Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Electronics Engineering Technician
- Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)
- Engineering Technologist
- Technologist
Alternate Job Titles
- Analog Circuit Designer
- Analog Device Designer
- Analysis Specialist
- Applied Technologist
- Automation Maintenance Technician
- Automation Technician
- Building Automation Technician (Building Automation Tech)
- Building Components Designer
- Calibration and Instrumentation Technician
- Calibration Laboratory Technician
- Calibration Technician
- Cellular Phone Repairer (Cell Phone Repairer)
- Certified Control Systems Technician
- Circuit Designer
- CNC Programmer (Computer Numerical Control Programmer)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments.
- Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems.
- Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components.
- Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
- Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments.
- Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Design
- Mathematics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
- Oral Expression
- Visualization
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Independence
- Relationships
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Revit
- Bentley MicroStation
- C
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Eclipse IDE
- JavaScript
- Linux
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Alternating current AC generators
- Ammeters
- Analog current meters
- Analog multimeters
- Anti-static heel grounders
- Bench lathes
- Binocular light compound microscopes
- Brushless direct current DC motors
- Computerized numerical control CNC machining centers
- Current probes
- Dataloggers
- Desktop computers
- Desoldering stations
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $48,250 |
| Median | $77,180 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $111,790 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 92,710
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $65,040
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $127,590
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $68,730
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $71,300
Robotics Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $70,760
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.