OVERVIEW : Electrical engineers are concerned with the designing, developing, testing and manufacture of electrical systems and products. How can we imagine our world without electricity? It would come to a standstill and will plunge into darkness in the absence of electricity. Electrical engineers are concerned with designing and developing electrical systems and products. There are incredible types of products right from complex industrial machinery to daily use household items that make use of electrical engineering. The equipment on which electrical engineers work include electrical motors, machinery controls, lighting and wiring in buildings, radar and navigation systems, communication systems, and power generation, control, and transmission devices.
JOB DESCRIPTION : Electrical engineers work with power generation, transmission and distribution. They are also involved with the various products such as transformers, circuits, electrical components and wirings etc. There are many areas of specialization in electrical engineering. Some of the areas of specialization include maintenance; architecture; telecommunications; radar and navigation systems; technology and robotics. The electrical power engineers are concerned with designing and developing equipment and systems to provide electricity in homes, offices, factories, etc. Some of them may also work in developing computer controlled energy management systems in order to conserve energy. Some electric power engineers deal with energy generation by a variety of methods- turbine, hydro, fuel cell, solar, geothermal and wind for example. They may be also involved in the designing electrical distribution systems and instrumentation and control systems for the safe, effective and efficient operation of production systems in the industries.
JOB OUTLOOK : According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Electrical engineers working in firms providing engineering expertise and design services to manufacturers should have better job prospects. Also, a college undergraduate degree is the least which one can have to survive in the stiff competition for jobs.
SALARY :
Type of Industry Salary
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing $92,070
Scientific research and development services $90,790
Navigational,measuring,electro-medical,and control instruments manufacturing $89,590
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution $83,960
Architectural, engineering, and related services $83,750
SOURCE : U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
EXPECTED JOB GROWTH : According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Electrical engineers are expected to have employment growth of 6 percent over the present decade. Although strong demand for electrical devices—including electric power generators, wireless phone transmitters, high-density batteries, and navigation systems—should spur job growth, international competition and the use of engineering services performed in other countries will limit employment growth. The annual median salary of an electrical engineer in May 2010 was $84,540.