Electrical engineer
Electrical engineers design, develop and maintain systems that generate, transmit and use electricity, from power grids and electric motors to circuits, sensors and communication equipment.
What can you do with an electrical engineering degree?
Also called: Electrical and electronic engineering · Electronic engineering · Electrical and computer engineering
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
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. Most graduates become electrical or electronics engineers, while others work in telecommunications, software, artificial intelligence and medical technology.
Careers with an electrical engineering degree
Many electrical engineering graduates work as electrical engineers in energy, construction, transport and manufacturing, or as electronics engineers who design devices and chips. Others become network engineers in telecommunications, or move into software development and AI engineering, where knowledge of hardware and signals is useful. Less obvious paths include biomedical engineering, patent work, technical sales and energy policy. The move to renewable energy and electric transport is also creating new kinds of roles.
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Biomedical engineer
Biomedical engineers use engineering to improve healthcare.
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Network engineer
Network engineers design, build and maintain the networks that connect computers, phones, servers and cloud services within and between organisations.
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Software developer
Software developers design, build, test and maintain the programs and apps that run on computers, phones, websites and machines.
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AI engineer
AI engineers, also called machine learning engineers, build and run systems that learn from data, such as recommendation tools, image recognition and applications based on large language models.
Other roles graduates go into: Electronics engineer · Control systems engineer · Power systems engineer · Telecommunications engineer · Embedded systems engineer · Patent examiner
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Circuit analysis and electromagnetism
- Analogue and digital electronics
- Power systems, electrical machines and renewable energy
- Signals and communication systems
- Control systems and automation
- Embedded systems, microprocessors and programming
- Engineering mathematics
- Design projects and laboratory work
Skills you gain
- Designing and testing electrical and electronic circuits
- Using mathematics to model and analyse systems
- Programming microcontrollers and writing technical software
- Working safely with electrical equipment and following standards
- Finding faults through careful testing and measurement
- Writing clear technical reports and working in project teams
How the degree differs around the world
In the United States, Canada and many Asian countries, electrical engineering is usually a four-year bachelor's degree. In the UK a bachelor's usually takes three years, or four for an integrated master's, and in much of Europe a three- or four-year bachelor's is often followed by a master's. In France, many engineers study at specialist engineering schools for about five years after secondary school. Entry usually requires strong mathematics and physics. Look for programmes accredited by a national engineering body. Accreditation is recognised between many countries through agreements such as the Washington Accord, and it makes later professional registration easier.
How do electrical engineering graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Engineering, manufacturing and construction”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 122 (2023) | 87.7% (2017) | 84.3% |
| United Kingdom | 122 (2020) | 86.8% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Germany | 120 (2020) | 90.2% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Chile | 120 (2023) | 85.0% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Norway | 119 (2023) | 91.9% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Finland | 116 (2022) | 89.7% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Sweden | 112 (2023) | 91.6% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Australia | 110 (2020) | 90.7% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Denmark | 110 (2023) | 90.0% (2021) | 87.8% |
| South Korea | 110 (2023) | — | — |
| Canada | 109 (2020) | 82.6% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Portugal | 108 (2020) | 92.1% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Romania | 106 (2023) | 90.4% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Mexico | 106 (2023) | 84.6% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Latvia | 105 (2023) | 89.3% (2024) | 87.7% |
| Slovenia | 104 (2020) | 93.6% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Austria | 100 (2023) | 87.7% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Costa Rica | 100 (2023) | 83.2% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Switzerland | 98 (2023) | 92.7% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Luxembourg | 97 (2023) | 80.1% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Estonia | 95 (2023) | 89.6% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Ireland | — | 94.7% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Poland | — | 94.0% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Czechia | — | 93.3% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Belgium | — | 92.9% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Iceland | — | 92.9% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Croatia | — | 92.0% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Netherlands | — | 91.5% (2024) | 90.6% |
| France | — | 91.4% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Slovakia | — | 91.4% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Italy | — | 88.5% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Lithuania | — | 88.2% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Peru | — | 87.9% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Greece | — | 87.8% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Spain | — | 86.5% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Türkiye | — | 78.4% (2016) | 72.9% |
| Hungary | — | 73.7% (2024) | 76.2% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Electrical and electronic engineering” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £33,700 | £28,200 | £41,700 | 89.6% |
| After 3 years | £40,600 | £31,800 | £50,500 | 90.4% |
| After 5 years | £44,600 | £33,300 | £56,400 | 89.4% |
| After 10 years | £49,800 | £33,700 | £68,100 | 85.1% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is an electrical engineering degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You enjoy mathematics and physics and like seeing them applied to real problems.
- You are curious about how devices, machines and power networks actually work.
- You like hands-on work in the laboratory as well as theory and calculation.
Think twice if
- You find advanced mathematics difficult or frustrating, as it runs through the whole degree.
- You prefer subjects based on discussion and essays rather than calculation.
- You want a light timetable, as engineering degrees usually include many laboratory hours and projects.
Further study
Many graduates start work straight away, but a master's degree is common for specialist fields such as power systems, microelectronics, robotics or communications, and in some countries it is the normal level for professional engineers. A PhD leads to research in universities and industry. After several years of work, many engineers apply for chartered status or a professional licence through their national engineering body.
Questions about studying electrical engineering
What jobs can you get with an electrical engineering degree?
The most common jobs are electrical engineer, electronics engineer, control systems engineer and telecommunications or network engineer. Graduates also work as software developers, AI engineers and biomedical engineers, in energy companies, transport, manufacturing, construction and government. Some move into project management, technical sales or patent work.
What is the difference between electrical and electronic engineering?
Electrical engineering traditionally deals with larger systems such as power generation, power networks, motors and building services. Electronic engineering focuses on smaller circuits and devices, such as chips, sensors and communication equipment. Many universities teach both in one degree and let you specialise in later years, and employers treat the two as closely related.
Is electrical engineering hard?
It is one of the more demanding engineering degrees, because many ideas, such as electromagnetism and signals, are abstract and rely on advanced mathematics. The workload usually includes lectures, laboratory sessions and design projects. Students who keep up with the mathematics from the start and practise regularly usually manage well.
Do electrical engineers need a licence?
Many jobs do not need one, but in several countries you need professional registration or a licence to approve designs, lead certain projects or use a protected title. This usually requires an accredited degree, several years of supervised work and sometimes exams. Rules differ between countries, so check with the national engineering regulator.
Related subjects
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Mechanical engineering
A mechanical engineering degree teaches how to design, analyse and make machines and systems that move or use energy, from engines and robots to medical devices and power plants.
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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.
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Computer science
A computer science degree teaches how software, data and computer systems work, from programming and algorithms to networks and artificial intelligence.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH10-01-08 — Electrical and electronic engineering
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0713, 0714
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with an electrical engineering degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/electrical-engineering/ (accessed September 26, 2026)