How To Become an Electrical Engineer
Becoming an electrical engineer involves a combination of education, skills development and practical experience. Aspiring engineers typically pursue a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, focusing on mathematics, physics and circuit design.1 By combining formal education, practical experience and ongoing learning, you can work toward building a career as an electrical engineer. Use this career guide to further explore the steps and requirements for this engineering field.
In This Article:
- What Is an Electrical Engineer?
- What Does an Electrical Engineer Do?
- What Education and Experience Does an Electrical Engineer Need?
- Best Degrees for Electrical Engineers
- What Skills Does an Electrical Engineer Need?
- Median Annual Wage
- Projected Job Growth
- Where Do Electrical Engineers Work?
What Is an Electrical Engineer?
Electrical engineering is a branch of engineering involved with the study, design, development and implementation of all types of electrical equipment, devices and systems. Within this branch, there are many subfields, including power, control, electronic and microelectronics engineering.2
An electrical engineer is responsible for developing new electrical systems and equipment or improving existing ones.2 These professionals are also responsible for ensuring that the equipment and systems they work on are as safe as possible.2
What Does an Electrical Engineer Do?
You'll find that pursuing electrical engineering can open doors to work in diverse industries, such as aviation, computing, broadcast communications, transportation and manufacturing.2 The possibilities are virtually endless. Electrical engineers can work on any type of product, piece of equipment or system involving electricity — from electric cars and drones to smartphones and telecommunications networks. The specific tasks of an electrical engineer will vary, depending on their subfield and the project they are working on. In general, their daily tasks may include:2
Designing and developing
Electrical engineers design and develop new products, equipment and systems that use electricity.
Supervising
Engineers may oversee the manufacture and installation of their equipment or systems.
Regulating
Electrical engineers must ensure their devices are in compliance with all applicable codes.
Configuration
Engineers must develop installation standards and specifications for the manufacture of their electrical equipment.
Testing
Testing is an important phase of the process, as electrical engineers need to ensure the product or system works as intended.
Troubleshooting
When equipment doesn’t work as intended, engineers must investigate the problem and devise a solution.
As you can see, electrical engineers are often involved with the entire lifecycle of a project — from conception and design to implementation and troubleshooting. They must work collaboratively with other professionals to ensure each project proceeds smoothly and is completed on time and within budget.2
What Education and Experience Does an Electrical Engineer Need?
Learn how to become an electrical engineer below, starting with high school, college and professional certification.
High School Diploma
If you’re still in high school and you’re interested in becoming an engineer, it’s a good idea to talk to your guidance counselor about your plans. Take plenty of math and science courses, including physics, algebra, trigonometry and calculus, as well as drafting, if available.1 Aim to get good grades in these subjects.
College Degree
To become an electrical engineer, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field of engineering. Look for a degree program that has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). A bachelor’s degree is generally sufficient to pursue most electrical engineering careers, but if you plan on working in research and development or postsecondary education, you should also earn a master’s degree.1
Internships and Apprenticeships
Internships or apprenticeships are crucial for electronic engineers, offering invaluable hands-on experience and practical knowledge that can enhance your technical skills and career readiness. In fact, surveys show that employers in this field generally prefer to hire graduates with internship experience and many hire their own former interns after graduation.1
Entry-Level Roles
Upon graduation, you can begin looking for an entry-level electrical engineering job. You may be able to immediately work as a junior electrical engineer rather than starting out in a different role.1 This is especially true if you completed an internship, as you may have the opportunity to interview at the same company.3
Professional Certifications
If you are having trouble landing your first electrical engineering job, consider taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam sooner than later. This is a professional certification exam that doesn’t have work experience requirements. In fact, you can take it right after graduation. After passing this exam, you may be referred to as an “engineer in training” (EIT) or an “engineer intern” (EI).1
Later, after gaining sufficient work experience, you may qualify to take the second professional certification—the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Upon passing the PE exam, you may need to apply for state licensure. Licensure requirements can vary by state.1
Now that you’re familiar with the basics of how to become an electrical engineer, you may be eager to learn more about this career and your academic pathway. If you aren’t quite sure whether this field is right for you, consider talking to your high school guidance counselor about job shadowing opportunities. These may shed light on your career preferences.
