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What is an Electrical Engineer?

Electrical engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain systems and devices powered by electricity. Their work spans a wide range of industries, from power generation and telecommunications to consumer electronics and robotics. By applying principles of physics, mathematics, and engineering, electrical engineers create innovative solutions that improve technology and infrastructure, shaping the way we live and interact with the world.

When you become an electrical engineer, you will have years of specialized knowledge and training behind you. Your knowledge may help keep our electrical grid running, so we can power offices, houses, and everything electric. Electrical engineers are designers, creating new electrical systems, and innovators, developing new ways of keeping the electric grid running. You could also get involved in keeping microchips in cellphones and smart watches functioning.

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Steps to Become an Electrical Engineer

Becoming an engineer requires a combination of education, practical experience, and professional certification. The journey typically begins with earning a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, which provides the foundational knowledge needed for the field. Gaining hands-on experience through internships or co-op programs is equally important, as it helps build the skills and confidence necessary for success. Depending on your specialization and career goals, obtaining licensure or certifications may be essential to advance and demonstrate expertise in the profession.

Think about the career you want when you walk into your first electrical engineering job. The courses you take will determine the kind of job you can get. From the technical and laboratory knowledge you will develop, you will be able to set a path for your career. You may also want to advance into graduate school or beyond.

  • Step 1: Get a College Degree

  • Step 2: Get Experience

  • Step 3: Take Your Exams

step to take for engineers

Step 1: Get into a College Degree Program

You can start with an associates degree or electrician trade school, but you'll need to earn a bachelor's to gain your engineering certification.

Earning a degree in electrical engineering is the first and most crucial step toward becoming an electrical engineer. A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field provides the foundational knowledge and technical skills needed to succeed in the profession. Accredited programs, such as those recognized by ABET, ensure that students receive a comprehensive education covering essential topics like circuit theory, electronics, electromagnetics, and systems design.

During the program, students often have opportunities to engage in hands-on projects and lab work, which are vital for understanding how theoretical concepts are applied in real-world situations. Many universities also offer cooperative education (co-op) programs or internships, allowing students to gain valuable industry experience while completing their degree. This combination of academic and practical training prepares graduates to enter the workforce with confidence and competence.

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Choose your classes with care. Certain electrical engineering classes will focus on different areas of this field. If you are interested in a specific area, for instance, one class may lead you into a microelectronics career, another into energy and power systems. You may take courses in microprocessor systems, design of logic circuits, electronics, power systems, electrical circuits, electrical engineering laboratory, electromagnetic fields and waves, and signals and systems.

Step 2: Get Experience

Gaining practical experience is essential for aspiring electrical engineers to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application. This experience often begins with internships or cooperative education programs during undergraduate studies, where students work alongside professionals to apply their learning to real projects. These opportunities not only provide hands-on training but also help students develop problem-solving skills and understand workplace dynamics.

After graduation, entry-level positions allow electrical engineers to further refine their expertise under the guidance of experienced mentors. Practical experience is particularly important for meeting licensing requirements, as most states require a combination of education and professional practice to qualify for licensure. This experience ensures engineers are prepared to handle the complexities of designing, testing, and maintaining electrical systems in various industries.

Step 3: Take Your Exams for Credentials

To become a licensed electrical engineer, passing the necessary exams is a critical step. The process typically begins with the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which is often taken shortly after completing a bachelor’s degree. This exam covers a broad range of engineering topics and serves as the first milestone toward licensure. Successfully passing the FE exam allows individuals to become Engineers-in-Training (EITs) or Engineer Interns (EIs).

After gaining the required practical experience, candidates can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in their specific discipline, such as electrical engineering. The PE exam assesses an engineer’s ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios and is a key requirement for earning a Professional Engineer (PE) license. This credential not only demonstrates expertise but also opens doors to advanced career opportunities and greater professional responsibility.

What Do Electrical Engineers Do?

In your work as an electrical engineer, you’ll design and develop new electrical systems. You’ll test them and make improvements to what you designed. Next, you’ll supervise the manufacture of whatever technologies you are involved in - from robotics, portable music players, or power generation to cell phones, global positioning systems (GPS), wired and wireless communications, automobile control systems, and power generation and transmission.

Each day in electrical engineering will depend on the role you're in or the industry you've chosen to be a part of. Electrical engineers might work with project management, or you may work on the design of new ways to use electrical power as you develop new products or improve existing ones. At higher levels, electrical engineers may supervise the manufacturing, installation, and testing of electrical equipment to make sure that they meet federal specifications and codes. Electrical engineers may also investigate and troubleshoot customer complaints to evaluate the problems and develop solutions.

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Skills You Will Need

Because of the degree of difficulty in electrical engineering, you’ll need to have several specialized skills. Some you may already have and they just need further development. Other skils, you will learn in your electrical engineering classes.

  • Circuit design and analysis
    This is a fundamental skill. It’s a building block needed for the rest of the work and skills you’ll perform in your daily job.
  • Critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills
    You should have begun to develop these before you started your electrical engineering classes. In every assignment you are given, you need to apply these skills.
  • Active learning
    You will do a lot of learning in your classes, then continue doing so in your career. Your learning will continue even after you have graduated.
  • Instrumentation and electrical measurements
    Here, you read and operate electrical devices. You’ll test electrical currents, learning how different components of each item react with each other.

Electrical engineers also work on linear systems theory and analysis, circuit design, develop electrical schematics, direct construction activities and equipment upkeep, collect data and analyze it, build and operate computer systems, prepare operational plans, and maintain electronic equipment.


Electrical Engineers Careers & Salary

Where Might You Work?

