Electrical engineer

What does an electrical engineer do?

• Design electrical systems, circuits and components using calculations and specialist software.
• Plan power supplies and wiring systems for buildings, factories and infrastructure.
• Test equipment and prototypes, measure performance and find the causes of faults.
• Write specifications and check that installations meet safety codes and standards.
• Work with mechanical, software and civil engineers on shared projects.
• Oversee the installation, commissioning and maintenance of electrical equipment.
• Improve energy efficiency and connect renewable sources such as solar and wind power to the grid.

Where do they work?

Electrical engineers work for power generation and grid companies, electronics and equipment makers, telecommunications firms, rail and transport operators, building services consultancies and public bodies. Design roles are mostly office-based, while commissioning and maintenance roles involve time at power stations, substations, factories or construction sites. Some jobs include on-call duty to deal with power failures. Safety rules are strict because of the risks of working with high voltages.

What skills do you need?

• Circuit theory and electronics
• Power systems and electrical machines
• Mathematics and physics
• Electrical design and simulation software
• Programming and control systems
• Knowledge of electrical safety standards
• Fault finding and testing
• Clear technical communication

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• use technical drawing software
• approve engineering design
• adjust engineering designs
• perform scientific research
• abide by regulations on banned materials

Essential knowledge: environmental legislation · environmental threats · design drawings · engineering principles · electricity · electricity principles

How do you become an electrical engineer?

Most electrical engineers have a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical, electronic, or electrical and electronic engineering. In many countries the degree takes four years, while in much of Europe a three-year bachelor's is often followed by a master's. Internships with utilities, manufacturers or consultancies give valuable experience. After graduating, many join a structured training programme and work towards chartered or licensed status. Physics and computer science graduates can move into some electronics roles, and electrical technicians can progress through part-time study or degree apprenticeships.

1. University degree. An accredited degree in electrical or electronic engineering covers circuits, electromagnetism, power systems, signal processing, control and programming. Laboratory work and design projects are a major part of the course. Accredited degrees support later professional registration, and countries that have signed the Washington Accord recognise one another's accredited degrees as broadly comparable.
2. Apprenticeship or technician route. In many countries you can train as an electrical technician through an apprenticeship or a vocational college, then study part-time for a degree. Some employers in the UK, Germany and elsewhere offer degree apprenticeships or work-and-study programmes. This route builds strong practical skills, but moving from technician to engineer usually takes several years.
3. Related degree. Physics, computer science and mechatronics graduates can enter electronics, embedded systems or control roles, especially if they have hands-on project experience. A master's in electrical engineering can fill gaps in power or circuit design. Some power and building services employers prefer an accredited electrical engineering degree because of licensing requirements.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Electrical engineering

  An electrical engineering degree teaches how to design and build systems that generate, control and use electricity, from power grids and motors to circuits, chips and communication networks.

  5 linked careers

• Physics

  A physics degree explores the laws that govern the universe, from particles and atoms to materials, energy and stars, using mathematics, experiments and computer models.

  6 linked careers

• Mathematics

  A mathematics degree develops advanced reasoning and problem-solving through pure mathematics, such as algebra and analysis, and applied areas, such as statistics, modelling and computing.

  6 linked careers

• Computer science

  A computer science degree teaches how software, data and computer systems work, from programming and algorithms to networks and artificial intelligence.

  9 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as an electrical engineer?

Many electrical engineers work without a licence, especially in electronics and manufacturing. Licensing matters most for power and building services work, where designs affect public safety. In the United States, a state Professional Engineer (PE) licence is needed to sign and seal electrical designs for public projects and many buildings. In the UK, Chartered Engineer status is voluntary but often expected for senior roles. In Canada, the title "engineer" is protected. Electricians are a separate trade and are licensed in many countries.

How much does an electrical engineer earn?

Pay in the United States

• $120,630Median annual wage, May 2025
• $76,550–$184,300Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 198.8KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 17-2071, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes electrical engineer and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Graduate or junior electrical engineer
2. Electrical engineer
3. Senior electrical engineer
4. Principal engineer or technical lead
5. Engineering manager or technical director

Job outlook

Demand is strong in areas linked to the energy transition: renewable power, grid upgrades, energy storage, electric vehicles and charging networks. Electronics, automation and semiconductor manufacturing also need electrical engineers. Some electronics design work is concentrated in a few countries, and hiring in consumer electronics can rise and fall quickly. Engineers who understand both hardware and software, or both power systems and digital control, are likely to have the widest choice of jobs.

Questions about becoming an electrical engineer

What is the difference between an electrical engineer and an electrician?

Electrical engineers design and plan electrical systems, usually after a university degree. Electricians install, maintain and repair wiring and equipment, usually after an apprenticeship or vocational training, and they are licensed in many countries. The two work closely together: the engineer designs the system, and the electrician builds and maintains it safely.

Is electrical engineering harder than mechanical engineering?

Many students find electrical engineering more abstract, because you cannot see current or electromagnetic fields and the subject uses a lot of mathematics. Mechanical engineering is often easier to picture but has its own difficult topics, such as thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Which one is harder depends on your strengths. Both need strong mathematics and physics.

Can electrical engineers work in software?

Yes. Many electrical engineers work on embedded software, control systems, signal processing and chip design, which combine hardware and code. Some move fully into software development. An electrical engineering degree usually includes programming, and adding projects in languages such as C or Python makes this move easier.

What jobs can you get with an electrical engineering degree?

Common jobs include power engineer, electronics design engineer, control and automation engineer, telecommunications engineer, building services engineer and test engineer. Graduates also work as network engineers, software developers, patent examiners and technical consultants. The degree's mix of mathematics, physics and programming is valued in many other sectors, including finance and data analysis.

Related careers

• Mechanical engineer

  Mechanical engineers design, test and improve machines and systems that involve movement, force, heat or energy, from car engines and wind turbines to medical devices and air conditioning.

  Degree required

• Network engineer

  Network engineers design, build and maintain the networks that connect computers, phones, servers and cloud services within and between organisations.

  Degree often expected

• Biomedical engineer

  Biomedical engineers use engineering to improve healthcare.

  Degree required

Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 17-2071, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2151.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become an electrical engineer: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/electrical-engineer/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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