Electrical Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Electrical engineers apply their knowledge of the sciences to working with equipment that produces and distributes electricity, such as generators, transmission lines, and transformers. They also design, develop, and manufacture electric motors, electrical machinery, and ignition systems for automobiles, aircraft, and other engines. There are approximately 189,100 electrical engineers employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Starting salaries for all engineers are generally much higher than for workers in any other field. Entry-level electrical engineers with a bachelors degree in engineering earned a median salary of $76,736, according to the Winter 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual salary for electrical engineers...
Work Environment
At some companies, a five-day, 40-hour workweek is still the norm, but it is becoming much less common. Many electrical engineers regularly work 10 or 20 hours of overtime a week. Electrical engineers in research and development, or those conducting experiments, often need to work at night or on weekends. Workers who supervise production activities may need to come in during the evenings or on ...
Outlook
Employment for electrical engineers is expected to grow by 9 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This is much faster than the average for all occupations. "Employment growth is expected as companies increasingly utilize the expertise of engineers for projects involving electrical and electronic devices, systems, and infrastructure," according to the ...
