How to Become a Electrical Engineer in 2026
Quick answer: Becoming a electrical engineer requires a 4-year degree - typically a ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electrical engineering. The national median pay is $120,630 per year, and BLS projects +7.2% employment change from 2024 to 2034 (BLS OEWS, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Electrical Engineer at a Glance
| Metric | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $120,630 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Typical wage range | $76,550 (10th pct) - $184,300 (90th pct) | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected growth (2024-34) | +7.2% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
| Typical education | ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electrical engineering | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| License / certification | PE license required for power/utility sign-off roles | State licensing boards |
What Does a Electrical Engineer Do?
Electrical engineers design power systems, electronics, control systems, and communications equipment - from utility-scale distribution to circuit boards - and oversee their testing, manufacture, and installation.
Skills That Make a Great Electrical Engineer
- Circuit and power-system analysis
- NEC code fluency
- PLC and controls programming
- Test instrumentation and troubleshooting
- Protective relaying and grounding design
How to Become a Electrical Engineer
1. Earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s
Electrical engineering or electrical engineering technology.
2. Pass the FE exam
The EIT credential starts the clock toward PE licensure.
3. Start in power, electronics, or controls
Utilities, manufacturers, and engineering firms hire at the bachelor’s level.
4. Gain experience toward the PE
Four years under licensed engineers for power and utility sign-off roles.
5. Specialize
Power systems, renewable energy, embedded systems, or controls/automation.
Why an Online Degree Works for This Career
Electricians and solar/wind technicians already speak the language of this degree. An ABET-accredited electrical engineering bachelor’s moves you from installing systems to designing them, and utility and renewable-energy employers actively recruit engineers with field backgrounds.
Electrical Engineer Salary
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,550 |
| 25th | $92,830 |
| 50th (median) | $120,630 |
| 75th | $152,950 |
| 90th | $184,300 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 192,000 |
| 2034 projected | 205,700 |
| Percent change | +7.2% |
Cost and Time to Complete the Degree
For electrical engineers, the credential is: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electrical engineering. A bachelor’s degree is typically 120 credit hours: four years full-time, and commonly five to six years part-time while working. Transfer credit is the other lever: prior college, military training, apprenticeship coursework, and industry certifications can be worth a year or more at transfer-friendly schools, so get a written transfer evaluation before enrolling anywhere. Costs vary widely by school type; in-state public online programs are usually the value benchmark, and employer tuition assistance is common for working adults in this field.
Pros and Cons of Becoming a Electrical Engineer
Pros
- Median pay of $120,630 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- BLS projects +7.2% employment growth through 2034
- Field experience from the trades is a genuine hiring advantage
- Accredited online and hybrid degree paths exist for working adults
Cons
- Requires a 4-year degree (typically 120 credit hours)
- Entry-level pay starts near $76,550 at the 10th percentile
- Licensing hurdle: PE license required for power/utility sign-off roles
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an electrician become an electrical engineer?
Yes - it is one of the strongest trade-to-degree jumps. Code knowledge and field experience compound with the engineering credential; the requirement is the ABET-accredited bachelor's plus the FE/PE exam track for licensed roles.
How much do electrical engineers make?
The national median annual wage for electrical engineers is $120,630 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The top 10% earn $184,300 or more, while entry-level pay starts around $76,550.
What is the job outlook for electrical engineers?
BLS projects employment of electrical engineers to change by +7.2% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Electrical Engineer Salary and Requirements by State
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Related Trade Careers
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Electrical Engineer Salary by State
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |