If you drive an electric car, use navigation systems on the road, rely on medical devices for your health, or chat on a mobile phone, you can thank an electrical engineer. The field is one of the largest and most diverse branches of engineering in today’s tech-driven world. 

Electrical engineering is the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism for the development and maintenance of electrical equipment. IT also involves meeting high standards of quality, safety, economic efficiency, and sustainability of these systems and products. 

By pursuing a masters of science in electrical engineering, you are developing advanced knowledge, skills, and experience to help grow your career. With more advanced coursework building on the already learned fundamentals of electrical engineering, you can pursue higher-level positions, increased responsibilities, and a much greater pay range. At about 19,000 openings for electrical and electronics engineers each year, the job opportunities are plentiful. 

What can I do with a master’s in Electrical Engineering?

Here are six solid career opportunities you can pursue with a master’s of science in electrical engineering:

  1. Circuits Engineer: A circuits engineer, also known as electronics engineer, specializes in designing, analyzing, and implementing electronic circuits and systems. They used specialized software tools for circuit design to ensure electronic circuits meet technical specifications and comply with standards for reliability, efficiency, and safety. These engineers can work across various industries, including telecommunications, consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, and healthcare. They contribute to the development of devices such as smartphones, medical equipment, and advanced computing systems. According to Ziprecruiter, the average salary in the United States is $110,795.
  2. Design Engineer: A design engineer is responsible for creating and developing detailed plans for products, structures, or systems. They play an important role in the product development process, taking conceptual ideas and transforming them into tangible designs that can be manufactured or constructed. Some key aspects of a design engineer’s role include concept development, prototype testing, problem solving, and project management. The average annual salary in the United States for this role is $88,150.
  3. Controls Engineer: A controls engineer is one who designs, develops, and manages controls systems to automate and optimize processes in a variety of industries. Their work helps to automate complex processes, reduce operational costs, improve safety, and increase productivity. Some responsibilities include system design, programming, process optimization, simulation, and integration. The average annual salary in the United States for controls engineers is $96,574.
  4. Technical Sales Engineer: A technical sales engineer combines both engineer knowledge with sales skills to sell complex technical products or services to businesses and customers. They play a crucial role in bridging the gap between technical teams and clients, ensuring that customers’ needs remain satisfied. This role is essential in industries like technology, manufacturing, and telecommunications. Those who have a background in technical knowledge and strong sales skills would thrive perfectly in this career. The average annual salary for this role is around $86,351 and the expected growth rate for 2023-2033 is 6%.
  5. Instrumental Engineer: An instrumental engineer focuses on designing and managing control systems. These engineers work with sensors, actuators, and control systems to ensure precision and reliability in automated environments. These engineers work across different disciplines to ensure that processes and systems function efficient;y, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, energy production, food and beverage, and water treatment and supply. The average annual salary for these positions is around $104,896.
  6. Broadcast Engineer: Broadcast engineers are responsible for the technical aspects of television, radio, and online broadcasts. The are responsible for ensuring the smooth operations of broadcast systems through equipment maintenance, signal transmission, system design, quality control, and compliance. Their expertise is essential for seamless and high-quality broadcast operations, making them an essential behind the scenes part of the media industry. The average annual salary for broadcast engineers is $86,597 and the expected growth rate is higher than most engineer jobs, at 10% for 2018-2028.