Electrical engineering is foundational to modern infrastructure, designing and developing the systems that power everyday technology, from large-scale power grids to complex electronic components. Individuals in this field apply the principles of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism to create solutions for commercial, industrial, military, and scientific applications. Understanding the statistics of this workforce offers a clear picture of its size, economic value, and future trajectory within the United States economy.
Total Number of Electrical Engineers in the US
The US workforce of electrical engineers is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) under occupational code 17-2071. As of the most recent data, approximately 192,000 individuals are employed as electrical engineers nationwide. This figure specifically excludes electronics engineers, who are classified separately and often focus on circuit design and micro-applications.
Traditional electrical engineering often involves high-power applications, such as power generation and transmission. These professionals are dedicated to the research, design, development, and testing of electrical equipment and systems. They supervise the manufacturing and installation of equipment, ensuring operational safety and efficiency across various sectors.
Key Industries Employing Electrical Engineers
Electrical engineers are distributed across several sectors, reflecting the diverse applications of their expertise in power, communication, and control systems. The largest employer is the architectural, engineering, and related services sector, followed closely by manufacturing industries. This distribution highlights the profession’s dual role in design consultation and direct product creation.
Manufacturing
Engineers in manufacturing focus on physical products that utilize electrical power or electronic functionality. This includes the production of navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments, which rely on precise electrical design. A substantial portion of the workforce is also engaged in aerospace manufacturing, designing electrical systems for aircraft and spacecraft. Their work ensures the reliability of complex systems like radar, communication arrays, and power distribution.
Engineering Services
The engineering services sector encompasses consulting firms, design houses, and project management companies offering specialized expertise. Electrical engineers in this area primarily focus on project planning, system integration, and regulatory compliance. They often work as consultants, providing designs and technical oversight for large construction projects, infrastructure upgrades, or industrial facility installations. This role involves translating client needs into technical specifications and ensuring adherence to safety and performance standards.
Utilities and Power Generation
The electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry represents a major employer of electrical engineers. These professionals are responsible for the entire power infrastructure, maintaining the stability of the electrical grid and integrating new sources of energy. Their work increasingly involves the design of smart grid technology and the interconnection of renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind farms. Ensuring continuous, reliable power flow is a primary focus for engineers in this domain.
Research and Development
The research and development (R&D) sector employs electrical engineers to pioneer new technologies and refine existing ones. This work focuses on cutting-edge fields, including advanced materials, sophisticated sensor technology, and next-generation power electronics. Engineers in R&D develop prototypes and conduct rigorous testing to prove the feasibility of innovative concepts before they move into mass production or large-scale deployment.
Salary and Compensation Statistics
Financial compensation reflects the specialized nature and technical demand of the profession. The median annual wage for electrical engineers in the US is approximately $111,910, according to May 2024 data from the BLS. This figure provides a benchmark, with half of the workforce earning above this amount and half earning below.
Salary ranges are broad; entry-level professionals typically start in the lower quartile, while the highest-earning 10 percent make more than $175,460 annually. Compensation is heavily influenced by experience, geographic location, and industry sector. Aerospace product manufacturing and scientific R&D industries tend to offer the highest mean wages, often exceeding $130,000 per year.
Projected Job Growth and Future Demand
The employment of electrical engineers is projected to grow by 7 percent over the next decade, a rate faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is anticipated to create roughly 13,800 openings each year, including both new positions and those arising from workers transferring or retiring.
Demand is driven by large-scale national priorities and technological shifts. Investments in modernizing the power grid and expanding renewable energy infrastructure, such as solar and wind power, require extensive expertise. The growth in automation, electric vehicles, and advanced semiconductor technology are creating new opportunities in high-tech manufacturing and design.
States with the Highest Concentration of Electrical Engineers
The electrical engineering workforce is heavily concentrated in states and metropolitan areas that serve as major technology and industrial hubs. States like California, Texas, and New York employ the largest total number of electrical engineers, offering a diverse mix of employers spanning high-tech manufacturing, aerospace, and engineering services firms.
Metropolitan areas often show the highest density of jobs due to the presence of large corporate headquarters and specialized industrial clusters. California’s Silicon Valley region is a center for high-paying roles due to its concentration of technology and semiconductor design companies. Tech hubs in Texas attract large numbers of engineers working in the energy and aerospace sectors.
Educational Background of the Workforce
Entry into the electrical engineering profession typically requires a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. This academic foundation provides the necessary theoretical knowledge in circuits, power systems, and electromagnetics. Employers value degrees obtained from programs accredited by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).
ABET accreditation signals that a program meets established standards for technical education and prepares graduates for the professional workforce. A Professional Engineer (P.E.) license is necessary for engineers whose work directly affects public safety, such as those working on public infrastructure. However, licensure is less uniformly required for electrical engineers than for disciplines like civil engineering, especially for those working in private industry like manufacturing or software development.