How to Become a Electronics Engineer in 2026
Quick answer: Becoming a electronics engineer requires a 4-year degree - typically a ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electronics or electrical engineering. The national median pay is $130,220 per year, and BLS projects +6.2% employment change from 2024 to 2034 (BLS OEWS, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Electronics Engineer at a Glance
| Metric | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $130,220 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Typical wage range | $81,840 (10th pct) - $206,960 (90th pct) | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected growth (2024-34) | +6.2% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
| Typical education | ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electronics or electrical engineering | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| License / certification | PE license for some roles; not required for most industry positions | State licensing boards |
What Does a Electronics Engineer Do?
Electronics engineers (distinct from electrical engineers, who focus on power) design circuits, communications gear, navigation systems, and control electronics - the design layer above the bench and field technicians who build and repair that equipment.
Skills That Make a Great Electronics Engineer
- Analog and digital circuit design
- RF and communications fundamentals
- Embedded systems
- Test instrumentation (scopes, analyzers)
- Schematic capture and simulation
How to Become a Electronics Engineer
1. Earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s
Electronics engineering or electrical engineering with an electronics focus.
2. Convert bench skill to design skill
Circuit simulation, PCB layout, and embedded firmware round out hands-on experience.
3. Start in test or design
Defense, telecom, and instrumentation firms hire technicians-turned-engineers into validation roles first.
4. Specialize
RF/communications, avionics, instrumentation, or control systems.
5. Advance
Senior engineer or engineering management; PE for public-sector sign-off.
Why an Online Degree Works for This Career
Electronics techs, avionics techs, and tower climbers already read the schematics; the ABET bachelor’s converts repair skill into design authority. Online electronics engineering technology programs are a common working-technician route.
Electronics Engineer Salary
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $81,840 |
| 25th | $101,680 |
| 50th (median) | $130,220 |
| 75th | $167,670 |
| 90th | $206,960 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 95,900 |
| 2034 projected | 101,800 |
| Percent change | +6.2% |
Cost and Time to Complete the Degree
For electronics engineers, the credential is: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electronics or 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 Electronics Engineer
Pros
- Median pay of $130,220 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- BLS projects +6.2% 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 $81,840 at the 10th percentile
- Licensing hurdle: PE license for some roles; not required for most industry positions
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between electrical and electronics engineering?
BLS tracks them separately: electrical engineers (SOC 17-2071) center on power generation and distribution; electronics engineers (17-2072) on circuits, communications, and control systems. Both are bachelor's-entry and both pay six-figure medians.
How much do electronics engineers make?
The national median annual wage for electronics engineers, except computer is $130,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The top 10% earn $206,960 or more, while entry-level pay starts around $81,840.
What is the job outlook for electronics engineers?
BLS projects employment of electronics engineers, except computer to change by +6.2% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Electronics Engineer Salary and Requirements by State
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · 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 · Rhode Island · 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 - Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (SOC 17-2072)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Electronics 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) |