Electronic Engineering Jobs – Degree Opportunities
As technology continues to drive nearly every facet of our lives, electronics engineering has become an increasingly popular career choice. Electronics engineers are employed in a range of fields, including research and development, manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, agriculture and aviation. They can work in a number of industries with commercial, scientific, medical, government, and military applications. This field is fast growing and shows positive job outlooks for the future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that positions within electronics engineering are projected to increase 9% by 2026, leading to an estimated 16,200 new jobs in the field.
What Does an Electronics Engineer Do?
An electronics engineer is concerned with the components and circuitry that comprise electronic equipment and making sure that equipment functions properly. A subset of electrical engineering, electronics engineering works with internal systems that are designed to interpret specific signals and respond by performing a task detailed by predetermined parameters. These engineers design and oversee the manufacture of many types of electronic equipment, including televisions, cell phones, GPS devices, satellites, broadcast and communication networks, and radar and sonar systems.
Electronics engineers evaluate customer needs and establish the guidelines, processes and budgets for the creation of electronic systems. They generate procedures for maintenance and quality testing, ensuring products meet industry regulations and safety standards. To optimize performance, these engineers assess and suggest modifications for the electronic components used in various systems and pieces of equipment.
To excel in this field, an electronics engineer must be proficient in mathematics and science, feel passionate about technology, and enjoy creative analysis and problem-solving. This field is challenging and demands a considerable amount of time, energy and focus. It requires a number of technical skills, including analysis of electrical components, electronic system troubleshooting and equipment repair, and software development and implementation. Electronics engineers should also show an aptitude for leadership and teamwork and be prepared for long hours of hard work.
What Types of Industries Do Electronic Engineers Work In?
The worldwide demand for electronics engineers has remained high for years, largely due to the rapid growth of technology. Because such advancements exist across a wide variety of industries and show no signs of slowing down, electronics engineers are highly sought after. Common industries that employ electronics engineers include information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, conservation, medical technology, military, robotics, aviation and aeronautics.
Top Jobs in Electronic Engineering
Electronics engineering positions are some of the highest paying in the world. These professionals earn significantly more than the national average, and this trend is projected to continue into the future. Entry-level electronics engineers earn an average yearly salary of $76,840, increasing to $95,000 - $108,000 after ten years or more of experience. There is plenty of room for advancement in this field, especially if you continue your education into graduate school and pursue additional professional licensing. After 20 years of experience, many electronics engineers are promoted to management positions, which equates to even higher wages.
A degree in electronics engineering can provide you with a number of exciting career opportunities, including positions like computer hardware engineer, artificial intelligence engineer, electrical circuit engineer, control systems engineer, robotics and automation engineer, industrial applications engineer, communication and remote-sensing engineer, aerospace and electrical systems engineer, and instrumentation and measurement engineer.
A computer hardware engineer develops computer systems and components, using an array of statistical and computational techniques to model and analyze signal processing. The annual salary for this position ranges from $79,160 to $254,546. An artificial intelligence engineer combines data engineering and software development to build AI models and nets a yearly salary of $88,200 to $235,539. An electrical circuit engineer develops the circuits that comprise electrical systems, earning an annual salary that ranges from $85,000 to $230,000. An aerospace and electrical systems engineer develops the components for flight control systems and tests the effectiveness of flight-based defense systems. This position’s yearly salary is $76,219 to $219,150.
As you can see, there are a variety of interesting positions available to graduates with a degree in electronics engineering. Many of these positions are not only challenging and intriguing, but they offer numerous opportunities for career advancement and generous annual salaries. You can learn more about the responsibilities of each of these positions and their salaries by conducting research online. University program websites are especially useful, as are the surveys available from The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How Much Education Does Electronic Engineering Require?
Electronics engineering positions require a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering, electrical engineering or a related engineering field. Online degree programs in electronics engineering have become increasingly prominent, especially with the advent of COVID-19 closing many colleges for the foreseeable future. Students with bachelor’s degrees from online programs share the same job prospects and career success as students with degrees from in-person educational programs. They may end up more successful, in fact, as online degree programs allow you to coordinate studying around part-time or full-time jobs, increasing cost-effectiveness.
To be eligible for promotion to a supervisory role, it is usually necessary to obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Each state has its own regulations, but the typical prerequisites are an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited institution, passing scores on both the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) exam and the Professional Engineering (PE) exam, and four years of relevant work experience.
To further your education, expand your skill set and improve your earning potential, postgraduate studies are recommended. A master’s degree provides the opportunity for more specialized studies in a variety of upcoming fields, including artificial intelligence or nanotechnology. Internships and teaching assistantships can provide practical experience in addition to a stipend or credits.
The electronics engineering field will continue to expand and evolve, bringing new innovations with profound effects to the future of mankind. If you are considering electronics engineering as a career path, explore Grantham University’s ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science Electronics Engineering Technology program.
Grantham Can Meet Your Educational Needs
At Grantham, we understand the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the way we manage our time. In an attempt to adapt, many people are juggling more than one job, taking care of their children and educating them at home, and dealing with unpredictable schedules. It can be overwhelming to even imagine trying to fit classes into an already hectic day.
It’s always been part of Grantham’s mission to make higher education accessible, flexible and convenient. That’s we have monthly start dates and no set class times, which means you can complete coursework whenever and wherever it works best for you. We offer over 60 different degree programs and our student advisors are always just a text, email or call away.
Above all, the Grantham team will do everything we can to help you find success in school and after graduation. Take it from our students—according to our 2019 DEAC Annual Report, 95% were happy with their studies and 92% felt that they had achieved their learning goals.
Ready to begin the path to a rewarding career in electronics engineering or another exciting field? Reach out to our admissions team for more information and to get started.
Why Pursue a Career in Electronics Engineering?