Architecture & Engineering
Electrical Engineers
Also called: Circuits Engineer, Design Engineer, Electrical Controls Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer
US median pay
$120,630
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+9.9%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
11,400
199,700 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Investigate customer or public complaints to determine the nature and extent of problems.
- Prepare technical drawings, specifications of electrical systems, or topographical maps to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
- Systems Analysis3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Coordination3.2/5
- Operations Analysis3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology4.7/5
- Computers and Electronics4.7/5
- Design4.1/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Mathematics3.7/5
- Physics3.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree82%
- Associate's degree11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.