What Can You Do With an Electrical Engineering Degree?
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What is Electrical Engineering?
Electrical engineering is all around you. It鈥檚 behind every charged device and every wireless signal. It鈥檚 the branch of engineering that deals with the flow of energy and information. If something powers on, transmits data, or responds to a command, there鈥檚 likely an electrical engineer behind it.
In this field, you鈥檒l learn how systems communicate and how energy is generated and distributed. Your work may someday influence electric vehicles, medical technology, satellite communication, or infrastructure that supports entire cities.
You鈥檒l likely find your place in one of these key areas:
- Circuits and electronics: Building the tiny components that allow laptops and diagnostic tools to function.
- Power systems: Designing the networks that carry electricity across regions, including renewable energy sources.
- Control systems: Automating processes in fields like robotics, manufacturing, and transportation.
- Communications: Supporting everything from mobile networks and fiber optics to satellite transmissions.
- Embedded systems: Developing the smart programs that help cars park themselves or thermostats learn your habits.
The problems you tackle as an electrical engineer will depend on the path you choose. What these roles share is a balance of logic, design, and a desire to make things function better.
Career Paths in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering doesn鈥檛 lock you into one path. Your career can begin with testing or troubleshooting, then shift into designing, leading, or even reinventing the structures we all depend on. No two paths look the same, and that鈥檚 part of what makes this field so versatile.
Getting Started
Entry-level electrical engineering jobs challenge you to put theory into practice. You could start out testing electric vehicle components as a Test Engineer, or you could review schematics as a Junior Electrical Engineer or Design Assistant. These early experiences build your confidence and help you figure out which aspects of the job really click.
You don鈥檛 need to know your specialty right away. As an entry-level Electrical Engineering Associate or Engineering Intern, you'll dabble in different areas and clarify what you're most fond of. These entry points help you figure out what challenges you want to solve and who you want to solve them with.
Growing Into Your Focus
Over time, you鈥檒l narrow in on what challenges interest you most. Some electrical engineers choose control systems and robotics, moving into roles like Controls Engineer or Automation Engineer, while others focus on signal processing or telecommunications, becoming Signal Integrity Engineers or Network Systems Engineers.
With time and perhaps a master鈥檚 degree or a , you could obtain titles like Systems Architect, R&D Engineer, or Project Lead. These positions let you shape the direction of a project and build long-term solutions instead of just putting out fires.
Leadership, Innovation, and What鈥檚 Next
Not every engineer moves into leadership, but those who do manage development teams as a Technical Manager, Engineering Supervisor, or Director of Electrical Engineering, working directly with clients on larger challenges. Others prefer to stay deeply technical, becoming Principal Engineers, Firmware Specialists, or Power Systems Experts.
No matter which direction you choose, an electrical engineering degree gives you options. You鈥檙e not stuck with a single job description. You get to decide how hands-on you want to be, how much you want to lead, and what kinds of problems you want to wake up and face every day.
Industries Hiring Electrical Engineers
You鈥檒l find electrical engineers working across all kinds of industries鈥攅ach with its own vibe and challenges. If you鈥檙e still figuring out where you might fit, here are some common paths to consider:
Energy and Infrastructure
You could work on , smart grids, or large-scale battery storage. This path is ideal if you care about sustainability and want to help modernize how electricity is delivered on a massive scale.
Aerospace and Defense
This field involves building systems that require precision and reliability, like navigation tech or secure defense equipment. It鈥檚 a good fit if you enjoy solving complex problems with a team under high-pressure conditions.
Telecommunications
From boosting fiber networks to improving signal reliability, this area is all about making data move more efficiently. If you like optimizing systems and staying current with evolving tech, this space has a lot to offer.
Automotive and Manufacturing
Working on electric vehicles, automation tools, or factory sensors gives you a chance to build things that move, react, and solve real-world problems. It鈥檚 hands-on and results-oriented.
Consumer Technology
Think smartwatches, home assistants, and other connected devices. The pace is fast, the ideas are always changing, and there鈥檚 a lot of room to experiment. This path will suit you if you enjoy rapid innovation and user-focused design.
Healthcare and Medical Devices
Here, your work directly affects people鈥檚 health and quality of life. Whether you're developing implantable devices or diagnostic tools, the focus is on precision, safety, and making a real difference.
Electrical Engineer Salary and Job Outlook
A career in electrical engineering gives you long-term stability and the potential for strong earning power. But beyond the paycheck, this career also offers opportunities to learn about emerging fields that excite you.
What You Could Earn
An starts somewhere between $74,000 and $89,000 a year. That number climbs quickly once you have a few years of experience and even more so if you specialize or take on leadership roles.
Mid-career engineers make closer to $100,000 or more, and senior engineers or technical leads can reach $150,000 or higher in high-demand industries or regions. According to the , the median wage for electrical engineers in May 2024 was $111,910.
Job Security and Demand
One of the best things about electrical engineering is the high job security that comes with it. The world will always need people who understand how to make systems work, especially as we shift toward more automation and smarter infrastructure.
The job outlook for electrical engineers is strong. The field is between 2023 and 2033, which is more than double the average job growth rate of 4%. As of 2022, around were working in electrical engineering roles across the U.S. That number has gone up slightly since 2014, and has stayed steady over the years. This data shows that a career in electrical engineering offers long-term demand and high job security.
Unlike tech jobs that come and go with the latest trends, electrical engineering is part of the backbone of modern life.
As everything from cars to power grids gets smarter and more connected, the need for electrical engineers just keeps growing.