Best Degrees for Electrical Engineers
It's possible to become an electrical engineer with a general engineering degree. However, the ideal pathway is to earn a degree that focuses specifically on electrical engineering.1 This type of degree will provide a thorough framework of competencies in engineering design, engineering processes, quality analysis and more.
In addition, look for a degree program that offers plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning. For example, it’s ideal to complete one or two capstone projects, which will typically allow you to work in teams to solve an engineering problem or develop a major project.
A typical electrical engineering degree program covers topics such as:
- Differential equations
- Circuits design
- Embedded systems
- Signal processing
- Electromagnetic fields
- Electrical design
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Electrical Engineers
Aspiring electrical engineers need a firm grounding in science and math competencies, especially physics, differential equations, electrical circuit theory and digital systems design. They can benefit from hands-on activities that allow them to put what they’ve been taught into practice, as well as opportunities to refine soft skills like communication and collaboration.1
If you're interested in learning more about how to become an electrical engineer, you may wish to consider the following degree programs:
Bachelor’s Programs
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies with an Emphasis in Engineering Management
Other Programs
Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians
What Skills Does an Electrical Engineer Need?
An electrical engineer needs a wide variety of technical skills to perform their job duties, such as circuit design. However, it’s also helpful to possess a firm command of key soft skills, as engineers often need to collaborate with other professionals to complete a project. Some of the most important skills for an aspiring electrical engineer include:1
- Concentration
- Commitment to ongoing learning
- Interpersonal skills
- Collaborative mindset
- Mathematics
- Communication skills
Median Annual Wage
The median annual wage for electrical and electronics engineers can depend on a number of factors, including experience, professional licensure, specialty area, employer and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for electrical and electronics engineers was $109,010 as of May 2023.4
Projected Job Growth
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for electrical and electronics engineers to increase by 5%, faster than average, accounting for an estimated addition of about 15,800 jobs to the field from 2022 to 2032.5
Where Do Electrical Engineers Work?
You’ll likely find electrical engineers in diverse settings and industries. Because electrical equipment, products and systems are so well integrated into modern society, there is a range of workplace possibilities. You may find an electrical engineer working in the following places:6
Engineering firms
Engineers at firms design and manage large infrastructure projects, ensuring technical and regulatory compliance for a variety of clients.
Manufacturing
Many engineers work for manufacturing companies, specifically in the production of navigational, measuring and electromedical equipment.
Government
Professionals in this field design and maintain systems for national defense, infrastructure and public services within the government.
Power plants
Electrical engineers design and manage the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power.
Research and development
Some engineers may decide to specialize in research and development, working toward scientific breakthroughs.
Telecommunications
Electrical engineers design and optimize networks and systems to ensure reliable and efficient communication services.
With ample work experience, an electrical engineer may explore various career progression opportunities. This may include transitioning into supervisory roles, overseeing teams of technicians and engineers or moving into engineering management. Additionally, some engineers might pursue graduate degrees to prepare for research, development or academic positions.3
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How To Become an Electrical or Electronics Engineer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). What Electrical and Electronics Engineers Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
3 GeeksForGeeks.org. (2024, June 5). Why Internships Are Important for Engineering Students or Freshers. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Electrical and Electronics Engineers as of May 2023, retrieved on Aug. 9, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as electrical and electronics engineers, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
5 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Electrical and Electronics Engineers, retrieved on Aug. 9, 2024.
6 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). Electrical and Electronics Engineers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
Approved and verified accurate by the assistant dean of the College of Engineering and Technology on Oct. 17, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
