Occupations · Architecture and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 17-3023.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 77% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,580 | 3,270 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,330 | 2,880 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $84,530 | 2,600 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $73,780 | 2,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $88,930 | 2,530 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $82,740 | 2,100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $77,480 | 2,020 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $91,350 | 1,870 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $79,870 | 1,850 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $73,500 | 1,690 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $79,030 | 1,430 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $85,070 | 1,430 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Associate's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Install or maintain electrical control systems, industrial automation systems, or electrical equipment, including control circuits, variable speed drives, or programmable logic controllers.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Interpret test information to resolve design-related problems.
- Assemble, test, or maintain circuitry or electronic components, according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, or knowledge of electronics, using hand or power tools.
- Review existing electrical engineering criteria to identify necessary revisions, deletions, or amendments to outdated material.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-11
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
Averaged across the 2 earlier occupation codes this job was merged from.
O*NET 25.0 education, training and experience · observed 2013-07
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.
Now listed 70
No longer listed 9
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| instrumentation engineering technician | 3114.1.4 | close |
| microelectronics engineering technician | 3114.1.6 | close |
| computer hardware engineering technician | 3114.1.2 | broader |
| electrical engineering technician | 3113.1 | broader |
| electronics engineering technician | 3114.1 | broader |
| computer hardware test technician | 3114.1.3 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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