Engineering
Electrical Engineer Career Guide: How to Get In, Move Up & Earn More
Hardware electrical engineers divide time between schematic capture, PCB layout review, lab debugging with test equipment, cross-functional design reviews, and documentation. Power electronics roles involve significant simulation work; RF roles involve more characterization and antenna testing.
Career Path & Salary Progression
| Level | Title | Years Exp | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Electrical Engineer I / Junior EE | 0–3 yrs | $72,000 |
| Mid | Electrical Engineer | 3–7 yrs | $103,000 |
| Senior | Senior Electrical Engineer / Lead EE | 7–12 yrs | $135,000 |
| Lead/Manager | Principal Engineer / Engineering Manager | 12–18 yrs | $170,000 |
| Executive | Chief Electrical Engineer / Director EE | 18+ yrs | $220,000 |
Median base salary estimates. Total compensation at tech companies may include equity and bonuses worth 20–80% above base.Full salary breakdown →
Top Skills for Electrical Engineers
Circuit DesignPCB Layout (Altium)FPGA ProgrammingEmbedded C/C++Signal ProcessingPower ElectronicsMATLAB/SimulinkControl SystemsRF/Antenna DesignVHDL/Verilog
How to Get Started
- Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program
- Proficiency in circuit design tools (Altium, KiCad, or Cadence)
- Programming skills (Python, MATLAB, C/C++) for embedded systems or signal processing roles
- Lab experience with oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and hardware debugging
Certifications Worth Getting
- PE (Professional Engineer)
- PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner)
- Certified Power Electronic Design Engineer
- IEEE Senior Member
Industry Outlook
The BLS projects 9% growth for electrical engineers through 2032, with electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, semiconductor design, and defense electronics driving demand. Embedded systems engineers with software skills command a premium as hardware and software increasingly converge.
Where Electrical Engineers Find Jobs
LinkedInIndeedIEEE Job SiteGlassdoorClearanceJobs (defense)DiceAngelList / Wellfound (startups)