Becoming an electrical engineer involves a combination of education, skills development and practical experience. Aspiring engineers typically pursue a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, focusing on mathematics, physics and circuit design.¹ By combining formal education, practical experience and ongoing learning, you can work toward building a career as an electrical engineer. Use this career guide to further explore the steps and requirements for this engineering field.

Electrical engineering is a branch of engineering involved with the study, design, development and implementation of all types of electrical equipment, devices and systems. Within this branch, there are many subfields, including power, control, electronic and microelectronics engineering.²

An electrical engineer is responsible for developing new electrical systems and equipment or improving existing ones.² These professionals are also responsible for ensuring that the equipment and systems they work on are as safe as possible.²

It's possible to become an electrical engineer with a general engineering degree. However, the ideal pathway is to earn a degree that focuses specifically on electrical engineering.¹ This type of degree will provide a thorough framework of competencies in engineering design, engineering processes, quality analysis and more.

In addition, look for a degree program that offers plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning. For example, it’s ideal to complete one or two capstone projects, which will typically allow you to work in teams to solve an engineering problem or develop a major project.

A typical electrical engineering degree program covers topics such as:

• Differential equations
• Circuits design
• Embedded systems
• Signal processing
• Electromagnetic fields
• Electrical design

GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Electrical Engineers

Aspiring electrical engineers need a firm grounding in science and math competencies, especially physics, differential equations, electrical circuit theory and digital systems design. They can benefit from hands-on activities that allow them to put what they’ve been taught into practice, as well as opportunities to refine soft skills like communication and collaboration.¹

If you're interested in learning more about how to become an electrical engineer, you may wish to consider the following degree programs:

Bachelor’s Programs

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies with an Emphasis in Engineering Management

Other Programs

Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians

An electrical engineer needs a wide variety of technical skills to perform their job duties, such as circuit design. However, it’s also helpful to possess a firm command of key soft skills, as engineers often need to collaborate with other professionals to complete a project. Some of the most important skills for an aspiring electrical engineer include:¹

• Concentration
• Commitment to ongoing learning
• Interpersonal skills
• Collaborative mindset
• Mathematics
• Communication skills

Learn how to become an electrical engineer below, starting with high school, college and professional certification.

High School Diploma 

If you’re still in high school and you’re interested in becoming an engineer, it’s a good idea to talk to your guidance counselor about your plans. Take plenty of math and science courses, including physics, algebra, trigonometry and calculus, as well as drafting, if available.¹ Aim to get good grades in these subjects.

College Degree

To become an electrical engineer, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field of engineering. Look for a degree program that has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). A bachelor’s degree is generally sufficient to pursue most electrical engineering careers, but if you plan on working in research and development or postsecondary education, you should also earn a master’s degree.¹

Internships and Apprenticeships

Internships or apprenticeships are crucial for electronic engineers, offering invaluable hands-on experience and practical knowledge that can enhance your technical skills and career readiness. In fact, surveys show that employers in this field generally prefer to hire graduates with internship experience and many hire their own former interns after graduation.¹

Entry-Level Roles

Upon graduation, you can begin looking for an entry-level electrical engineering job. You may be able to immediately work as a junior electrical engineer rather than starting out in a different role.¹ This is especially true if you completed an internship, as you may have the opportunity to interview at the same company.³

Professional Certifications

If you are having trouble landing your first electrical engineering job, consider taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam sooner than later. This is a professional certification exam that doesn’t have work experience requirements. In fact, you can take it right after graduation. After passing this exam, you may be referred to as an “engineer in training” (EIT) or an “engineer intern” (EI).¹

Later, after gaining sufficient work experience, you may qualify to take the second professional certification—the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Upon passing the PE exam, you may need to apply for state licensure. Licensure requirements can vary by state.¹

Now that you’re familiar with the basics of how to become an electrical engineer, you may be eager to learn more about this career and your academic pathway. If you aren’t quite sure whether this field is right for you, consider talking to your high school guidance counselor about job shadowing opportunities. These may shed light on your career preferences.

$109,010

Median annual wage for electrical and electronics engineers as of May 2023⁴

The median annual wage for electrical and electronics engineers can depend on a number of factors, including experience, professional licensure, specialty area, employer and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for electrical and electronics engineers was $109,010 as of May 2023.⁴

You'll find that pursuing electrical engineering can open doors to work in diverse industries, such as aviation, computing, broadcast communications, transportation and manufacturing.² The possibilities are virtually endless. Electrical engineers can work on any type of product, piece of equipment or system involving electricity — from electric cars and drones to smartphones and telecommunications networks. The specific tasks of an electrical engineer will vary, depending on their subfield and the project they are working on. In general, their daily tasks may include:²

As you can see, electrical engineers are often involved with the entire lifecycle of a project — from conception and design to implementation and troubleshooting. They must work collaboratively with other professionals to ensure each project proceeds smoothly and is completed on time and within budget.²

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for electrical and electronics engineers to increase by 5%, faster than average, accounting for an estimated addition of about 15,800 jobs to the field from 2022 to 2032.⁵

You’ll likely find electrical engineers in diverse settings and industries. Because electrical equipment, products and systems are so well integrated into modern society, there is a range of workplace possibilities. You may find an electrical engineer working in the following places:⁶

With ample work experience, an electrical engineer may explore various career progression opportunities. This may include transitioning into supervisory roles, overseeing teams of technicians and engineers or moving into engineering management. Additionally, some engineers might pursue graduate degrees to prepare for research, development or academic positions.³