PathMosaic
Career card

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Also called: Electrical Engineering Technician (Electrical Engineering Tech), Electrical Technician (Electrical Tech), Electronics Engineering Technician, Electronics 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.

Share on LinkedIn Download images

LinkedIn posts a link with a summary picture. Images: two pictures to save or post. PDF: the whole card. More

Median pay BLS, 2025$78,190
Openings a year BLS, 2025–358,100
Typical education to start BLSAssociate's degree
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 High
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 +2.4%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 17 of its 28 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 2.4% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 3.1% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 38% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 71% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$58k$100knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$74,500$54,860 to $91,8401,620
Alaska$92,760$83,590 to $106,650230
Arizona$77,960$66,140 to $94,6402,260
Arkansas$69,960$56,520 to $86,600310
California$86,090$73,550 to $112,20013,450
Colorado$77,440$63,560 to $92,5601,410
Connecticut$81,390$64,720 to $101,6001,190
Delaware$67,360$61,600 to $83,720130
District of Columbia$97,620$84,640 to $105,910240
Florida$73,190$59,840 to $84,1604,710
Georgia$78,070$61,780 to $88,6101,630
Guam$75,360$61,110 to $97,47050
Hawaii$96,200$86,440 to $109,950460
Idaho$77,170$57,880 to $86,900650
Illinois$85,510$66,510 to $101,4101,980
Indiana$70,540$58,310 to $86,4401,800
Iowa$74,840$58,020 to $85,510880
Kansas$70,310$58,640 to $82,040770
Kentucky$64,120$48,780 to $81,9401,060
Louisiana$82,990$63,570 to $101,6301,000
Maine$83,440$75,500 to $100,360270
Maryland$95,830$72,220 to $116,5902,170
Massachusetts$77,710$61,910 to $96,6304,030
Michigan$74,800$58,550 to $83,7202,350
Minnesota$78,280$64,670 to $90,5001,540
Mississippi$81,180$65,210 to $95,330650
Missouri$72,120$57,350 to $87,6501,390
Montana$82,050$59,430 to $109,010140
Nebraska$65,490$59,910 to $80,080710
Nevada$88,160$74,750 to $101,6601,140
New Hampshire$74,560$61,080 to $84,580590
New Jersey$85,510$72,580 to $103,4802,250
New Mexico$96,070$75,450 to $111,9001,000
New York$77,040$60,100 to $90,8004,390
North Carolina$76,040$61,630 to $92,9802,490
North Dakota$80,930$69,010 to $89,000120
Ohio$63,300$57,060 to $77,3203,260
Oklahoma$80,880$62,670 to $98,2501,170
Oregon$77,990$62,050 to $93,5001,920
Pennsylvania$76,070$59,430 to $92,9803,470
Puerto Rico$44,590$35,950 to $57,730660
Rhode Island$98,600$79,720 to $106,810290
South Carolina$73,450$60,400 to $89,3202,060
South Dakota$58,340$49,590 to $73,430200
Tennessee$63,750$49,910 to $80,2201,820
Texas$74,050$52,310 to $88,7108,960
Utah$72,670$60,010 to $90,7901,420
Vermont$74,760$63,800 to $85,080300
Virginia$79,540$64,210 to $102,9204,670
Washington$93,930$73,930 to $104,8602,540
West Virginia$85,440$73,330 to $97,680300
Wisconsin$71,880$58,570 to $85,3001,520
Wyoming$99,840$81,330 to $108,130200

Nationally: $78,190. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 17 of its 28 tasks

