Power, electronics & controls
Electrical Engineer
Everything electric was designed by somebody, and this is that somebody.
Typical pay
$75k-$145k
How you get in
ABET bachelor's in electrical engineering
Outlook
Strong; grid modernization and electrification are driving demand
Average openings
57/100Fewer openings per worker than the average job, and the field is growing.
JobPOVs index, calculated from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025-2035 for Electrical engineers. It measures how many openings arise each year relative to the size of the field — not how many people apply. BLS does not publish a saturation figure.
Electrical engineers design circuits, power systems, controls and electronics. Power systems work is stable and licensure-driven; electronics and embedded design is faster-moving and closer to product development.
A day in the life
8:30a – 4:00p · 7 hours 30 min
- 8:30aReview test data from an overnight validation run
- 9:30aSchematic capture and circuit design
- 11:30aDesign review with the mechanical and firmware teams
- 1:00pLunch
- 2:00pBench debug on a prototype board
- 4:00pUpdate documentation and release the design revision
How to get in
Bachelor's degree
Duration
4-5 years
Cost
$40,000-$180,000
Credential
BS in electrical engineering (ABET-accredited)
- Complete an ABET-accredited EE degree — expect heavy math and physics
- Do co-ops or internships; this decides your first job more than your GPA
- Specialize toward power, electronics, RF, controls or embedded systems
- Enter as a design or test engineer
PE licensure for power
Duration
4 years after the degree
Cost
$1,000-$2,000 in exam fees
Credential
Professional Engineer license
- Pass the FE exam in your senior year
- Work four years under a licensed PE
- Pass the PE exam in power systems
- Essential for utility, consulting and building systems work; optional in product design
Technician into engineering
Duration
4-7 years
Cost
$8,000-$80,000
Credential
AS in electronics technology, then a BS
- Complete an electronics or electrical technology associate degree
- Work as a technician while an employer funds degree completion
- Note that technology degrees may not qualify for PE licensure in every state
- Complete an ABET engineering degree if licensure matters to you
What people love
- · Strong pay with a bachelor's alone
- · Works across power, electronics, aerospace, medical and automotive
- · The PE license carries real authority in power work
- · Genuinely intellectually demanding
What wears people down
- · The degree is mathematically brutal — attrition is high
- · Power and utility work can be slow and bureaucratic
- · Hardware cycles are long and unforgiving of mistakes
- · Some sectors are cyclical