Career comparison
Electrical Engineer vs. Electronics Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Electronics engineers earn more at the median ($130,220 vs. $120,630), while electrical engineers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Electrical engineers design power systems, electronics and controls that run modern life. Electronics engineers design circuits and electronic systems for devices, vehicles and communications.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Electrical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $120,630 ($58.00/hr) | $130,220 ($62.60/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $76,550 – $184,300 | $81,840 – $206,960 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +9.9% (much faster than average) | +3.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 11,400 | 4,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4-year engineering degree |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | PE license |
| Work setting | Electrical engineers work in offices, labs, plants and at project sites.. | Electronics engineers work in labs and offices.. |
What each job does
Electrical Engineer
- Design electrical systems
- Develop circuits and electronics
- Calculate loads and specify equipment
- Create schematics and drawings
- Test and troubleshoot systems
Electronics Engineer
- Design circuits
- Lay out boards
- Simulate designs
- Test prototypes
- Debug hardware
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, and teamwork. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose electrical engineer if…
- I love electricity and electronics
- I enjoy math and physics
- I want high pay
Choose electronics engineer if…
- I love electronics
- I like debugging
- I like math
Still torn? Take the Electrical Engineer fit quiz and the Electronics Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, electrical engineer or electronics engineer?
Electronics Engineers earn more at the median: $130,220 versus $120,630 for electrical engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Electrical Engineers typically train faster (4 years) than electronics engineers (4-year engineering degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects electrical engineers to grow +9.9% from 2025–35, compared with +3.7% for electronics engineers.