What's the Entry-Level Salary for Electronics Engineering Careers?
If you're interested in designing and developing electronic equipment, there are a few career paths you could take. For example, you could become an electronics engineering technician or an electronics engineer. Read on to see how entry-level pay will vary depending on the extent of your education, your location and your employer.
Career Overview: Electronics Engineers and Electronics Engineering Technicians
While both electronics engineers and electronics engineering technicians both work in the same field, the two careers do differ slightly in their job duties and academic focus. Technicians are generally responsible for the hands-on aspects of electronics; they build and inspect electrical equipment and observe and address any errors that may come to light. Engineers are responsible for the conceptual and design elements of electronics production. They work closely with electronics engineering technicians by overseeing the manufacture or installation of electronic machines or devices to make sure everything is carried safely and properly.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutTheseOccupations">Important Facts About These Occupations</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th> Electronics Engineering Technicians</th><th> Electronics Engineers</th></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 0% </td><td> 6%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Licensure</td><td> None </td><td> Optional Professional Engineer (PE) license</td></tr>
<tr><td>Professional Certification</td><td> Optional certification in Electrical Power testing</td><td> None</td></tr>
<tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Mechanical, observational, and writing skills</td><td> Speaking and interpersonal skills; initiative</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work Environment</td><td> Factories, laboratories, and offices</td><td> Offices; some on-site work</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Electromechanical technician</td><td> Aerospace engineer</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---ElectronicsEngineeringTechnicians">Electronics Engineering Technicians</h3><p>If you have little or no prior experience in electronics engineering, it is sometimes possible to qualify for an electronics engineering technician position; however, most employers tend to prefer engineering technicians with at least associate's degrees in engineering technology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most electrical and electronics engineering technicians earned between $39,840 and $99,210 in May 2021 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The average wage for these professionals was $69,070.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry">Salary by Industry</h3><p>The most common industry employing these technicians in May 2021 was architectural, engineering and related services, which offered an average wage of $66,330, the BLS reported. Average wages for other common industries were $64,070 for semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing and $64,860 for navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing. Waste treatment and disposal offered these professionals the highest average wage of $96,990.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByState">Salary by State</h3><p>California employed the highest number of electrical and electronics engineering technicians as of May 2021 and paid them an average wage of $73,910, according to the BLS. Alaska, which had the highest job concentration of any state, offered high average wages of $82,670. District of Columbia offered these professionals the highest wage of $92,260.
</p><h3 id="section---ElectronicsEngineers">Electronics Engineers</h3><p>To work as an electronics engineer, you must first earn a bachelor's degree in engineering. Many schools offer bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering or electrical engineering technology, both of which may qualify you for entry-level jobs; however, a degree in electronics engineering technology may not qualify you for licensure as a professional engineer (PE). In December 2022, <i>PayScale.com</i> reported that most entry-level electronics engineers earned between $51,000 and $92,000. The BLS reported that electronics engineers overall earned an average wage of $115,490 in May 2021.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry-2">Salary by Industry</h3><p>According to the BLS, the wired telecommunications carriers was the most common employer of electronics engineers in May 2021, and it offered an average wage of $107,750. Architectural, engineering and related services offered an average wage of $114,170, and the Federal executive branch offered an average wage of $115,920. Software publishers paid the overall highest average wage of $147,760.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByState-2">Salary by State</h3><p>The BLS reported that California, which paid electronics engineers an average wage of $130,330, had the highest employment level in May 2021. Colorado had the highest job concentration overall and offered one of the highest average wages of $117,990. The District of Columbia paid these professionals the highest average wage of $136,380.
</p><h3 id="section---AssociateSDegreeInElectronicEngineeringTechnology">Associate's Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology</h3><p>If you enjoy the hands-on aspect of engineering and prefer to work in the design, testing and repair of electronic equipment, you might wish to pursue an associate's or bachelor's degree in electronic engineering technology. Most associate's degree programs in this field can be completed in 1-2 years and prepare you for entry-level work in electronic device development and testing under the supervision of technologists or engineers. Courses cover the basics of electronic applications and mathematics, often including subjects like:
</p><ul><li>Electrical circuitry
</li><li>Physics
</li><li>Digital electronics
</li><li>Engineering programming
</li><li>Industrial electronics
</li></ul><h3 id="section---BachelorSDegreeInElectronicsEngineeringTechnology">Bachelor's Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology</h3><p>A Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology may qualify you for entry-level engineer technologist or applied engineering positions. Your work will usually consist of practical applications of engineering design and may include product quality control, testing, electronic component modification and prototype construction. You can expect to complete this program in four years and take courses in the following topics:
</p><ul><li>Circuit analysis
</li><li>Microcomputer systems
</li><li>Circuit Analysis
</li><li>Programmable controllers
</li><li>Manufacturing management
</li><li>Automation
</li></ul><h3 id="section---BachelorSDegreeInElectricalEngineering">Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering</h3><p>If you're more interested in the theory and design aspects of electronics engineering, you might wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. According to ABET, Inc., engineers and technologists are closely related; however, engineer work and education focus more on engineering theory and design rather than applications and testing (<i>www.abet.org</i>). Electronic engineering degree programs include instruction in electronics and component design, as well as courses in:
</p><ul><li>Linear control systems
</li><li>Signal processing
</li><li>Computer-aided design
</li><li>Communications systems
</li><li>Digital design
</li></ul><h3 id="section---GraduateDegreesInElectricalEngineering">Graduate Degrees in Electrical Engineering</h3><p>For an advanced career in teaching or research, you might consider pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in electrical engineering. A master's degree can typically be completed in 2-3 years and may include an option to write a thesis. A doctorate will most likely take 5-6 years, depending on how long you take to research and complete a dissertation. Graduate degree programs may feature similar, advanced coursework and allow you to choose elective courses based on your field of interest. Potential course topics may include:
</p><ul><li>Wireless communications
</li><li>Control systems
</li><li>Electromagnetics
</li><li>Media engineering
</li><li>Signal processing
</li></ul><p>According to January 2023 <i>PayScale.com</i> findings, employees with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and less than one year of experience earned a median salary of $85,718 while entry-level employees with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and less than one year of experience earned a median salary of $105,581.</p>