Electrical engineering degrees provide individuals with careers in a number of different fields, all dealing with advanced work with electrical power, power systems, electrical equipment and power systems manufacturing, and more. The field has a huge range of applications, and these individuals are highly trained. For the person with the right interests and knowledge, the challenging work available will still be intuitive and rewarding.
Electrical engineers will study areas such as electrical circuits, computer programming, advanced mathematics, statistics and analysis, electromagnetics, control systems, signal processing, and much more from there. There are also several unique specializations or core focuses that you could choose to pursue. Before you begin with all of this, you’d be wise to have the right kinds of backgrounds in basic computer sciences, mechanical engineering, mathematics, and more.
One of the most important things to realize about electrical engineering is that the field overlaps in many ways with computer hardware engineering and electronics engineering, however, all are distinctly unique and focus on their own engineers. Electrical engineers focus on areas such as power system engineering and electrical equipment manufacturing, whether that equipment is an electric motel, the wiring of a building or other control or communication system, and so forth.
Online Electrical Engineering Degrees
Today, you’ll find that you can even enroll with a number of electrical engineering degrees that have components that can be done online. These offer several benefits to their students, including the ability to learn on an accelerated schedule. You’ll squeeze much more into much less time, and you can move ahead and graduate in as little as two years if you pursue this option. Added to the convenience of studying from home on your time, and it makes online electrical engineering degrees an increasingly popular option.
What can you do with an Electrical Engineering Degree and what are the Job Opportunities?
Electrical engineers will find that there are many different industries or fields that they could find employment with. You can work within a scientific and research and development setting, you can work within power and utility systems, with electrical component manufacturing and even architectural companies. Some electrical engineers focus on R&D, while others focus on designing or testing, or heading up project teams, applying principles to real-life situations, and more.
The area you choose will be dependent on where your interests lie, what you specifically study, and how far you move with your education. For example, R&D electrical engineers typically have doctorate degrees, but there are many job opportunities for individuals heading straight into the job market with their bachelors degree in hand. On average, electrical engineers earn about $82,000 annually, and while the field isn’t growing as rapidly as many areas within engineering, there are still plenty of jobs to be had.
Electrical engineering will help you get your hands, and your mind, into many different areas of the sciences, of computers and electrical equipment, of mathematics, and of industries of all kind. Be sure to differentiate between electronic engineers, electrical engineers and computer hardware engineers so that you really know what you want to pursue, and once you’re ready, consider opting for the accelerated online programs which allow you to finish your electrical engineering degree in less time than you think.
Why Is Electrical Engineering Such A Popular Career Choice?
If you’re a prospective student considering the field of electrical engineering, you might want to know what all of the hype has been about. Why is electrical engineering such a popular career choice these days, and what kinds of benefits and advantages does it offer? Use this quick guide to learn more about the positives of pursuing a career in electrical engineering and see why so many other people have been going down this road as well.
Electrical engineering, and really all types of engineering, brings in a certain type of individuals. These are people who are drawn to solving problems, thinking about things in creative ways, developing solutions, analyzing complex situations. It’s a challenging and demanding line of work, but one that many people are naturally drawn to and curious about.
Therefore, electrical engineering allows people like this to pursue their hobbies, interests and passions, and rewards them for something they already want to do or explore on their own. A career in this field will be challenging in a very positive way, you’ll be pushed to expand what you’re capable of and you’ll be developing even greater problem solving, analysis and creative solution skills.
Electrical engineers will always be at the forefront of technology, utilizing, developing, testing and fixing the latest and greatest advancements, electrical systems, new fangled concepts and innovations, and more. This is a very exciting aspect of the work, and it also means that you’ll always be learning new things and staying ahead of the curve. Well trained electrical engineers are always going to be in high demand, and are always going to be right in the mix with all of the best new technologies.
With a background in electrical engineering, you’ll also be able to potentially work in a wide range of fields. While there are approximately 300,000 electric or electrical engineers in the United States, those with experience in this specific sect of engineering can also find employment opportunities in other disciplines as well, such as industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and more.
Therefore, you’ll never be limited in terms of what you’re working on, what you’re doing, where you are and so forth. There’s always a new opportunity around the corner, and with the right education and training in electrical engineering, the world will be at your fingertips in terms of what kinds of jobs are available to you.
Of course, having your choice of jobs is a great benefit. However, if those jobs didn’t pay you very well, they wouldn’t be that appealing. The good news is that electrical engineers command very large salaries, so this is not a problem for the field at all. The great earning potential and growth potential of electrical engineers is definitely one of the largest reasons that it has become such as popular career choice.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Survey from May 2010, the mean salary of electrical engineers in the United States was $87,770. That’s a very high figure, and it certainly entices a lot of people into this line of work. Further, while that’s the mean, it can extend much, much higher. The 75 percentile of electrical engineers earn $105,860 or more, and the 90 percentile earn over $128,610, which is phenomenal.
Ultimately, being able to pursue your passions and interests is fantastic, as is being able to grow and challenge yourself intellectually. But if you can’t pay your bills, or if you can never eliminate your student loans and the upfront cost of a degree, then is it really worthwhile? Electrical engineers get the best of both of these worlds, earning high salaries while immersing themselves in everything else this profession has to offer.
As you can see, there are many great reasons to become an electrical engineer. From a great salary, from the many career options that you’ll have and the challenging, dynamic work environment you’ll be in and much more, electrical engineering is a popular career choice and it’s here to stay. If you think it might be a good match for you as well, then find a program that meets your needs and enroll today to begin your journey.