Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

On the job, you would:

Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments.
Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians must be able to follow instructions from engineers and others. They also need to clearly convey problems to engineers.

Detail oriented. Electrical engineering technologists and technicians must pay attention to detail when assembling, troubleshooting, and repairing electronic and electrical mechanical systems.

Math skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting tasks.

Mechanical skills. Electronic engineering technologists and technicians must use hand tools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to build components by hand.

Problem-solving skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians must be able to identify and fix problems that arise in assembling and inspecting electrical engineers' designs and prototypes.

Writing skills. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians write reports about onsite construction, design problems, or testing results. Their writing must be clear and well organized to convey the information in the reports.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		90%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		85%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		83%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		79%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		78%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		76%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		75%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		73%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		73%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		72%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		71%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		71%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		67%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		60%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		59%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		95%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		79%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		68%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
		59%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		56%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		56%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		51%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		72%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		70%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		70%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		67%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		67%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		66%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		62%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		62%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		56%	Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
		56%	Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
		56%	Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
		56%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		56%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		56%	Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
		56%	Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
		55%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		53%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		53%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		52%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		52%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		58%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		54%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Maintain electronic equipment.

Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.

Review technical documents to plan work.

Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.

Resolve operational performance problems.

Assemble equipment or components.

Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.

Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.

Assemble equipment or components.

Maintain electronic equipment.

Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.

Maintain operational records or records systems.

Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects.

Estimate operational costs.

Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.

Prepare project budgets.

Train personnel on proper operational procedures.

Direct installation activities.

Direct industrial production activities.

Maintain operational records or records systems.

Document technical design details.

Design electrical equipment or systems.

Operate computer systems.

Maintain operational records or records systems.

Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.

Update technical knowledge.

Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.

Advise customers on the use of products or services.

Direct quality control activities.

Create schematic drawings for electronics.

Install instrumentation or electronic equipment or systems.

Maintain electronic equipment.

Create electrical schematics.

Interpret design or operational test results.

Analyze costs and benefits of proposed designs or projects.

Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.

Assemble equipment or components.

Test green technologies or processes.

Design electrical equipment or systems.

Determine operational criteria or specifications.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		96%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		93%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		90%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		86%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		85%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		82%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		81%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		81%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		76%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		72%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		67%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		65%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		64%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		64%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		63%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		61%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		60%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		59%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		56%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		55%	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
		55%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		54%	Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
		53%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		74%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		86%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		81%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		80%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		75%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		75%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		73%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		73%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		72%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		71%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		71%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		70%	Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
		68%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		68%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		67%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		65%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		64%	Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
		62%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		59%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		58%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		57%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		57%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		57%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		56%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		55%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

What Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do

Electrical and electronic engineering technicians

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help engineers design and develop computers and other electrical and electronic equipment.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians help electrical and electronics engineers plan and develop communications equipment, computers, medical monitoring devices, or other equipment that is powered by other electricity or electric current. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to test, adjust, and repair equipment. They are also involved in assembling equipment for automation.

Duties

Electrical engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:

Assemble electrical and electronic systems and prototypes
Build, calibrate, and repair electrical instruments or testing equipment
Visit sites where systems are made to observe conditions affecting design
Identify solutions to technical design problems that arise in making electrical systems
Inspect designs for quality control, report findings, and recommend changes, if necessary
Draw diagrams and write specifications about design details of experimental electronics units

Electrical engineering technologists and technicians install and maintain electrical control systems and equipment and adjust electrical prototypes, parts, and assemblies to correct problems. When testing systems, they set up equipment and evaluate how the parts, assemblies, or systems perform under simulated conditions. They also analyze test information to resolve design problems.

Electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically do the following:

Create basic circuitry and draft sketches to clarify details of design, under engineers’ direction
Build prototypes from plans or sketches
Assemble, test, and maintain circuitry or electronic components according to engineering instructions, knowledge of electronics, and technical manuals
Adjust and replace defective circuitry and electronic components
Make parts, such as coils and terminal boards, using bench lathes, drills, or other machine tools

Electronic engineering technologists and technicians identify and repair equipment malfunctions. They also calibrate and perform preventive maintenance on equipment and systems.

These workers often need to read blueprints, diagrams, and engineering instructions for assembling electronic units. They also write reports and record data on testing techniques, laboratory equipment, and specifications.

Work Environment

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians held about 102,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:

Engineering services	13%
Federal government	12
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing	12
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing	7
Utilities	6

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians work on teams with electrical and electronics engineers. They work in offices, laboratories, and factories because their job tasks involve both engineering theory and assembly-line production.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians may be exposed to hazards from equipment or toxic materials, but incidents are rare if procedures are followed.

Work Schedules

Most electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians work full time. Some work day or night shifts, depending on production schedules. In the federal government, their schedules usually follow a standard workweek.

Getting Started

Education:

How to Become an Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree.

Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree. However, requirements may vary by employer.

Education

Associate’s degree programs in electrical or electronic engineering technology are available at community colleges and vocational–technical schools. Programs accredited by ABET or other organizations typically include courses such as algebra, programming languages, physics, and circuitry.

Depending on the job tasks or the industry, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree. Candidates for other jobs may qualify with a high school diploma.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Certifications in a variety of fields are available for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians. While optional, these credentials show that the designee has advanced knowledge. Among the organizations that offer certification are the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), ETA International, and the International Society of Automation.

Job Outlook

Employment of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Despite limited employment growth, about 9,900 openings for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians work closely with electrical and electronics engineers and computer hardware engineers. These workers are needed to support the continuing integration of computer and electronics systems, such as those found in automobiles and in various portable and household products. However, as more manual tasks performed by these technologists and technicians are automated, growth in this occupation could be limited.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about general engineering education and career resources, visit

American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

Technology Student Association (TSA)

For more information about accredited programs, visit

ABET

For more information about certification, visit

ETA International

International Society of Automation (ISA)

National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)

For information about working in automation, visit

Automation Federation

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians	Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft.	See How to Become One	$70,740
Electrical and Electronics Engineers	Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment.	Bachelor's degree	$104,610
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers	Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install or repair a variety of electrical equipment.	See How to Become One	$64,190
Electro-mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians	Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians operate, test, and maintain electromechanical or robotic equipment.	Associate's degree	$60,570
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians	Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture machines and other devices.	Associate's degree	$61,990

Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do

Duties

Work Environment

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become an Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician

Education

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations