Electrical Engineer
Snapshot
Electrical engineers design and develop electrical systems, electrical equipment, components, motors, and equipment with the feature of energy transmission. They engage in large scale projects such as the design and maintenance of power stations, and the distribution of power to smaller applications such as household appliances.
Electrical engineers are vital in creating and maintaining the electrical systems that power our world. Your work could involve designing electrical equipment, developing efficient energy transmission methods, or ensuring the reliable operation of power stations. You’ll likely collaborate on complex projects, applying your technical knowledge to solve practical challenges and improve existing technologies.
- • Designing and developing electrical systems and components, including motors and equipment.
- • Overseeing large-scale projects like power station design and maintenance, or electrical distribution networks.
- • Analyzing electrical systems to identify and resolve issues, ensuring safety and efficiency.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus and 12 more.
Longest-running shortage: Ireland, 3 years.
Where it is regulated, your qualification would need formal recognition before you could practise.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $120,630 2025-05 | +7.2% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2025 * | — | +35.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £59,930 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for electrical engineer
The outlook for electrical engineer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could electrical engineer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- abide by regulations on banned materials
- define technical requirements
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- define energy profiles
- perform smart grid feasibility study
- perform energy simulations
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Advanced Manufacturing
A typical day as an electrical engineer
09 09:00 · Morning design smart grids
10 10:30 · Mid-morning abide by regulations on banned materials
12 12:00 · Midday define energy profiles
14 14:00 · Afternoon perform energy simulations
15 15:30 · Late afternoon perform smart grid feasibility study
17 17:00 · Wrap-up adjust engineering designs
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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define energy profiles
Define the energy profile of buildings. This includes identifying the energy demand and supply of the building, and its storage capacity.
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perform energy simulations
Replicate the building's energy performance by running computer based, mathematical models.
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adjust engineering designs
Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
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design smart grids
Design and calculate the smart grid system, based on heat load, duration curves, energy simulations etc.
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perform scientific research
Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
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use technical drawing software
Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
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abide by regulations on banned materials
Comply with regulations banning heavy metals in solder, flame retardants in plastics, and phthalate plasticisers in plastics and wiring harness insulations, under EU RoHS/WEEE Directives and China RoHS legislation.
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define technical requirements
Specify technical properties of goods, materials, methods, processes, services, systems, software and functionalities by identifying and responding to the particular needs that are to be satisfied according to customer requirements.
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perform smart grid feasibility study
Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a smart grid within the project. Realise a standardised study to determine the energy saving contribution, costs and restrictions, and conduct research to support the process of decision making. Consider challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of wireless technologies for smart grids.
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approve engineering design
Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.
artificial lighting systems
Types of artificial lighting and their power consumption. HF fluorescent lighting, LED lighting, natural daylight and programmed control systems allow an efficient use of energy.
battery management systems
The electronic system that manages and monitors the performance of a battery.
environmental threats
The threats for the environment which are related to biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological, and physical hazards.
integrated design
Approach to design which includes several related disciplines, with the aim to design and build according to the Near Zero Energy Building principles. The interplay between all aspects of building design, building use and outdoor climate.
smart grids systems
Smart grids are a digital electricity network. The system involves the electronic digital control of production, distribution and use of electricity, information management of the components and energy saving.
sustainable installation materials
The types of installation material which minimize the negative impact of the building and its construction on the external environment, throughout their whole life cycle.
- design drawings
- electricity
- electricity principles
- engineering principles
- environmental legislation
- sustainable technologies
Path to become an electrical engineer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
Regulated in 6 countries on record. Minimum EQF 6–7, depending on the country.
Reflects the EU regulated-professions database. Not legal advice — confirm requirements with the relevant national authority before relying on this for a career or immigration decision.
7,014 programmes in 31 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 1,186 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu · Finland
BEng in Mechatronics L7 ACCS
Technological University Dublin · Ireland
BEng Hons in Mechatronics L8
Technological University Dublin · Ireland
Vaasan yliopisto · Finland
Implementation of Small Scale Wind Systems
METAC · Ireland
These are 6 of 8,200.
Sources
- 1. Source: Opintopolku.fi (Finnish National Agency for Education)
- 2. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does electrical engineer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of projects might an electrical engineer work on?
Are there different specializations within electrical engineering?
What skills are important for success as an electrical engineer?
How much does Electrical Engineer pay in the United States?
Is Electrical Engineer a regulated profession?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data