How Much Can I Earn as an Electrical Engineer?
According to Ziprecruiter, here are the pay scales for some of the more popular jobs in electrical and electronics engineering.
While subject to the economic cycles that affect other careers, electrical engineering is one of the more interesting and lucrative engineering fields to enter. The long-term demand for electrical engineers should remain strong, thanks to continuing growth in areas such as electric and autonomous vehicles, power infrastructure, communications, the Internet of Things, appliances, and consumer products. Government initiatives to increase onshore manufacturing will also create opportunities in new and expanded semiconductor manufacturing plants.
Electrical engineers design circuits and determine how they travel through a building, as well as find ways to make electronics work more efficiently. Electrical engineers also work in manufacturing, creating electrical and electronic components. The duties of this field require one to connect wires to circuit boards or perform similar tasks.
Ziprecruiter has compiled a listing of popular electrical engineering specialties, describing their duties and providing salary ranges.
Mixed Signal Design Engineer
Salary range: $110,000-$188,000 per year
A mixed signal design engineer contributes to the entire life cycle of a mixed signal integrated circuit. Duties include the design of analog cells, performing verification tasks, validation and simulation of device assembly, the improvement upon an existing block system, and client support and maintenance. Mixed-signal design engineers work both independently and in a team environment on interface technology in product specification, device characterization, floor planning, layout supervision, transistor-level design, and chip level verification.
FPGA Engineer
Salary range: $128,000-$170,500 per year
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are integrated circuits used in a variety of technology hardware that are designed to be programmed after they are manufactured. An FPGA engineer uses Hardware Description Language (HDL) to develop and test the configuration that is programmed into these circuits. They may also be responsible for integrating several FPGAs together to form a more complex working system.
Electrical Hardware Engineer
Salary range: $101,000-$159,000 per year
An electrical hardware engineer develops, tests, and adjusts the electrical components for computers and other electronics. Responsibilities include designing and create electrical systems, troubleshooting issues, making modifications to improve the device, and perform ongoing maintenance and repair.
Electrical hardware engineers also prepare detailed and accurate documents on the plan, as well as notes on development and testing. Electrical hardware engineers work with both analog and digital circuitry and use both design software and physical tools, such as soldering irons and magnifiers.
Electrical Engineering Manager
Salary range: $118,000-$156,500 per year
Electrical engineering manager manage electrical engineering projects for companies. Duties include making hiring decisions, troubleshooting common problems, and give the final approval for the design of an electrical system. While primarily a management position, electrical engineering managers require sufficient electrical system knowledge to make major decisions.
Electrical engineering managers must also memorize and enforce all relevant regulations, including OSHA safety guidelines for working on or near electrical systems.
System Safety Engineer
Salary range: $110,000-$152,500 per year
A system safety engineer helps to develop, refine, and update safety protocols and software that controls a large system and ensures that even if aspects of the system fail, it does not put the entire system at jeopardy. A system safety engineer must ensure that one system failure oes not affect other systems or endanger critical life support systems. Systems safety engineering is essential in a wide range of fields, from civil engineering and aeronautics to software and hardware engineering and power plant systems.
Principal Electrical Engineer
Salary range: $104,500-$145,500 per year
A principal electrical engineer serves as a project manager for electrical-related building or construction projects. Duties may include designing electrical devices, ensuring proper installation, inspecting completed electrical work, and providing work estimates. Principal electrical engineers may also supervise a staff of junior engineers, overseeing their work, and ensure that the project is completed within the allotted timeframe and budget. Because principal electrical engineers are often the liaison between the engineering team and upper management, they must create reports and communicate regular updates on project status to ensure each stage is meeting deadline expectations.
Electrical Power Engineer
Salary range: $88,500-$145,500 per year
An electrical power engineer is responsible for power system management. An electrical power engineer ensures the efficient functionality of the electrical power grid. Duties include designing components for the grid, such as generators, transformers, circuit breakers, and transmission lines. They ensure that power stations distribute power to customers efficiently, and manage different types of power systems, such as alternating and direct current. Electrical power engineers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, state licensure, and experience with power systems.