Explore Diverse Career Paths in Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers design the infrastructure that keeps our cities running, develop advanced life-enhancing medical devices, and introduce clean energy and smart infrastructure solutions that will define the future. Careers in electrical engineering offer strong job security and growth potential as technology becomes ever more integrated into our lives.

A degree in electrical engineering opens doors to a wide range of industries because of its versatility. Unlike highly specialized programs, it provides a strong foundation that applies across many technological fields. This flexibility allows professionals to move between sectors and roles with ease, while also positioning them to contribute to emerging innovations.

Employers value electrical engineers for their skills and analytical thinking abilities. This article addresses the wide variety of careers open to professionals who are interested in the field.

Traditional Career Paths Still in High Demand

Traditional electrical engineering roles remain vital to sustaining America’s economy and infrastructure. For example, electrical engineers design, maintain, and modernize the power grids that keep homes, schools, hospitals, and factories running smoothly. They also play a critical role in developing industrial automation, robotics, and intelligent control systems, which are the backbone of industries such as manufacturing, chemical processing, and large-scale logistics. These systems ensure that assembly lines run efficiently, industrial plants meet safety standards, and production facilities maintain consistent quality. Without the expertise of electrical engineers, essential sectors of the economy would face disruptions that affect everything from energy supply to consumer goods.

Utilities and positions related to infrastructure projects and maintenance continue to offer stable, well-paying career paths. The median salary for an electrical engineer is $119,000 per year.¹ The government projects that employment of electrical and electronics engineers will grow 9 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all job titles.² With the need to modernize vast swathes of America's aging infrastructure and a continually-growing population, the demand for electrical engineers with expertise in transmission systems, power generation, and distribution networks will only grow in the coming years.

Emerging Fields with Rapid Growth

Electrical engineers have the opportunity to work on the front lines of emerging technological fields, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, renewable energy systems, semiconductor technologies, space systems, quantum computing, biomedical devices, and the internet of things (IoT). For example, engineers working in the fields of AI-driven automation, robotics, and edge computing are developing the hardware and control systems that power self-driving cars, industrial robots, and smart devices.

Renewable energy and smart grid design offer particularly exciting opportunities for environmentally-conscious engineers. Around 3.5 million Americans already work in renewable energy, and jobs in renewable energy grew at more than twice the rate of the overall U.S. labor market in 2023,³ suggesting strong room for growth in the future. As corporations and government entities commit to carbon neutrality goals, electrical engineers specializing in solar power systems, wind energy, and battery storage technologies will have more opportunities to contribute to advancing sustainable energy solutions.

Biomedical devices and healthcare technology provide opportunities for electrical engineers to contribute to patient care and well-being. In this field, engineers can work on pacemakers, insulin pumps, advanced imaging systems, or robotic-assisted surgery platforms, which positions them at the forefront of the medical industry. Best of all, this work will have a direct impact on the lives of thousands or even millions of people around the world.

Future Megatrends Driving Electrical Engineering Careers

Electrical engineers are at the center of global megatrends such as smart cities, next-generation wireless networks (5G and 6G), autonomous transportation, and advanced space exploration. These technologies require expertise in connectivity, signal processing, power electronics, and system integration—skills that electrical engineers are uniquely equipped to provide. As governments and industries worldwide invest in digital infrastructure and intelligent systems, the demand for engineers who can design and manage these complex networks will continue to accelerate.

Nontraditional and Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Versatile engineering careers go well beyond the traditional engineering roles. Many electrical engineers discover fulfilling careers in data analytics, cybersecurity, and digital twin technologies. In these jobs, engineers apply the quantitative skills and systems learned in the classroom to solve complex business problems. The analytical mindset developed through electrical engineering education translates exceptionally well to career fields like data science, operations research, and process optimization roles.

Engineering roles in finance, consulting, and policy use the problem-solving skills and expertise that electrical engineers develop to solve strategic and technology-driven challenges in business. Investment firms value engineers because of their ability to analyze technology companies and emerging markets. Meanwhile, consulting firms routinely hire engineers because of their unique ability to bridge the gap between technical complexity and business strategy. Government agencies and policy organizations need engineers who understand the technical implications of regulatory decisions.

Product design and project management represent natural career progressions for many electrical engineers. The systems thinking approach developed during electrical engineering education prepares engineers to see the big picture when managing complex projects. Many engineers transition into product management roles, where they guide product development from conception to market launch.

How Education Supports a Flexible Career

The foundational knowledge from an electrical engineering education applies across a broad range of industries and tasks. Core subjects like circuit analysis, electromagnetics, and signal processing provide the framework needed to understand and work with electrical systems, regardless of their specific application. This broad foundation provides the knowledge needed to adapt to new technologies and industries throughout one’s career.

Opportunities to specialize or diversify through electives allow students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals. Students can focus on power systems, communications, control systems, or computer engineering.

Traditional college classes pose an insurmountable barrier to many working adults. Fortunately, the flexibility offered by online courses means students can obtain a degree in electrical engineering on their own schedule. They can gain the credentials and knowledge needed to pursue new opportunities without interrupting their current employment.

Online electrical engineering programs also provide access to high-quality education regardless of location. This democratization of education provides the opportunity to pursue careers in electrical engineering without having to attend a traditional campus-based program.

Launch Your Future with Bradley University's Online Electrical Engineering Program

The benefits of electrical engineering make it a rewarding and versatile career choice. From traditional roles in power systems and automation to emerging fields like AI, sustainable energy, advanced electronics, and space technology, an electrical engineering degree provides the foundation needed for a long, meaningful and lucrative career.

Bradley University's online Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering program is designed to prepare working professionals for the diverse opportunities that define modern careers in electrical engineering. Our comprehensive curriculum combines fundamental engineering principles with cutting-edge applications, providing the knowledge and skills needed to excel in any role. Our online program also provides the flexibility to pursue education without sacrificing current responsibilities.

Contact an Admission Advisor today to learn how Bradley University's online electrical engineering program can transform your future by opening doors to a fast-growing, exciting, and well-paying career field.