services to the public. Earned after passing FE exam, gaining 4 years of experience, and passing PE exam.
Key Skills: Circuit design and analysis, power systems, control systems, signal processing, MATLAB/Simulink, AutoCAD or other CAD software, programming (C, C++, Python), understanding of electronics and electromagnetics
Experience: Entry-level positions require an engineering degree; internships or co-op experience during college highly valued. Some specialized roles may require master's degree.

Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data):

Median Annual Salary: $111,910
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $74,670
Experienced (90th percentile): $175,460
Top-Paying States: California, Alaska, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts
Top-Paying Metro Areas: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara CA, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV

Job Outlook & Growth

Employment of Electrical Engineers is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by demand for electronic devices, renewable energy systems, smart grid technology, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

The transition to renewable energy sources (solar, wind) requires electrical engineers to design power distribution systems and energy storage solutions. Growing demand for electric vehicles creates opportunities in battery management systems, charging infrastructure, and power electronics. Additionally, the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home technology continue to expand, requiring electrical engineering expertise.

How to Break Into This Field

Education: Earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited program. Take advantage of co-op programs or internships during your studies. Consider a master's degree for specialized roles in power systems, controls, or RF engineering.
Entry-Level Roles: Junior Electrical Engineer, Associate Engineer, Engineering Technician, or Test Engineer positions. Many companies have rotational programs for new graduates.
Build Skills: Complete the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam during your senior year. Build a portfolio of projects using Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or circuit design software. Join engineering competitions like IEEE robotics or design challenges. Learn industry-standard software (AutoCAD Electrical, ETAP, PSpice).
Network: Join IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) student chapter, attend career fairs and engineering conferences, connect with alumni in the field, participate in engineering honor societies like Eta Kappa Nu.
Apply Strategically: Target aerospace companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin), utilities and energy companies, automotive manufacturers (Tesla, Ford), consumer electronics firms (Apple, Samsung), and engineering consulting firms. Government agencies like NASA, DOE, and DOD also hire extensively.

Career Path & Advancement

Electrical Engineers typically progress from Junior Engineer → Engineer → Senior Engineer → Lead Engineer over 7-10 years. From there, paths diverge into technical specialization (Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, Technical Fellow) or management (Engineering Manager, Director of Engineering, VP of Engineering).

Common specializations include power systems engineering, control systems engineering, RF/microwave engineering, signal processing, embedded systems, or power electronics. Obtaining a PE license opens opportunities for independent consulting and signing off on designs for public projects.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Strong salary and job stability with above-average growth
Diverse career paths across multiple industries
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and infrastructure
Professional licensure (PE) provides career advancement and consulting opportunities
Problem-solving work with tangible real-world impact

Cons

Rigorous education requirements and competitive programs
Long path to PE license (4+ years of supervised experience)
Project deadlines can create stressful periods
Some positions require extensive documentation and regulatory compliance
May need to relocate for best opportunities or travel to project sites

Related Careers

If you're interested in Electrical Engineer, you might also consider:

Mechanical Engineer - Design mechanical systems and machinery
Aerospace Engineer - Work on aircraft and spacecraft electrical systems
Industrial Engineer - Optimize manufacturing and production systems
Software Developer - Focus on embedded systems and firmware development
Network Engineer - Design and maintain communication systems

Data Source

All salary and employment data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data reflects May 2024 estimates and 2024-2034 projections.

Electrical Engineer Career Guide