SOC 17-2071.00Bright outlook

    Electrical Engineers

    Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

    Median pay
    $120,630
    Growth
    +9.9%
    Much faster than average
    Openings a year
    11,400
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $76,550
    Median
    $120,630
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $184,300
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    198,750 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems and equipment for various industries. This career offers a median annual salary of $120,630, with opportunities spanning commercial, military, and scientific sectors.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What electrical engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Electrical engineers focus on creating and improving electrical components and systems. Their daily activities involve working with computers to draft, lay out, and specify technical devices and equipment. They spend significant time gathering and analyzing data, evaluating information to ensure compliance with standards, and solving complex problems. Making decisions, documenting technical information, and organizing project schedules are also key parts of the job.

    To succeed in this role, individuals need strong skills in mathematics, critical thinking, active learning, and reading comprehension. They must communicate clearly through writing and speaking to coordinate tasks with others. The work requires deep knowledge of engineering, technology, physics, design, and electronics. Because they frequently deal with complex systems, these professionals rely on work styles like attention to detail, cautiousness, innovation, and perseverance. This career strongly appeals to people with realistic interests who enjoy practical, hands-on problem-solving and working with real-world equipment.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree along with several years of relevant work experience. Students preparing for this career path generally major in college programs such as electrical and computer engineering, electromechanical engineering, or electrical, electronics, and communications engineering.

    Graduates and working professionals can pursue specific credentials to demonstrate their expertise. Available certifications include the Fundamentals of Engineering - Electrical and Computer credential, offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, as well as the ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) - Associate Technician certification from Exemplar Global. Additionally, some states list a license for this type of engineering work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for electrical engineers was $120,630. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% of workers earning less than $76,550 and the highest 10% earning more than $184,300.

    There were 198,750 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 9.9%, which is much faster than average. This growth, combined with normal turnover, is expected to result in 11,400 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    84 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    74 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    19 / 100
    Social (S)
    12 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    24 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    57 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RIC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    98
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    97
    Scheduling Work and Activities
    90
    Documenting/Recording Information
    89
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    88
    Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
    84
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    84
    Analyzing Data or Information
    83
    Getting Information
    83
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    81
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Writing
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Speaking
    • Monitoring
    • Mathematics
    • Coordination

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Design
    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Production and Processing
    • Mechanical
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Customer and Personal Service

    Abilities

    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Category Flexibility
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Innovation
    • Cautiousness
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Perseverance
    • Self-Confidence
    • Adaptability

    Also called

    Automation Engineer · Cable Engineer · Circuits Engineer · Controls Engineer · Design Engineer · Design Verification Engineer · Distribution Engineer · Distribution Field Engineer · District Plant Engineer · Division Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to electrical engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Electrical Engineers$120,630 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Carnegie Mellon University logo
      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,074
      4 yrs after
      $250,168
      Median debt
      $19,500
    2. 2University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $154,713
      4 yrs after
      $200,543
      Median debt
      $13,548
    3. 3Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT logo
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

      Cambridge, MA · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $150,863
      4 yrs after
      $161,118
      Median debt
      $15,000
    4. 4Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $110,607
      4 yrs after
      $147,241
      Median debt
      $12,750
    5. 5The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus logo
      The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus

      Austin, TX · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $111,942
      4 yrs after
      $146,003
      Median debt
      $18,118
    6. 6Columbia University in the City of New York logo
      Columbia University in the City of New York

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $143,332
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7
      Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

      New York, NY · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $139,068
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8Rice University logo
      Rice University

      Houston, TX · Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $103,698
      4 yrs after
      $136,656
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What electrical engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
    • Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other
    • Electromechanical Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    53 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about electrical engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for electrical engineers?

    People in this field are also called automation engineers, circuits engineers, controls engineers, and design verification engineers. Other common titles include distribution field engineers and division engineers.

    What college majors are recommended for this career?

    Students typically major in electrical, electronics, and communications engineering. Other suitable majors include electromechanical engineering or electrical and computer engineering.

    Is a license required to work as an electrical engineer?

    While a bachelor's degree is the standard entry requirement, some states do list a license for this profession. Requirements can vary depending on the location and the specific engineering role.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.