Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Impact: System reliability

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

What do Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians do?

What the work is really like

You sit between engineers and production, turning schematics into working hardware and troubleshooting the systems that fail in the field. Most days involve testing circuits, modifying control panels, running diagnostic software, and writing up technical reports that engineers use to refine designs. You might spend the morning soldering components onto a prototype circuit board, the afternoon running voltage tests on a motor controller, and the last hour documenting why a relay keeps tripping under load. The work happens in labs, on factory floors, in testing facilities, and occasionally at client sites where equipment has broken down and someone needs to figure out why.

The problems you solve are concrete. A sensor reads incorrectly, so you trace the signal path and find a grounding issue. A control system behaves erratically under temperature swings, so you run thermal tests and suggest component swaps. Engineers design the system; you prove whether it works, where it breaks, and what needs to change before it ships. You use oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators, and CAD software daily. Precision matters, and so does speed, because production schedules depend on you confirming that a fix actually fixed the problem.

Skills and strengths that matter

You need a working fluency in circuit theory, control systems, and digital electronics, plus the hands-on skill to solder, wire, and assemble components without damaging them. Troubleshooting is the core competence: you follow a signal through a system, isolate the fault, and test your hypothesis methodically. CAD software literacy is expected, both for reading engineering drawings and for drafting modifications. You will also write clearly, because your test reports and field notes feed directly into engineering decisions.

Coordination counts as much as technical skill. You work alongside engineers, machinists, quality inspectors, and production supervisors, which means communicating status, asking clarifying questions, and flagging problems early. Judgment matters throughout the day: you decide when a reading is close enough, when to escalate an issue, and whether a workaround will hold or create a worse problem downstream. The role rewards people who stay calm under pressure, double-check their work, and take pride in making things function correctly rather than simply completing tasks.

Who tends to thrive here

This work suits people who like solving tangible problems with their hands and their heads in equal measure. If you enjoy figuring out why something does not work, and if you get satisfaction from seeing a device go from broken to functional because you traced the fault, the work feels worthwhile even when the hours are long. The environment is team-heavy: you collaborate constantly, explain technical issues to non-technical colleagues, and depend on others for information. People who prefer solitary focus or who dislike interruptions tend to find the pace draining.

You will spend most of your day indoors in labs or on factory floors, often standing, occasionally working in tight spaces or around high-voltage equipment. The stress level sits in the moderate range. Deadlines matter, and catastrophic failures are rare. People who thrive here tend to value stability, practical contribution, and steady skill development over rapid advancement or public recognition. If you need work that feels urgent or creative in the artistic sense, this will feel too incremental.

How people get into the role and grow

Most employers expect an associate's degree in electrical engineering technology, electronics engineering technology, or a closely related field. Some community colleges and technical institutes offer programs that include hands-on labs in circuit design, programmable logic controllers, and embedded systems. A smaller number of people enter from military electronics training or through apprenticeships in industrial maintenance roles. Licensing varies by state; some require registration as an engineering technician, others do not. Certifications in specific software platforms or testing standards can help, though they rarely substitute for the degree.

You start as a junior technician, working under supervision on routine tests and equipment setup. After two to four years, you take on more complex assignments: modifying designs, running test sequences independently, and training newer hires. By the five- to eight-year mark, you might lead a small technical team, manage a testing lab, or specialise in a particular system type. Some people move laterally into calibration work or quality assurance. Others return to school for a bachelor's degree and transition into full engineering roles, though that route takes time and money.

Growth in this field is projected to stay flat through 2033. Demand holds steady rather than expanding, and new positions open mainly through retirements and turnover. If you want to see how your interests, thinking style, and strengths line up against this role and roughly 1,900 others, CareerMatch is built for exactly that comparison.

From people working as Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Day-to-day, you're hands-on with circuits, testing, and troubleshooting. It's a mix of design work using CAD, simulating systems, and then getting your hands dirty with soldering and actual hardware. You need to be precise and have a good eye for detail, as small errors can have big impacts. It's to see your designs come to life and function as intended.

Drawn from IEEE, r/ElectricalEngineering, Electro-Tech-Online Forums

Attribution: Composite

Composite · Synthesised from IEEE, r/ElectricalEngineering, Electro-Tech-Online Forums

A day in the life of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
85% Team / 15% Solo
Client facing
Sometimes
Impact visibility
High
Travel
Occasional
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
Hybrid
Typical work hours
40-50
Stress level
Moderate

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary, education and outlook at a glance

Median salary
$158,125
Entry-level
$107,500
Senior
$213,500
Growth by 2033
+0.6%
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Moderate
Salary growth potential
115%
Typical student debt
Moderate

Skills you need as Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Hard skills

  • Computers and Electronics
  • Troubleshooting
  • Computer aided design CAD software

Soft skills

  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Coordination
  • Critical Thinking

Technical complexity: Moderate

Tools Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians use

Core tools

  • Multimeters/Oscilloscopes (Hardware): For testing and measuring electrical signals in circuits.
  • CAD Software (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical, SolidWorks Electrical) (Software): For designing electrical systems and circuits.
  • Circuit Simulation Software (e.g., SPICE, Multisim) (Software): For simulating circuit behavior before physical implementation.

Commonly used

  • Soldering Irons/Stations (Hardware): For assembling and repairing electronic components.
  • Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) (Hardware): For automating industrial electromechanical processes.
  • Test Benches/Power Supplies (Hardware): For providing controlled environments for testing.

Specialist tools

  • Python/MATLAB (Language): For scripting, data analysis, and control system development.

How to become Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Minimum education
Associate's Degree
Licensing
Optional
Years to mid-career
3-6
Years to senior
12-18
Career switching
Hard

Where Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians come from

Where Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians go next

Typical Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians progression

  1. Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
  2. Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
  3. Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
  4. Electrical Engineers
  5. or Calibration Technologists and Technicians

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians job outlook and future demand

Automation probability
0.6375
AI disruption risk
High
Demand trend
Stable

Job satisfaction as Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Overall satisfaction
7.3/10
Meaning
7.2/10
Work-life balance
7/10
Prestige
8.2/10
Social perception
Very High

Where Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians find community

Professional organisations

Conferences

Podcasts and media

Reddit communities

  • r/ElectricalEngineering: An online community for discussions, news, and problem-solving related to electrical engineering topics.

Online communities

Questions people ask about Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

How much do Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn?

Pay for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians starts around $107,500 at entry level, reaches $158,125 at the median and climbs to $213,500 for the most experienced.

What qualifications do Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians need?

Most employers look for an Associate's Degree, licensing is optional and reaching mid-career takes about 3-6 years.

Can Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians work remotely?

Employers commonly split the week between home and the workplace.

What is the job outlook for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians?

Projections put employment growth at +0.6% through 2033, with demand rated Stable.

How exposed are Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians to automation and AI?

This work carries a high risk of disruption from AI.

Careers similar to Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Are Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians the right career for you?

Take the 25-minute assessment and get your personalised top career matches.

Try for free