Life As an Electrical Engineer
Occupation Description Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Life As an Electrical Engineer: What Do They Do?
- Investigate or test vendors’ or competitors’ products.
- Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- Plan or implement research methodology or procedures to apply principles of electrical theory to engineering projects.
- Prepare specifications for purchases of materials or equipment.
- Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- Investigate customer or public complaints to determine the nature and extent of problems.
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Electrical Engineer Required Skills
Electrical Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles
- Power Distribution Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Traffic Routing Engineer
- Illuminating Engineer
- Field Engineer
Job Opportunities for Electrical Engineers
There were about 188,300 jobs for Electrical Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,200 new jobs for Electrical Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 13,900 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Electrical Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and Wisconsin. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Alaska, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Electrical Engineer Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Electrical Engineers is somewhere between $61,190 and $153,240.
Electrical Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or New Mexico, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Electrical Engineers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $97,310 |
| Alaska | $119,130 |
| Arizona | $106,260 |
| Arkansas | $82,200 |
| California | $114,170 |
| Colorado | $100,550 |
| Connecticut | $98,310 |
| Delaware | $108,900 |
| District of Columbia | $118,000 |
| Florida | $94,250 |
| Georgia | $87,850 |
| Hawaii | $89,720 |
| Idaho | $93,080 |
| Illinois | $94,700 |
| Indiana | $86,100 |
| Iowa | $87,700 |
| Kansas | $90,880 |
| Kentucky | $89,780 |
| Louisiana | $94,090 |
| Maine | $89,860 |
| Maryland | $116,560 |
| Massachusetts | $113,920 |
| Michigan | $90,700 |
| Minnesota | $98,120 |
| Mississippi | $93,740 |
| Missouri | $97,750 |
| Montana | $92,120 |
| Nebraska | $90,180 |
| Nevada | $92,540 |
| New Hampshire | $107,790 |
| New Jersey | $118,120 |
| New Mexico | $113,050 |
| New York | $103,740 |
| North Carolina | $97,490 |
| North Dakota | $89,680 |
| Ohio | $85,320 |
| Oklahoma | $98,950 |
| Oregon | $90,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,870 |
| Rhode Island | $110,360 |
| South Carolina | $90,140 |
| South Dakota | $84,710 |
| Tennessee | $93,180 |
| Texas | $106,260 |
| Utah | $94,200 |
| Vermont | $115,460 |
| Virginia | $109,690 |
| Washington | $113,540 |
| West Virginia | $88,640 |
| Wisconsin | $86,020 |
| Wyoming | $92,960 |
What Tools & Technology do Electrical Engineers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Electrical Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Python
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Visio
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Linux
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- UNIX
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Minitab
- National Instruments LabVIEW
How do I Become an Electrical Engineer?
What education is needed to be an Electrical Engineer?
What work experience do I need to become an Electrical Engineer?
Electrical Engineers Sector
Electrical Engineers work in the following industries:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming an Electrical Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Electrical Engineer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: NASA via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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