What Do Electrical Engineers Do?

Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, upgrade, and maintain electrical systems and equipment. As an electrical engineer, you can work on small and large projects, from household appliances and car transmissions to satellite communications systems, renewable energy systems, and power grids.

In as little as two months, you can gain expertise equivalent to a semester of a calculus-based electromagnetism with Rice University's online certificate program, Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Specialization. You'll strengthen your knowledge of physics and electrical engineering while learning to problem solve and work with DC and AC circuits.

What do electrical engineers do?

As an electrical engineer, you will contribute to the production of electrical systems throughout different stages, from the initial design through building and maintaining the system and installing and testing the system. Your responsibilities as an electrical engineer can vary significantly since you can work in such a wide range of industries, including communications systems, microelectronics, power generation, robotics, bioengineering, and control systems. In this industry, your day-to-day tasks might include:

• Designing electrical products and electrical systems

• Creating technical drawings and topographical maps to ensure proper installation and operation

• Identifying and correcting power system problems

• Using computer-assisted design software

• Communicating with customers, engineers, and other stakeholders on engineering projects

• Preparing specifications for manufacturing, maintenance, testing, and purchase of electric equipment

• Ensuring compliance with safety standards and codes

• Meet all industry standards for product specification and installation and any government regulations.

How much do electrical engineers make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an electrical engineer in the United States is $118,780 [1]. This amount can vary based on your location, education, and experience. Those working in research and development tend to earn on the higher end of the pay scale, followed by semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing. 

Electrical engineering jobs

Electrical engineering is a broad field covering a wide range of industries. A career in electrical engineering often means specializing in a certain area. Some common industries hiring electrical engineers are electric power generation and transmission, agriculture, research, electrical component manufacturing, and control instrument manufacturing. However, you aren’t limited to just these industries, as you can find opportunities in plenty of other areas, such as pharmaceutics, telecommunications, aerospace, government, construction, and automotive industries. Some common specialties include (but are not limited to):

• Energy and power systems: In this field, you’ll work on generating, distributing, and maintaining electric power systems. This might include traditional sources of power, like motors, generators, and transformers, or emerging technologies, like fusion or green energy.

• Computer engineering: While sometimes considered a separate field altogether, computer engineering overlaps with electrical engineering in many ways. As a computer engineer, you’ll work to develop and improve computer hardware and software across a range of industries.

• Telecommunications: We can communicate with people around the globe almost instantaneously, thanks to new technologies in telecommunications. Telecommunications engineers address the basic challenge of delivering information from one place to another, securely and efficiently.

• Microelectronics: The field of microelectronics deals with small (often very small) electronic components. In this career, you’ll work toward further reducing the size of circuits and microchips for use in electronic devices and even nanotechnology.

• Systems and control: This discipline of electric engineering deals with the design of control systems that behave a certain way in controlled environments. This could involve everything from home thermostats to biomedical prosthetics. If you're interested in systems engineering, consider enrolling in the free online course by MathWorks, Systems Engineering. You'll learn more about how system architecture is designed and explore this career path.

• Robotics and artificial intelligence: Robotics engineers design and build robots and robotic systems from the circuits up. Some of these systems may also involve artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning.

Is it hard to become an electrical engineer?

If you like mathematics, physics, and technical challenges, becoming an electrical engineer is a very realistic career path. You will have to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, with many electrical engineers earning a master’s degree. The education requirements, as well as the licensure requirements, make electrical engineering a rewarding and potentially lucrative career path. 

How to become an electrical engineer

Let’s take a closer look at the basic qualifications you’ll need for a career in electrical engineering, including education, licenses, and skill sets.

Electrical engineering degrees 

Becoming an electrical engineer requires at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (EE) from a school accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Most electrical engineers hold either a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) with a focus on electrical engineering.

Some universities offer engineering students a five-year program where you can acquire both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in less time (and at less cost). Earning a graduate degree can open up opportunities to work in research and development, or to teach at the university level.

Licensing 

While not required for entry-level positions, you may consider becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) as you advance in your career. This is common after you’ve gained a few years of work experience.

The first step toward licensure is taking and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Once you pass, you are given the title of engineer-in-training (EIT) or engineer intern (EI) until you meet the requirements to take and pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. This license is what you need to become a PE in the United States.

Electrical engineer skills 

You'll also need a specific skill set to succeed as an electrical engineer. The technical and workplace skills you'll need include the following:

Technical skills:

• Mathematics. You should have a robust familiarity with various calculus and mathematical formulas. These will be useful when performing calculations when developing products.

• Computer science fundamentals.

• Electrical design. During the development process, you will use your knowledge of electrical design to plan, build, and test products. Doing so ensures they meet performance standards.

• Circuit knowledge. Knowledge of circuits is important in electrical engineering since circuits are a fundamental component of electrical systems. You should understand how they work and how to build them.

• Programming. Computer programming skills are helpful for electrical engineering as they help you effectively analyze data and maintain product databases. Some popular languages for electrical engineers include C, C++, and Java.

• AutoCAD.

• Systems integration knowledge.

• Troubleshooting. As an electrical engineer, your ability to troubleshoot is an essential skill you need for effective problem-solving. Troubleshooting requires a blend of problem-solving abilities and knowledge of how to use different tools to develop solutions.

Workplace skills:

• Analytical skills.

• Communication skills. Communication is vital for collaborating with other members of your team. You’ll also use this skill during documentation and when working with clients. Without clear communication, you’re increasing the risk of making mistakes at some point during the development process.

• Problem solving. As an electrical engineer, you will have to find ways to solve problems, whether that involves developing quality designs or planning for things that could go wrong so you can address them quickly. 

• Adaptability. With technical advancements comes opportunity. The ability to think creatively can help you harness the latest technologies to optimize the product design process and improve products compared to previous iterations. Additionally, you will need to use your creative side to find ways to enhance products and maximize your use of available technologies. 

Career paths for electrical engineers 

There are many opportunities to advance within the field of electrical engineering depending on your interests, education, and experience. After you’ve met your basic requirements and obtained the necessary licenses, you may move on to become a project manager, consultant, or a contractor. Some electrical engineers decide to pursue academic careers, teaching others the skills required for success in the field. 

One exciting benefit of working in electrical engineering is the potential to choose the specific field you want to work in based on your own interests. You can also tailor your skills to put yourself in a position to specialize in a particular area. The following represent a few of the electrical engineering positions you might consider: 

• Biomedical engineer

• Electronics engineer

• Robotics engineer

• Computer hardware engineer

• Systems engineer

• Aeronautical engineer

• Test engineer

• Communications engineer

As you progress in your career, you can also find yourself in more senior roles, such as project engineer or project engineering manager.

Prepare for an electrical engineering role with Coursera

Ready to start gaining experience in electrical engineering today? Enroll in Rice University's Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Specialization. You'll prep yourself with the expertise you need to pursue independent study or more advanced science and engineering coursework.

If you’re pursuing a degree to enter this field, learn more about earning your Master of Science in Electrical Engineering online from the University of Colorado Boulder. While pursuing this degree, you can explore topics such as embedded systems, power electronics, and photonics and optics.