Skills that Set You Up for Success
Earning your degree is a major step, but it鈥檚 not the whole story. To thrive in electrical engineering, you鈥檒l need a mix of technical know-how and personal strengths that help you solve problems and work with others.
Technical Skills for Electrical Engineers
Electrical engineers rely on a range of technical skills to design and troubleshoot complex functions. A strong foundation in how electrical systems operate, how signals are transmitted, and how hardware and software interact is essential.
Electrical engineers often use MATLAB and to simulate and test systems before building physical prototypes. These technical skills, combined with knowledge of programming languages and circuit design, allow engineers to bring innovative solutions to life. While it鈥檚 not necessary to master every tool immediately, a willingness to build and expand your technical skill set is key to long-term success in the field.
Soft Skills for Electrical Engineers
Strong technical skills can take you far, but how you engage with others matters just as much. Electrical engineers often operate in teams, and that means explaining ideas clearly and listening to different perspectives. You鈥檒l also need patience and adaptability because systems don鈥檛 always behave the way you expect. Something may fail in testing, or a client may change the scope mid-project. Engineers who stay calm and adjust quickly tend to stand out.
One of the most valuable traits in this field is curiosity. Technology changes constantly, and if you enjoy learning new tools and finding better ways to do things, you鈥檒l continue growing and moving up in your career.
Choosing Your Path: Electrical Engineering Degrees
There鈥檚 more than one way to get into electrical engineering. Whether you鈥檙e fresh out of high school or looking to shift careers, there鈥檚 a degree path that can get you moving.
Start Fast with an Associate Degree
If you鈥檙e eager to get into the field without spending four years in school, an associate degree in electrical engineering can be a great place to begin. In about two years, you鈥檒l cover the fundamentals of how circuits operate, how to use tools, and how to read and build electrical systems. You鈥檒l also likely get hands-on experience working with tools and testing equipment.
Graduates with an associate degree often land positions as technicians or field support specialists. This route is popular if you're trying to save on tuition or testing the waters. If you鈥檙e looking for flexibility, you can also explore an online electrical engineering technology degree, which focuses on applied skills and is ideal for technician roles.
Take a Leap with a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree
If you鈥檙e ready to commit to becoming a professional electrical engineer, a bachelor鈥檚 degree is the most direct route. Most programs outline clear electrical engineering degree requirements, including core classes, lab hours, and senior projects.
Over four years, you鈥檒l dive into the science behind the tech we use every day. You might analyze circuits one semester and program microcontrollers the next. Many programs also build in internships that give you a chance to work with real companies before graduation.
If you鈥檙e aiming to become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), you鈥檒l want to attend one of the best electrical engineering universities that is . This credential matters if you plan to handle public projects or advance into senior technical roles.
Specialize and Lead with a Master鈥檚
If you鈥檝e already earned your bachelor鈥檚 and you鈥檙e ready to go deeper, a master鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering can help you carve out a niche. It鈥檚 also a solid move if you鈥檙e thinking about project management or want to shift into research and development positions.
Some master鈥檚 programs are research-heavy, while others are geared toward working professionals and focus on applied skills. If you鈥檙e balancing a full-time job, you can explore affordable online master's degree programs in electrical engineering that let you move at your own pace while still leveling up.
Go the Distance with a PhD
For those drawn to advanced innovation, university teaching, or research at the highest level, a PhD at one of the top electrical engineering schools might be the right fit. It鈥檚 a long haul, taking four to six years, but it gives you the chance to lead research and contribute to groundbreaking innovations. You may also gain teaching experience or help mentor undergraduate students.
While this path isn鈥檛 for everyone, it鈥檚 an opportunity to be on the frontiers of knowledge, exploring emerging materials and contributing to national scientific initiatives.
Where You Go from Here
So, what can you do with an electrical engineering degree? The answer is far more than you probably imagined.
Electrical engineering gives you the power to shape things people rely on every day. If you dream of designing smarter devices, helping the world transition to clean energy, or just building something that works better than it did yesterday, this path gives you a way in.
The good news is you don鈥檛 need it all figured out right now鈥攜ou just need to start. Maybe that means enrolling in a class at your local community college, researching ABET-accredited universities, or exploring online electrical engineering degree programs that fit your life. Whatever your path, it starts with a decision to learn how things work and make them better.
FAQs About Electrical Engineering Degrees
Why is electrical engineering important?
Electrical engineering is essential to modern life. It powers everything from communication networks to medical devices and transportation infrastructure. Electrical engineers handle problems that keep our systems efficient, safe, and connected.
Is electrical engineering a good major?
Yes! Electrical engineering is a great major for students interested in STEM. It offers excellent job prospects, strong salary potential, and flexibility across multiple industries.
What classes do electrical engineers take in college?
Students usually take courses in circuit analysis, digital systems, and electromagnetics. Programs also include calculus, programming, and hands-on labs. Depending on your focus, you can explore electives in things like robotics or digital signal processing.
How long does it take to become an electrical engineer?
It typically takes four years to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering. If you start with an associate degree, it may take two more years to complete your bachelor鈥檚. Advanced positions may require a master鈥檚 (1鈥�2 additional years) or a PhD (3鈥�5 additional years).
Are there remote electrical engineering jobs?
Yes! Many electrical engineers work remotely in roles related to design, simulation, programming, or consulting. While some positions still require on-site visits, remote options are becoming more common.
What kind of problems do electrical engineers solve?
Electrical engineers tackle a host of challenges like improving wireless communication, developing medical imaging devices, and creating smart transportation networks. Their work improves how we live and connect.