Employment Statistics and Major Employers of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

In the early 1990s, electrical and electronics engineers held about 426,000 jobs while overall, there were more than 1.5 million engineers employed in the United States. Electrical and electronics engineering is the largest subfield within the discipline. According to the Engineering Manpower Commission, the number of engineers graduated from colleges and universities during the past nine years has dropped steadily. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment opportunities in all branches of engineering are expected to be good through the years to come because employment is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations, while the number of degrees granted in engineering is not expected to increase much above present levels. In addition, opportunities for electrical and electronics engineers have been strong for several years as the computer field and other high-technology areas continue to expand. Recently, the demand for electrical and electronics engineers in the military/industrial complex has declined; this sector has been bloated for years because of disproportionately high spending by government. Government reinvestment in other high-tech areas, such as space exploration, environmental studies, and the information super-highway, should balance the loss of electrical and electronics engineers from the military sector.

The majority of electrical and electronics engineers work for firms that manufacture electrical and electronic equipment, business machines, professional and scientific equipment, and aircraft and aircraft parts. A substantial number conduct research and development for these companies or work for engineering consulting firms. Some electrical and electronics engineers are self-employed. Additionally, many electrical engineers work for private and public power utility companies around the nation. Employment with power utilities is expected to increase slowly but steadily as power use rises in the United States.

The remainder of electrical and electronics engineers work in government. At the federal level, these engineers are employed by the Departments of Transportation, Energy, and Defense, and at the National Aeronautic and Space Administration. A good number of electrical and electronics engineers also work for state energy agencies.



SALARY STATISTICS

According to the College Placement Council, electrical and electronics engineering graduates with a bachelor's degree had an average starting salary of $33,754, while those with a master's degree earned, on average, $41,024 per year. Holders of a Ph.D. degree earned an entry-level salary of $56,826 per year in 1992. A survey of workplaces in 160 metropolitan areas reported that experienced mid-level engineers with no supervisory responsibilities had median annual earnings of about $52,500, with the middle half earning between $48,200 and $57,300 per year. Median annual earnings for engineers at senior managerial levels were about $87,000.

Entry-level engineers working for the federal government with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn $22,717 to $24,231, depending upon experience. The holder of a master's degree will earn between $27,789 and $29,641, while those with a Ph.D. can expect a salary of $33,623 to $35,865. The average salary for engineers in the federal government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $54,422 in 1993.

In academia, assistant engineering professors earned an average salary of $45,753 in 1992. Associate professors had an average income of $52,896, while full professors earned $70,177 per year. Part-time engineering instructors earned an average of $27,000 per year.

SETTING

Electrical and electronics engineers work in laboratories and other research facilities, classrooms, offices, and manufacturing facilities where they inspect, supervise, and solve on-site problems. They may spend a substantial amount of time conducting research using computers to design and test projects and writing reports. These engineers will also work extensively with other engineers; complex projects often require the services of many engineers with each working with a small part of the job.

Many engineers work a standard 40-hour workweek. At times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra work pressure to the job. When this happens, engineers may work long hours and experience considerable stress.

SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology 345 East 47th St. New York, NY 10017-2397
  

The board publishes a listing of accredited schools of engineering throughout the country.

• American Society for Engineering Education Eleven Dupont Circle Suite 200 Washington, DC 20036
  

The society publishes two directories annually, one for under-graduate study and the other for graduate study and research in all areas of engineering.

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers United States Activities 1828 L St., NW Suite 1202 Washington, DC 20036-5104
  

The institute publishes the Employment Guide for Engineers and Scientists, which includes a directory of companies that employ electrical, electronics, and computer engineers.