Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians: Career Overview
Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.
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What Tasks Do Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians span:
- Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments.
- Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems.
- Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components.
- Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
- Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments.
- Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards.
- Assemble, test, or maintain circuitry or electronic components, according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, or knowledge of electronics, using hand or power tools.
What Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Need to Know
Top electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Analog Circuit Designer
- Analog Device Designer
- Analysis Specialist
- Applied Technologist
- Automation Maintenance Technician
- Automation Technician
- Building Automation Technician (Building Automation Tech)
- Building Components Designer
Employment and Demand
There are about 150,111 electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +0.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $61,455 |
| Hourly median | $29.55 |
| 10th percentile | $40,211 |
| 25th percentile | $50,833 |
| 75th percentile | $72,077 |
| 90th percentile | $82,699 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,500 |
| Maryland | $98,660 |
| Rhode Island | $94,910 |
| Alaska | $89,030 |
| Wyoming | $86,820 |
| Hawaii | $86,810 |
| California | $84,530 |
| Nevada | $84,530 |
| Washington | $84,530 |
| New Jersey | $84,530 |
| Virginia | $84,530 |
| West Virginia | $84,530 |
| Missouri | $84,530 |
| Maine | $84,140 |
| New Mexico | $82,570 |
| Oklahoma | $82,220 |
| Louisiana | $81,350 |
| Mississippi | $80,410 |
| Connecticut | $79,820 |
| Arizona | $78,760 |
| Massachusetts | $78,660 |
| Alabama | $78,520 |
| New York | $77,550 |
| Oregon | $77,390 |
| Minnesota | $77,110 |
| Idaho | $76,810 |
| Illinois | $76,520 |
| Montana | $75,910 |
| Colorado | $75,740 |
| Georgia | $75,000 |
| North Dakota | $74,670 |
| Iowa | $74,140 |
| Kansas | $73,060 |
| Kentucky | $72,610 |
| Ohio | $71,770 |
| North Carolina | $71,670 |
| Arkansas | $70,340 |
| New Hampshire | $69,830 |
| Texas | $69,720 |
| Michigan | $69,310 |
| South Carolina | $68,310 |
| Vermont | $67,900 |
| Wisconsin | $67,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,200 |
| Florida | $66,630 |
| Utah | $65,830 |
| Nebraska | $63,630 |
| Indiana | $62,540 |
| Tennessee | $62,050 |
| Delaware | $61,060 |
| South Dakota | $58,860 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,510 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $83,802 | 20.5% | 1.26 |
| Middle Atlantic | $79,237 | 12.8% | 0.89 |
| New England | $78,272 | 7.3% | 1.62 |
| Plains States | $75,222 | 5.2% | 0.78 |
| Southwest | $73,754 | 13.9% | 1.16 |
| Southeast | $73,410 | 24.6% | 1.10 |
| Rocky Mountains | $73,061 | 3.7% | 1.00 |
| Great Lakes | $69,633 | 11.1% | 0.83 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | AL | $120,040 | |
| Morgantown, WV | WV | $106,820 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $101,100 | 630 |
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $99,760 | 340 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $99,520 | 300 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $98,530 | 560 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $97,630 | 60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $97,530 | 340 |
Which Industries Hire Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
The largest employers of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 37,470 | $67,960 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 19,920 | $74,090 |
| Utilities | 5,390 | $95,110 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 4,730 | $84,530 |
| Information | 3,200 | $98,740 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,950 | $70,190 |
| Construction | 2,870 | $66,840 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,980 | $71,820 |
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Eclipse IDE (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Computer Hardware Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electrical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Primary-Short)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
9 programs across 5 majors
- Electronics Engineering
- General Engineering Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Industrial Production Technology
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians).
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