Electrical Engineering Technologies
What Electrical Engineering Technologies Graduates Do
Your career could begin in a research lab, using multimeters and soldering irons to build and test prototypes for new electronics. Alternatively, you might find yourself working on the power grid, maintaining the high-voltage circuit breakers and relays in substations that power our communities. Initially, you'll work under supervision, following schematics and running diagnostic tests. As you gain experience, you’ll transition to troubleshooting complex systems independently, eventually becoming a senior technician or a specialist in a high-demand field.
Paths centered on critical infrastructure, like powerhouse and substation repair, are growing steadily and offer a clear route to a six-figure income for seasoned experts. While AI tools may increasingly assist with drafting schematics or running simulations, they cannot replace your hands-on skills. The core of this work—installing, calibrating, and repairing the physical systems that run our world—will remain a fundamentally human task, ensuring your expertise stays in demand.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 37 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Electrical Engineering Technologies. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Additive 3D Printing Technician
RAPIDS 2078HY |
2000-4000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Assembler, Electromechanical
RAPIDS 875 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $59K – $70,760 – $87K | 1.1% |
|
Calibration Laboratory Technician
RAPIDS 895 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Commercial Drone Pilot (Existing Title: Electro-Mechanical Technicians)
RAPIDS 167 |
5580 hrs
~2.8 yrs |
Time | $59K – $70,760 – $87K | 1.1% |
|
Corrosion-Control Fitter
RAPIDS 920 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $80K – $100,940 – $115K | 5.5% |
|
Design Drafter, Electromec
RAPIDS 106 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $59K – $73,720 – $92K | -5.6% |
|
Drafter, Electrical
RAPIDS 131 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $59K – $73,720 – $92K | -5.6% |
|
Electrical Instrument Repairer
RAPIDS 157 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Electrical Technician
RAPIDS 155 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Electrician, Powerhouse
RAPIDS 163 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $80K – $100,940 – $115K | 5.5% |
|
Electrician, Substation
RAPIDS 166 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $80K – $100,940 – $115K | 5.5% |
|
Electromechanical Technician
RAPIDS 167 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $59K – $70,760 – $87K | 1.1% |
|
Electromechanical Technician
RAPIDS 0167CB |
Competency | Competency | $59K – $70,760 – $87K | 1.1% |
|
Electronic Industrial Control Mechanic (Existing Title: Electromechanical Tech)
RAPIDS 0167R |
5840 hrs
~2.9 yrs |
Time | $59K – $70,760 – $87K | 1.1% |
|
Electronics Technician
RAPIDS 169 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Estimator And Drafter
RAPIDS 965 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $59K – $73,720 – $92K | -5.6% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2031HY |
2736-3000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician (Alternate Title: Manafacturing Production Techician)
RAPIDS 2031CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Instrument Mech, Weapons System
RAPIDS 996 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrument Mechanic (Any Ind)
RAPIDS 644 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrument Repairer (Any Ind)
RAPIDS 775 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrument Technician (Utilities)
RAPIDS 252 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrumentation & Controls Technician (Existing Title: Instrument Technician (Utilities))
RAPIDS 0252HY |
6000-8000 hrs | Hybrid | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrumentation Technician
RAPIDS 255 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
It Lab Technician
RAPIDS 0169CB |
Competency | Competency | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical
RAPIDS 621 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010CL |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Nondestructive Testing (Ndt) (Existing Title: Non-Destructive Tester) (Military Only)
RAPIDS 1010R |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Optics Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2045CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Recording Engineer
RAPIDS 926 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $66,430 – $100K | -1.7% |
|
Relay Technician
RAPIDS 975 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $80K – $100,940 – $115K | 5.5% |
|
Research Mechanic (Aircraft)
RAPIDS 788 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $65K – $79,830 – $102K | 8.1% |
|
Sound Mixer
RAPIDS 527 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $66,430 – $100K | -1.7% |
|
Test Equipment Mechanic
RAPIDS 190 |
10000 hrs
~5.0 yrs |
Time | $65K – $79,830 – $102K | 8.1% |
|
Welding Technician
RAPIDS 498 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Wind Tunnel Mechanic
RAPIDS 499 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $65K – $79,830 – $102K | 8.1% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Electrical Engineering Technologies
Top 20 of 63 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stark State College North Canton, OH |
71 67–73 |
$109,198/yr | 115.9x |
| 2 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY |
71 67–73 |
$69,924/yr | 147.6x |
| 3 | Victoria College Victoria, TX |
71 65–73 |
$63,908/yr | 154.6x |
| 4 | Dallas College Dallas, TX |
71 66–73 |
$59,679/yr | 250.8x |
| 5 | Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND |
70 65–72 |
$89,460/yr | 108.8x |
| 6 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY |
69 65–71 |
$60,381/yr | 128.7x |
| 7 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL |
69 64–71 |
$60,039/yr | 132.0x |
| 8 | Dallas College Dallas, TX |
69 64–70 |
$59,057/yr | 89.9x |
| 9 | Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, SC |
68 61–70 |
$67,406/yr | 92.8x |
| 10 | Danville Community College Danville, VA |
68 64–70 |
$57,533/yr | 100.4x |
| 11 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA |
67 63–68 |
$56,971/yr | 98.7x |
| 12 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KY |
66 63–68 |
$71,070/yr | 74.5x |
| 13 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE |
66 61–68 |
$56,906/yr | 99.9x |
| 14 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX |
66 62–68 |
$51,640/yr | 108.1x |
| 15 | Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, IA |
65 62–67 |
$68,590/yr | 60.1x |
| 16 | Nashville State Community College Nashville, TN |
65 56–67 |
$52,424/yr | 92.5x |
| 17 | Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC |
64 60–65 |
$69,797/yr | 60.9x |
| 18 | Valencia College Orlando, FL |
63 56–65 |
$40,388/yr | 126.7x |
| 19 | New River Community College Dublin, VA |
62 59–64 |
$60,183/yr | 61.2x |
| 20 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN |
62 57–65 |
$54,852/yr | 70.9x |
Highest Earning Electrical Engineering Technologies Programs
Schools where Electrical Engineering Technologies graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Stark State College | $109,198/yr | 71 |
| Bismarck State College | $89,460/yr | 70 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | $71,070/yr | 66 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | $69,924/yr | 71 |
| Greenville Technical College | $69,797/yr | 64 |
| Indian Hills Community College | $68,590/yr | 65 |
| Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | $67,406/yr | 68 |
| Victoria College | $63,908/yr | 71 |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | $60,381/yr | 69 |
| Kirkwood Community College | $60,210/yr | 60 |
Best ROI for Electrical Engineering Technologies
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Electrical Engineering Technologies.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas College | 250.8x | $59,679/yr | 71 |
| Victoria College | 154.6x | $63,908/yr | 71 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | 147.6x | $69,924/yr | 71 |
| Indian River State College | 132.0x | $60,039/yr | 69 |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | 128.7x | $60,381/yr | 69 |
| Valencia College | 126.7x | $40,388/yr | 63 |
| Stark State College | 115.9x | $109,198/yr | 71 |
| Bismarck State College | 108.8x | $89,460/yr | 70 |
| Austin Community College District | 108.1x | $51,640/yr | 66 |
| Danville Community College | 100.4x | $57,533/yr | 68 |
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