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Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Summary

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Iy34hFITE.
Quick Facts: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
2020 Median Pay $67,550 per year
$32.48 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2020 117,000
Job Outlook, 2020-30 2% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2020-30 1,900

What Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help engineers design and develop equipment that is powered by electricity or electric current.

Work Environment

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians work on teams with electrical engineers. They may work in offices, laboratories, or factories. Most work full time.

How to Become an Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree.

Pay

The median annual wage for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians was $67,550 in May 2020.

Job Outlook

Employment of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow 2 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations.

Despite limited employment growth, about 11,000 openings for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do About this section

Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help engineers design and develop computers and other electrical and electronic equipment.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help electrical and electronics engineers plan and develop communications equipment, computers, medical monitoring devices, or other equipment that is powered by other electricity or electric current. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to test, adjust, and repair equipment. They are also involved in assembling equipment for automation.

Duties

Electrical engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:

  • Assemble electrical and electronic systems and prototypes
  • Build, calibrate, and repair electrical instruments or testing equipment
  • Visit sites where systems are made to observe conditions affecting design
  • Identify solutions to technical design problems that arise in making electrical systems
  • Inspect designs for quality control, report findings, and recommend changes, if necessary
  • Draw diagrams and write specifications about design details of experimental electronics units

Electrical engineering technologists and technicians install and maintain electrical control systems and equipment and adjust electrical prototypes, parts, and assemblies to correct problems. When testing systems, they set up equipment and evaluate how the parts, assemblies, or systems perform under simulated conditions. They also analyze test information to resolve design problems.

Electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:

  • Create basic circuitry and draft sketches to clarify details of design, under engineers’ direction
  • Build prototypes from plans or sketches
  • Assemble, test, and maintain circuitry or electronic components according to engineering instructions, knowledge of electronics, and technical manuals
  • Adjust and replace defective circuitry and electronic components
  • Make parts, such as coils and terminal boards, using bench lathes, drills, or other machine tools

Electronic engineering technologists and technicians identify and repair equipment malfunctions. They also calibrate and perform preventive maintenance on equipment and systems.

These workers often need to read blueprints, diagrams, and engineering instructions for assembling electronic units. They also write reports and record data on testing techniques, laboratory equipment, and specifications.

Work Environment About this section

Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians build, calibrate, and repair electrical instruments or testing equipment.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians held about 117,000 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:

Engineering services 12%
Federal government 11
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing 10
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing 7
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods 5

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians work on teams with electrical and electronics engineers. They work in offices, laboratories, and factories because their job tasks involve both engineering theory and assembly-line production.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians may be exposed to hazards from equipment or toxic materials, but incidents are rare if procedures are followed.

Work Schedules

Most electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians work full time. Some work day or night shifts, depending on production schedules. In the federal government, their schedules usually follow a standard workweek.  

How to Become an Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician About this section

Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree. However, requirements may vary by employer.

Education

Associate’s degree programs in electrical or electronic engineering technology are available at community colleges and vocational–technical schools. Programs accredited by ABET or other organizations typically include courses such as algebra, programming languages, physics, and circuitry.

Depending on the job tasks or the industry, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree. Candidates for other jobs may qualify with a high school diploma.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Certifications in a variety of fields are available for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians. While optional, these credentials show that the designee has advanced knowledge. Among the organizations that offer certification are the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), ETA International, and the International Society of Automation.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians must be able to follow instructions from engineers and others. They also need to clearly convey problems to engineers.

Detail oriented. Electrical engineering technologists and technicians must pay attention to detail when assembling, troubleshooting, and repairing electronic and electrical mechanical systems.

Math skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting tasks.

Mechanical skills. Electronic engineering technologists and technicians must use hand tools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to build components by hand.

Problem-solving skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians must be able to identify and fix problems that arise in assembling and inspecting electrical engineers' designs and prototypes.

Writing skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians write reports about onsite construction, design problems, or testing results. Their writing must be clear and well organized to convey the information in the reports.

Pay About this section

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Median annual wages, May 2020

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

$67,550

Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians

$58,900

Total, all occupations

$41,950

 

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

The median annual wage for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians was $67,550 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,170, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,810.

In May 2020, the median annual wages for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Federal government $74,680
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods 66,620
Engineering services 64,230
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing 62,490
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing 61,710

Most electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians work full time. Some work day or night shifts, depending on production schedules. In the federal government, their schedules usually follow a standard workweek.

Job Outlook About this section

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Percent change in employment, projected 2020-30

Total, all occupations

8%

Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians

2%

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

2%

 

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Employment of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow 2 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations.

Despite limited employment growth, about 11,000 openings for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Employment of these technologists and technicians in industries in which many are employed, such as manufacturing and federal government, is expected to decline. However, their employment is expected to grow in professional, scientific, and technical services firms as companies seek to contract out these services to lower costs.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians also work closely with electrical and electronics engineers and computer hardware engineers in the computer systems design services industry. Demand is expected to be sustained by the continuing integration of computer and electronics systems, especially automation systems.

Employment projections data for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians, 2020-30
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2020 Projected Employment, 2030 Change, 2020-30 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

 17-3023 117,000 118,900 2 1,900 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help on Entry-Level Education 2020 MEDIAN PAY Help on Median Pay
Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians

Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft.

 See How to Become One $66,680
Electrical and electronics engineers Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment.

 Bachelor's degree $103,390
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install or repair a variety of electrical equipment.

 See How to Become One $62,020
Electro-mechanical technicians Electro-mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians operate, test, and maintain electromechanical or robotic equipment.

 Associate's degree $59,800
Mechanical engineering technicians Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture machines and other devices.

 Associate's degree $58,230

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about general engineering education and career resources, visit

American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

Technology Student Association (TSA)

For more information about accredited programs, visit

ABET

For more information about certification, visit

ETA International

International Society of Automation (ISA)

National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)

For information about working in automation, visit

Automation Federation

O*NET

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineering-technicians.htm (visited September 19, 2021).

Last Modified Date: Friday, September 10, 2021

What They Do

The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.

Work Environment

The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

How to Become One

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

Pay

The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.

State & Area Data

The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information

The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

2020 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2020, the median annual wage for all workers was $41,950.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.

Number of Jobs, 2020

The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2020, which is the base year of the 2020-30 employment projections.

Job Outlook, 2020-30

The projected percent change in employment from 2020 to 2030. The average growth rate for all occupations is 8 percent.

Employment Change, 2020-30

The projected numeric change in employment from 2020 to 2030.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Employment Change, projected 2020-30

The projected numeric change in employment from 2020 to 2030.

Growth Rate (Projected)

The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2020 to 2030.

Projected Number of New Jobs

The projected numeric change in employment from 2020 to 2030.

Projected Growth Rate

The projected percent change in employment from 2020 to 2030.

2020 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2020, the median annual wage for all workers was $41,950.