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Electrical engineers work in diverse industries and environments, depending on their area of expertise and interests. Many are employed by power companies, designing and maintaining electrical grids that deliver energy to homes and businesses. Others work in the manufacturing sector, developing electronic components or overseeing production lines for consumer devices and industrial equipment.

In addition to these roles, electrical engineers may find opportunities in telecommunications, developing systems that support communication networks, or in the renewable energy sector, where they design solutions for solar, wind, and other sustainable power sources. Research and development labs, government agencies, and aerospace industries also rely on electrical engineers to innovate and maintain cutting-edge technologies. Whether in an office, a lab, or out in the field, electrical engineers contribute to a variety of essential sectors, ensuring that technology continues to advance and meet the needs of society.

Potential Career Paths

As an electrical engineer, you’ll be blessed with an abundance of career possibilities. From designing the electrical portion of wireless communications networks to putting the power into electric vehicles, you’ll be helping to broaden the various electric engineering fields.

You may choose to become a sales engineer, vending power systems equipment. You could push the boundaries of renewable energy as well. Once you’ve been working in this field for a few years, you may be promoted to a plant manager’s position, where you’ll be responsible for power distribution and automation systems.

RF Design Engineer—Entry to Mid-Level
Electrical engineers will work with project teams to satisfy operational requirements for RF systems. As you gain experience, you may eventually lead these teams. Electrical engineers are responsible for helping to lead in advancing RF engineering, so that you and your organization can expand the leading edge of RF communications technologies.

You’ll be required to possess excellent problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and communication skills. You should be adaptable, able to work in a team or independently.

Entry-Level Electrical Controls Designer
At this level, you will train with a more experienced designer for pump system control, cellular, SCADA, lift stations, motor control centers, boiler controls, water pressure booster systems, and any other custom work as spelled out by project specifications.

You must know about three-phase power and distribution. Be able to develop an understanding of customer specifications (municipal and commercial), standards, and National Electric Code.

Be able to communicate effectively with sales to obtain all relevant information that is in the application.

Telemetry Signals Analyst
In this position, you will be expected to learn on-the-job, even though you already have your electrical engineering degree. Your problem-solving, interpersonal, and analytic sills should equip you to be accountable, resilient, flexible, collaborate with team members, and communicate well with everyone in the office.

Electrical engineers work on weapon systems design or testing. You should have specialized experience and skills in aerospace, physics, astronautic or, mathematics-related fields; missile guidance and control design or development; telemetry system design or implementation; aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle design, development, or flight experience.

Project Engineer—Construction
In this position, you will be assisting project managers and field management in planning, project completion, management direction, positive financial outcome, and customer satisfaction of each assigned construction project.

Your duties may include assisting with permit applications, monitoring project planning, execution and closure, establishing and maintaining all project management files and document control, obtaining permits and scheduling inspections when requested and tracing incoming and outgoing submittals.

Energy Engineer
You will develop energy conservation projects through on-site auditing, electrical engineering analysis, understanding of energy/mechanical systems, and thorough communication and fact-finding.

You will work directly with the Energy Services team in the procurement, development, and execution of conservation projects. Assist in development of energy conservation project scope and proposal development. reform preliminary and detailed facility audits to identify conservation opportunities, identify and recommend specific conservation measures for existing facilities.

New Projects Electrical Engineering Specialist
Your primary responsibilities are to provide technical support to designated projects and specific production lines. Your attention focuses on new project planning and implementation for focusing on safety, quality, cost, and productivity as they related to equipment, processes, and systems.

Implementation of new projects, working to meet all requirements of the new projects gate system; complete trials for bending, welding, and assembly; development of inspection standards; development of process plans; development of internal tooling drawings; development of tooling/jib work plans; development of new project cost reduction ideas and implementation; participation in research for innovation; participation in the development of standard work; participation in the development of investment proposals and reporting to other new project groups.

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Career Outlook

The most recent job outlook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the employment of electric and electronics engineers is expected to grow about 9% between 2023 and 2033. This is much faster than is the average for all other US occupations. But, the growth in employment in this field is likely to be slowed down by a decline in many US manufacturing industries or by slow economic growth.

The largest area of growth is expected to take place in electrical engineering services firms as projects that involve electronic devices are invented and manufactured. Electric engineers are also expected to respond to a demand for developing complex consumer electronics.

The speed at which technology is being conceived and developed is contributing to the ongoing demand for electrical and electronics engineers as they work in research and development. This area is one where their knowledge and expertise will continue to be needed as they work on new developments in solar arrays, communications, and semiconductors.


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Advancing From Here

After working in your field, some avenues for advancement may include working to develop a green economy. This includes smart grids and other energy systems that are more efficient. Engineers in this field work to design, test, and develop products that use the sun, geothermal, wind, and biomass to create sources of renewable energy.

You can advance toward a PhD, where you can focus on researching new devices, components, and even new energy sources. In your career, you are one of the most important professionals to move our country forward. You might even eventually move into a leadership role in your electrical engineering firm, or a different firm. These include electrical project manager, senior electrical engineer, and principal electrical engineer.


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Frequently Asked Questions

What is biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineering focuses on advances in technology and medicine to develop new equipment and devices to improve health.

What is aerospace engineering?

Aerospace engineering is the development, design, production, and testing of spacecrafts, satellites, aircrafts, and missiles.

How much can you make in this field?

You can make an average of $103,000 annually in electrical engineering.

What skills do you need in this field?

To work in electrical engineering you need to be good at critical thinking, active learning, interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and problem- solving skills. electrical engineering requires technological knowledge, mathematics skills, and physics skills

Where can you work with a degree?

With a degree in electrical engineering you can work in engineering services, research and development, manufacturing, federal government, and telecommunications.

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