Electrical Engineer Job Description

An electrical engineer's job description includes designing and testing equipment and solving problems involved in technology, which brings scientific discoveries to the marketplace. Beginning with a project design and parameters, an electrical engineer designs circuits and other electrical systems to meet those objectives. They also can be involved in testing, production, maintenance and supervision of factory production.

These new products can include systems for robots, cars, cellular telephones, radar, lighting and climate control and navigation, such as Global Positioning Systems. They also include car and aircraft electrical systems and power generation, transmission and control systems for electric utilities. This research and development process often involves a lot of trial and error, since the products and systems are new.

An electrical engineer's career preparation includes at least a bachelor's degree in math, computer science, engineering or one of the "hard sciences." Schools such as the University of Washington also offer master, professional masters and doctor philosophy degrees. However, electrical engineers also must have good communication and social skills. Explaining a project to other engineers is easy but if you can't explain it to others you won't get funding.

Electrical engineers' average salary was $85,350 as of May 2008, the latest date for which figures are available. Their job ranks included an estimated 301,500 people. Employment prospects are stable through 2018 as demand for electronics increases, tempered by foreign competition.

States with the highest concentration of electrical engineers are Idaho, Massachusetts, Alaska, Virginia and New Hamsphire. States paying the highest wages are California, Maine, Alaska, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.