Career comparison
Electrical Engineer vs. Electronics Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Electrical engineers earn more at the median ($120,630 vs. $78,190), while electronics technicians usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Electrical engineers design power systems, electronics and controls that run modern life. Electronics technicians build, test and troubleshoot electronic circuits and equipment.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Electrical Engineer | Electronics Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $120,630 ($58.00/hr) | $78,190 ($37.59/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $76,550 – $184,300 | $49,510 – $115,700 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +9.9% (much faster than average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 11,400 | 8,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 2 years |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | ETA International Certified Electronics Technician (CET) |
| Work setting | Electrical engineers work in offices, labs, plants and at project sites.. | Technicians work in labs, factories and field sites, at benches with test equipment, often in clean or ESD-controlled areas.. |
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 Technician
- Build and assemble prototypes
- Solder and rework circuit boards
- Test circuits and systems
- Troubleshoot electronic failures
- Calibrate and maintain equipment
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, and indoor work. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and technology, but share transferable skills such as problem solving and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose electrical engineer if…
- I love electricity and electronics
- I enjoy math and physics
- I want high pay
Choose electronics technician if…
- I like electronics
- I enjoy troubleshooting
- I have steady hands
Still torn? Take the Electrical Engineer fit quiz and the Electronics Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, electrical engineer or electronics technician?
Electrical Engineers earn more at the median: $120,630 versus $78,190 for electronics technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Electronics Technicians typically train faster (2 years) than electrical engineers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects electrical engineers to grow +9.9% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for electronics technicians.