Important Facts About Electrical Engineers
| Key Skills | Concentration, initiative, interpersonal communication, math |
| Certification | Available, voluntary |
| Work Environment | Office setting; Travel may be required to work on site; Overtime work may be required |
| Similar Occupations | Electricians, Electro-mechanical Technicians, Aerospace Engineers, Computer Hardware Engineers |
Electrical Engineering as a Career
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 186,020 electrical engineers were employed in the United States in 2021. This occupation is expected to grow by about 2% from 2021-2031, which is slower than the average for other career-fields.
Electrical engineering is a high-paying occupation. Electrical engineers earned a mean annual wage of $107,890 in 2021, according to the BLS, with the top 90% of engineers making $162,930 or above. Electrical engineers work in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, communications, manufacturing, electrical power generation, and semiconductors.
Electrical Engineering Coursework
Students who complete the coursework for electrical engineering degree programs learn through a combination of classroom theory, lab work and experience in the field. A typical bachelor's degree curriculum will cover topics such as:
- Physics
- Digital systems
- Communications
- Electric circuits
- Thermodynamics
- Fundamentals of design
Specializations in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is comprised of a variety of sub-disciplines; each area of specialization requires specific training. Often, students working for a Bachelor of Science degree will get a solid general education in electrical engineering and then choose one or two fields of specialization for developing their expertise once they become upperclassmen or graduate students. Here are a few of the areas students can specialize in:
- Communications
- Computers hardware or software
- Control systems
- Electromagnetics
- Power systems
- Semiconductors