3 · AI alone could halve the time 14 · AI + software built on it could 11 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
AI alone Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components. Not published
AI + software Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards. under 0.01%
Not much Assemble, test, or maintain circuitry or electronic components, according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, or knowledge of electronics, using hand or power tools. Not published
Not much Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning. Not published
AI + software Compile and maintain records documenting engineering schematics, installed equipment, installation or operational problems, resources used, repairs, or corrective action performed. under 0.01%
Not much Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts. Not published
See all 28 tasks
AI + software Participate in training or continuing education activities to stay abreast of engineering or industry advances. Not published
AI + software Maintain system logs or manuals to document testing or operation of equipment. under 0.01%
Not much Supervise the installation or operation of electronic equipment or systems. Not published
Not much Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems. Not published
Not much Educate equipment operators on the proper use of equipment. Not published
Not much Install or maintain electrical control systems, industrial automation systems, or electrical equipment, including control circuits, variable speed drives, or programmable logic controllers. Not published
AI + software Select electronics equipment, components, or systems to meet functional specifications. under 0.01%
AI + software Calculate design specifications or cost, material, and resource estimates, and prepare project schedules and budgets. under 0.01%
Not much Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments. Not published
AI + software Review existing electrical engineering criteria to identify necessary revisions, deletions, or amendments to outdated material. Not published
Not much Produce electronics drawings or other graphics representing industrial control, instrumentation, sensors, or analog or digital telecommunications networks, using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Not published
Not much Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments. Not published
AI + software Modify electrical prototypes, parts, assemblies, or systems to correct functional deviations. Not published
Not much Research equipment or component needs, sources, competitive prices, delivery times, or ongoing operational costs. Not published
AI alone Review, develop, or prepare maintenance standards. under 0.01%
AI alone Provide user applications or engineering support or recommendations for new or existing equipment with regard to installation, upgrades, or enhancements. under 0.01%
AI + software Design or modify engineering schematics for electrical transmission and distribution systems or for electrical installation in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Not published
AI + software Integrate software or hardware components, using computer, microprocessor, or control architecture. Not published
AI + software Specify, coordinate, or conduct quality control or quality assurance programs or procedures. Not published
AI + software Interpret test information to resolve design-related problems. Not published
AI + software Procure parts and maintain inventory and related documentation. Not published
AI + software Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable or nonsustainable designs. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 7 of the 28 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 28 tasks fall under 26 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up17 of 28 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most7 of 26 activities
  • #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
  • #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
  • #13 Operate computer systems or computerized equipment
  • and 4 more, in the table below
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment 8.36#100 1.25#152
Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data 11#85 4.31#100
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Create visual designs or displays 127#14 54#27
Test performance of equipment or systems 9.09#97 2.28#123
Determine resource needs of projects or operations 6.29#111 2.93#115
Assemble equipment or components 2.35#187 0.43#218
Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise 408#4 247#8
Show all 26 activities
Read documents or materials to inform work processes 197#8 47#28
Operate computer systems or computerized equipment 130#13 109#16
Advise others on products or services 51#34 240#9
Purchase goods or services 47#36 0.39#220
Select materials or equipment for operations or projects 45#38 19#49
Analyze performance of systems or equipment 18#61 4.99#89
Coordinate with others to resolve problems 14#75 5.59#81
Develop technical specifications for products or operations 11#84 5.26#85
Document technical designs, procedures, or activities 9.01#98 13#60
Resolve personnel or operational problems 4.79#129 2.96#114
Estimate project development or operational costs 4.43#137 2.69#118
Manage budgets or finances 4.12#143 0.51#203
Manage control systems or activities 2.61#177 0.68#185
Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures 1.85#204 0.36#225
Train others on operational or work procedures 1.60#211 29#38
Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment 0.54#268 0.13#261
Install commercial or production equipment 0.50#271 0.16#252
Direct construction or extraction activities 0.06#321 0.03#293
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Maintain operational records” holds 3 tasks rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 2.92 of every 10,000 conversations, #170 of 332.

How people in this work use Claude

What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations

  • A document or report17%
  • An explanation or answer15%
  • Advice or a recommendation15%
  • Code fixes or debugging9%
  • An analysis or summary6%

How they worked with Claude

53% handed the task off47% worked on it together

54% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.

How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians: +2.4%Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians: +2.4%Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 48,731 moves out

  1. 1 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 7%
  2. 2 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
  3. 3 Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians Moderate +2.6% 5%
  4. 4 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 4%
  5. 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%

Where people moved in from

of 54,224 moves in

  1. 1 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 7%
  2. 2 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 5%
  3. 3 Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
  4. 4 Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians Moderate +2.6% 4%
  5. 5 Electricians Moderate +9.2% 4%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 3% less than high school
  • 21% high school
  • 28% some college
  • 26% associate's
  • 19% bachelor's
  • 4% master's

Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 1,098 people surveyed.

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
9 programs, such as Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General, Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician and Telecommunications Technology/Technician.
See all
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
  • Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Telecommunications Technology/Technician
  • Integrated Circuit Design Technology/Technician
  • Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
  • Automation Engineer Technology/Technician
  • Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology/Technician
  • Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

28.0% this occupation

45.3% all occupations

By kindThis occupationAll occupations
an educational certificate2.0%2.8%
a licensenot published
a certificationnot published

Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

  • Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
  • Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
  • License Finder ↗ licenses by state
  • Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 14 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians” there.

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-3023.00

How useful is this page?

1 Not useful5 Very useful

Anonymous. Please don't include your name or contact details.