What is Electrical Engineering?

Electrical engineering is one of the most diverse of the engineering disciplines. It involves designing, planning, developing and managing the manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance of electrical systems.

What do electrical engineers do?

Electrical engineers may perform a great variety of tasks depending on the specific job and industry in which they work, and on the specialisation they choose to follow (see box below).They may find themselves working on a range of complex hardware and software systems including:

  • computer systems and telecommunication networks (including the internet)
  • mobile telecommunications and wireless networks
  • integrated electronic systems
  • optical and microwave communications
  • advanced robotics and artificial intelligence
  • television and image processing systems
  • renewable energy systems generation and
  • transmission of electric power.

Where do electrical engineers work?

Electrical engineers can work for a broad variety of employers. Potential employers include service providers such as electricity authorities, telecommunications companies; large private companies such as BHP, Boeing Australia, Honeywell, Motorola, IBM etc.; government departments; and small companies that apply new technologies to products and services.

Work conditions

Electrical engineers may need to work alongside a variety of other professional and non-professional people, including civil and mechanical engineers, computer scientists, and various workers in the building and construction, and business sectors.

Employment opportunities

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and Engineers Australia report that there are currently chronic skills shortages in this profession throughout the country.

In Australian jobs 2007 the DEWR reports that there are good job prospects for electrical engineers. Unemployment in this occupation is low, and future job growth is expected to be moderate.

Salaries

The starting salaries for electrical engineering graduates have been steadily climbing in recent years. According to the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia's (APESMA) 2007 Graduate engineer employment survey report, the average starting salary for a graduate electrical engineer in 2007 was $50,168. Experienced electrical engineers may earn in excess of $150,000.

According to the APESMA / Engineers Australia June 2007 Professional engineer remuneration survey summary report, the average annual salary across this discipline increased by 5.3% in 2006.

Specialisations

Among electrical engineering specialisations are:

  • electronics engineer
  • computer systems engineer
  • control engineer
  • power generation and distribution engineer
  • telecommunications engineer