Electrical Engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Design
- Mathematics
- Physics
- English Language
- Telecommunications
- Production and Processing
A day in the life
You begin your morning reviewing simulation results from SPICE models or electromagnetic field analyses, then head to the lab to probe a prototype power-supply board or motor-control circuit with an oscilloscope. Your day alternates between schematic capture and PCB layout in tools like Altium or KiCad, running tests on electrical equipment, and attending cross-functional design reviews with mechanical, firmware, and manufacturing engineers. You spend time calculating load requirements, selecting components from vendor catalogs, writing test procedures, and ensuring your designs meet safety standards like UL or IEC. The moment a system you designed powers up and performs flawlessly is deeply gratifying, but tracking down an elusive noise issue or navigating component shortages during a supply-chain crunch can consume days of focused troubleshooting.
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