Career comparison
Electrical Engineer vs. Mechanical Engineer
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. $104,110), while electrical engineers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Electrical engineers design power systems, electronics and controls that run modern life. Mechanical engineers design machines, engines, tools and products that move and work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Electrical Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $120,630 ($58.00/hr) | $104,110 ($50.05/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $76,550 – $184,300 | $73,990 – $164,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +9.9% (much faster than average) | +11.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 11,400 | 17,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4 years |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | Engineer in Training (EIT) |
| Work setting | Electrical engineers work in offices, labs, plants and at project sites.. | Mechanical engineers work in offices, labs and plants.. |
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
Mechanical Engineer
- Design mechanical systems and products
- Create CAD models
- Analyze stress, heat and fluids
- Build and test prototypes
- Develop manufacturing processes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, indoor work, and in-demand. 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 mechanical engineer if…
- I love how machines work
- I enjoy math and physics
- I like designing products
Still torn? Take the Electrical Engineer fit quiz and the Mechanical Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, electrical engineer or mechanical engineer?
Electrical Engineers earn more at the median: $120,630 versus $104,110 for mechanical engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Electrical Engineers typically train faster (4 years) than mechanical engineers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mechanical engineers to grow +11.2% from 2025–35, compared with +9.9% for electrical engineers.