Electrical Engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
BLS SOC 17-2071 · O*NET-SOC 17-2071.00 · BLS 2025–2035 · O*NET 31.0
Median annual wage, 2025
$120,630
Projected change, 2025–2035
9.9%
2025–2035 annual average openings
11,400
AI exposure
High
Editorial analysis
AI joins the engineering workbench
Electrical engineers already rely on sophisticated simulation and design software, so AI is arriving as another layer of assistance rather than replacing manual drafting overnight. It can help search component specifications, generate test ideas, analyze signal data, review design documentation, optimize parameters, and assist with portions of circuit or control-system design.
The physical circuit gets the final vote
An AI-generated recommendation still has to contend with temperature, noise, manufacturing variation, electromagnetic interference, component availability, safety margins, and countless other physical realities. Engineers must also know when a result violates a requirement that the model failed to notice.
- Design exploration and simulation may become faster.
- Datasheets and technical literature can be searched conversationally.
- Testing data can be analyzed for patterns that humans might overlook.
- Verification, reliability, safety, and hardware-domain knowledge remain critical.
AI may be particularly valuable as systems become more complex and combine electronics, software, sensors, communications, and machine learning. Electrical engineers who can work across those boundaries are likely to have growing opportunities because someone still has to make the intelligent system function as a reliable physical product.
Labor-market picture
Two measures, different questions
These measures offer two different ways to understand the occupation: BLS projections show how national employment may change over time, while relative AI exposure highlights where tasks may intersect with AI-related capabilities. Read them with the work profile and your local context to decide what deserves closer investigation.
Employment
- Employment, 2025
- 199,700 jobs
- Projected employment, 2035
- 219,500 jobs
- Projected change, 2025–2035
- 19,800 jobs (9.9%)
Relative AI exposure
BLS category: High. This is a relative task-exposure classification, not a forecast of employment change, automation, wages, or worker replacement.
Relative AI exposure · High
Work profile
Representative tasks
These task statements come from O*NET 31.0. They are source facts, not labels assigned by the AI exposure measure.
- Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
- Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
- Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
Skills that matter
Skills in the source profile
Importance uses O*NET's 1–5 scale. Level uses its 0–7 scale. Select a skill to see its source definition and reported values.
Technology and tools
These technology records come from O*NET and show software or tools reported in the occupation profile. They describe work context, not a required checklist for every employer.
- Development environment software
- File versioning software
- Analytical or scientific software
- WAN switching software and firmware
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Industrial control software
- Operating system software
- Object or component oriented development software
Preparation
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
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Source provenance
Labor-market and exposure facts: bls-ep-2025-35. Work profile: onet-31.0. Verify release details on the Sources page.