Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment. Some of this equipment includes electric motors; machinery controls, lighting, and wiring in buildings; radar and navigation systems; communications systems; and power generation, control, and transmission devices used by electric utilities. Electrical engineers also design the electrical systems of automobiles and aircraft. Although the terms electrical and electronics engineering often are used interchangeably in academia and industry, electrical engineers traditionally have focused on the generation and supply of power, whereas electronics engineers have worked on applications of electricity to control systems or signal processing. Electrical engineers specialize in areas such as power systems engineering or electrical equipment manufacturing.
THE SALARY
The lowest 10% make 52,990 annually, the lowest 25% make 64,910 annually, the median make 82,160 annually, the highest 25% make 102,520 annually, and the highest 10% make 125,820 annually.
EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS
In 2008 electrical engineers held 157,800 jobs.
JOB OUTLOOK
