The world today would not be able to function without electricity, so the demand for electrical engineers is constantly on the rise.

Electrical engineers are in charge of designing and developing electrical systems and products. The products and systems they work on are incredibly varied, and be as large scale as huge factories down to household goods and appliances. Like all areas of engineering, their job essentially involves turning ideas into reality.

Electrical engineers works with transformers, circuits, electrical parts and wiring to create products that rely on electricity to function. They are often given project specifications from their employees to which they have to work, usually in a team with other engineers and related people.

They have many roles within projects, including creators, planners, designers and managers. They are involved with projects from start to finish and oversee every part of the process. Some of the processes that electrical engineers may be involved in include: anticipating and identifying customers needs and translating them into design specifications; building prototypes; identifying and monitoring milestones along the projects development; supervising construction plans; designing and drawing electrical systems; selecting appropriate materials; and developing maintenance schedules. They are kept very busy and have a great diversity in their careers.

 

 

Many electrical engineers specialize in certain areas. Specialists often earn more money than general electrical engineers. Some of the areas they may choose to specialize in include: maintenance; architecture; telecommunications; radar and navigation systems; technology and robotics.

Electrical engineers are hired by all sorts of companies and industries ranging from scientific, commercial, healthcare, industry and more. Companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Ford all require electrical engineers on a daily basis.

Electrical engineers are highly qualified and it is a very competitive industry. To become an electrical engineer you must have a minimum of a bachelors degree in engineering. You must take specialist units in electrical engineering as well as cover subject areas such as maths, physics and communication. Engineering degrees generally take four to five years to complete. Most electrical engineers choose to do a masters or advanced degree, which are an extra one to two years of study, to further their chances at gaining leadership roles within the industry. For those that are wanting to work at a university either as a teacher or researcher, they must obtain a doctorate degree, which usually takes around four years of part time study. To be successful as an electrical engineer you must be able to work as part of a team and communicate well with others. You must also have an eye for detail and accuracy, as the work must be very precise.

There are around 153,000 electrical engineers currently employed in the USA at the moment, and this is projected to rise by 6% between now and 2016 up to 163,000.

 

 

 

 

The salaries of electrical engineers vary depending on the level of experience and qualifications of each individual as well as the location and company for which they work. The average salary of electrical engineers in the USA is around $76,000 per year. The lowest 10% of electrical engineers in the USA earn an average of $49,000 per year. The highest 10% of electrical engineers earn approximately $115,000 per year.

In terms of the levels of qualification, electrical engineers with just a bachelors degree have an average starting salary of approximately $55,000 per year. Those with a masters degree can expect to start on an average salary of $66,000 per year; whilst those with doctorate degrees start on an average salary of round $76,000 per year.

There are many great universities in the USA that offer degrees in electrical engineering. Entry criteria is usually very competitive, and applicants must show extensive and advanced knowledge in areas such as physics and maths. The top five universities in the USA for electrical engineering are: Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; and the California Institute of Technology.