### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			electrical and electronic engineering technicians imageElectrical and electronics engineering technicians use diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment.							
						Quick Facts:     Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$72,800     per year
										$35.00     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    102,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    1% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    800What 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 $72,800 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 9,900 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 
            

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

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians held about 102,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:
        Engineering services
                13%Federal government
                12Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
                12Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
                7Utilities
                6Electrical 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

			Electrical and electronic engineering techniciansElectrical 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

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians$72,800  Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians$63,100  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: 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 $72,800 in May 2023. 


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 $46,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,320.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Utilities
                $90,600Federal government
                82,910Engineering services
                71,410Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
                66,630Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
                64,750Most 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

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians1%  Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians1%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 show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 9,900 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
	
			
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians work closely with electrical and electronics engineers and computer hardware engineers. These workers are needed to support the continuing integration of computer and electronics systems, such as those found in automobiles and in various portable and household products. However, as more manual tasks performed by these technologists and technicians are automated, growth in this occupation could be limited.
			

                        Employment projections data for     electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians**
			17-3023
			102,500
			103,300
			1
			800
			Get data
 State & Area Data **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 OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians **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 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
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**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
            $75,400**Electrical and Electronics Engineers**
            Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment.
            Bachelor's degree
            $109,010**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
            $67,220**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
            $65,080**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
            $64,020
 Contacts for More Information
								
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 *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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