What You Need to Know About Electrical Engineering Technicians

Job Description & Duties Test or modify developmental or operational electrical machinery or electrical control equipment and circuitry in industrial or commercial plants or laboratories. Usually work under direction of engineers or technologists.

List of Electrical Engineering Technician Job Duties

• Participate in the development or testing of electrical aspects of new green technologies, such as lighting, optical data storage devices, or energy efficient televisions.
• Plan, schedule, or monitor work of project support personnel.
• Install or maintain electrical control systems or solid state equipment.
• Assemble or test solar photovoltaic products, such as inverters or energy management systems.
• Prepare, review, or coordinate ongoing modifications to contract specifications or plans.
• Write procedures for the commissioning of electrical installations.

Electrical Engineering Technician Needed Skills

When polled, Electrical Engineering Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Related Job Titles

• Test Technician
• Programmable Logic Controller Programmer (PLC Programmer)
• Electrification Adviser
• Solar Lab Technician
• Electronics Technician

Is There Going to be Demand for Electrical Engineering Technicians?

There were about 137,000 jobs for Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,700 new jobs for Electrical Engineering Technicians by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 12,000 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians are California, Texas, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Ohio, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Electrical Engineering Technician Salary

The salary for Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians ranges between about $38,110 and $95,140 a year. The median salary is $64,330.

How much do Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Vermont	$83,540
District of Columbia	$83,330
Alaska	$82,770
Wyoming	$74,500
Washington	$72,820
Maryland	$72,810
Hawaii	$72,390
Colorado	$71,860
Virginia	$70,750
Rhode Island	$69,760
Nevada	$68,920
New Jersey	$68,740
Oklahoma	$68,500
West Virginia	$67,960
Texas	$67,870
North Dakota	$67,860
California	$67,700
Illinois	$67,390
Montana	$67,370
Massachusetts	$66,350
Georgia	$66,210
Connecticut	$65,630
New York	$65,310
Kansas	$65,270
New Mexico	$64,650
Oregon	$64,220
Mississippi	$64,070
Iowa	$64,000
Arizona	$63,550
Maine	$63,380
Indiana	$62,730
Kentucky	$61,880
Minnesota	$61,320
Alabama	$61,120
North Carolina	$61,080
Ohio	$61,040
Arkansas	$60,950
South Carolina	$60,670
Missouri	$60,650
Utah	$60,490
Nebraska	$59,220
New Hampshire	$59,160
Michigan	$59,040
Florida	$58,500
Idaho	$57,290
Delaware	$56,680
Tennessee	$56,480
Pennsylvania	$56,240
Louisiana	$54,980
Wisconsin	$54,290
South Dakota	$54,190

What Tools do Electrical Engineering Technicians Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Electrical Engineering Technicians:

• Microsoft Visual Basic
• Python
• Verilog
• Microsoft Project
• SAP
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• OrCAD Capture
• National Instruments LabVIEW

How do I Become an Electrical Engineering Technician?

Individuals working as Electrical Engineering Technicians have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Electrical Engineering Technicians Work

Related Careers

Those thinking about becoming Electrical Engineering Technicians might also be interested in the following careers:

• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
• Computer User Support Specialists

Career changers with experience as an Electrical Engineering Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons