Career as Electrical Engineer

Last Updated On 23 Apr, 2021

How to Become a Electrical Engineer

About Electrical Engineer

An electrical engineer is responsible for designing and developing new electrical systems, test equipment and finds solutions to electrical problems and devices. Electrical engineers usually work with large-scale electrical systems which include motor control and power transmission. Throughout their career, they work on a diverse range of technologies, from designing household appliances, electrical power stations, wiring and lighting of building and satellite communications. Being an electrical engineer requires one to obtain extensive training and to pursue electrical engineering specialisation. 

Is there a Future for Electrical Engineering Graduates in India?

Electric Vehicles will soon start ruling Indian roads, and this career will definitely provide decent career prospects. The battery prices have down by 73% since 2010 and electric cars are expected to be budget-friendly as compared to fuel-powered cars. The International Energy Agency estimated that by 2025, 70 million electric vehicles will be on the road. Countries around the world are recognizing the importance and potential of electric vehicles. The industry is expected to generate at least 1 crore of jobs by 2030. 

Eligibility to become Electrical Engineer

Option 1: 

  • To become an electrical engineer, candidates can earn a B.E./B.Tech degree in electrical engineer. It is the first step to becoming an electrical systems engineer.

Option 2:

  • Another career path through which one can become an electrical engineer is by pursuing an integrated degree in M.Tech (5 years).

Check out the complete eligibility criteria and career paths to become an electrical engineer below:

  • A candidate must have passed class 12th from a recognised board or equivalent examination with a minimum of 50% marks. However, the passing marks for different categories and from college to college.

  • Should have a valid score in the engineering entrance such as JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, VITEEE, CET etc. exam.

  • Few colleges also follow an age restriction for admission to engineering courses.

Types of Job Roles Electrical Engineer

After attaining the required job academic qualification, there are a plethora of electrical engineering job profiles available for them on the basis of their knowledge and interests. These engineers work on multiple projects throughout their career which includes the computer, robots, cell phones, navigation among others.

There are many sub-disciplines of electrical engineering. Some of them specialise in one and others in a combination. The most popular electrical engineering job profiles are given below:

  • Micro Electrical Engineer: They deal with the design and microfabrication of tiny electronic circuit components.

  • Electrical Engineer:  The electrical engineer work in function of the variety of functional groups that are involved in the production, development, and implementation of electrical production.

  • Power Engineer: The power engineer are responsible for the design of electrical designers such as transformers, power electronics, generators, motors etc.

  • Instrumentation Engineer: They deal with the design of measuring devices for pressure, temperature, and flow.

  • Telecommunications Engineer: Telecommunications engineer deal with the transmission of information through the optical fiber or via cable

  • Electrical Design Engineer: Electrical design engineer design a new electrical system for various applications. They are mainly responsible for developing system specifications and layouts.

Apart from the above, new jobs are being generated in different fields pertaining to -

  • Design & Development
  • Scientific Research
  • Maintenace
  • Infrastructure
  • Manufacturing

Employment Opportunities for Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers can find a number of employment opportunities in various different sectors. Some of the top sectors that hire electrical engineers are listed below:

  • Engineering Services
  • Electric power generating installations
  • Indian Railways
  • Aerospace Manufacture Industry
  • Automobile Industry
  • Airports Authority of India
  • Electricity transmission and distribution organizations
  • Government Electrical Works Department
  • Navigational equipment manufacturing industries
  • Architecture and Construction Firms

Top Recruiting Companies for Electrical Engineer

Some of the leading companies where electrical engineers can look for relevant job opportunities are listed below:

  • Reliance Power
  • Siemens Technology Services
  • RITES
  • International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
  • Google
  • Apple
  • General Electric
  • BMW Group
  • Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • The Boeing Company
  • Shell Oil Company

Planning to choose Electrical Engineer as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Electrical Engineer

The salary of an electrical engineer may vary as per their academic qualification and professional experience. The salary increases with time, experience and knowledge. Following are some relative salary figures for entry-level, mid-level and senior level electrical engineers:

Job Profile

Starting Level Salary per annum (INR)

Mid Level Salary per annum (INR)

Senior Level Salary per annum (INR)

Electrical Engineer

Rs.3,50,000

Rs. 7,00,000

Rs 15,00,000

Note: The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual and company to company.

Books & Study Material to Become Electrical Engineer

Candidates planning to make a career as an Electrical Engineer first need to take admission in a reputed and recognised engineering institution. For this, they will be required to appear in the engineering examination. To prepare for the entrance exams candidates can refer to electrical engineering recommended books and study material. Apart from these entrance exam books, candidates can also read some related books that will give them an insight into the subject and the course they are about to pursue. List of some of these books is given below for aspirants which will help them become an electrical engineer:

  • The Art of Electronics from  Horowitz and Hill
  • Gray & Meyer’s Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits
  • Microelectronic Circuits from Sedra and Smith
  • Agarwal and Lang’s Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits

List of Popular B.Tech Electrical Engineering Colleges for Direct Admission

Here is the list of popular B.Tech colleges, which accept direct admission without the requirement of JEE Main score -

Chandigarh UniversityLovely Professional University
Sri Balaji College of Engineering and Technology, JaipurKL University - Hyderabad
University of Engineering & Management, JaipurJECRC University, Jaipur
CMR Institute of Technology (CMRIT) - HyderabadBrainware University, Kolkata
Aurora's Engineering College, HyderabadSage University - Bhopal
Roorkee Engineering CollegeRai University, Ahmedabad
Rathinam Group of Institutions - CoimbatoreThe Neotia University - Kolkata
Ansal University, GurgaonJaipur Engineering College

Pros of becoming a Electrical Engineer

  • Electrical engineers are offered with some of the topmost salary packages as the job is highly skill based

  • Electrical engineers can choose to work in a variety of industries including telecommunications, computer, aerospace,etc.

  • With the right skill set and adequate professional experience, electrical engineering can escalate to management positions.

  • There is a lot of job flexibility, as one can easily shift to sub-disciplines.

Cons of becoming a Electrical Engineer

  • The jobs of the electrical engineers can be very stressful especially when the equipment or the design has the potential to impact human life.

  • It is a risk occupation. Due to the nature of job, electrical engineers at times may suffer personal injury.

  • Due to the advancement of technology, electrical engineers have to constantly update their knowledge. Electrical engineers have to update their license in specific fields from time to time.

  • There is limited job growth in the field of electrical engineering.

Career path for Electrical Engineer

To become an electrical engineer aspirant can choose from career options. There are two career paths through which one can become an electrical engineer. Given below are some important points one must keep in mind if they are planning to become an electrical engineer. Candidates must have passed class 12th with a set of subjects and must have appeared for an entrance examination.

Do you think this is the right career choice for you?

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FAQs about Electrical Engineer

Who is the most famous electrical engineer in the history of mankind?

Alexander Graham Bell is considered as the most famous electrical engineer in the history of mankind.

Is a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering enough to get hired as an electrical engineer in reputed companies?

Yes, a bachelor’s degree might be sufficient to get employed as an electrical engineer in reputed companies but a master’s degree will increase the chances of being picked up by reputed companies.

Is it mandatory for electrical engineers to know about programming too?

Yes, electrical engineers need to have a good knowledge of programming languages like C or C++.

Which is the best college in India to pursue electrical engineering from?

Institutes like the IITs, IISc Bangalore, LPU, BITS Pilani etc are some of the top institutions to pursue electrical engineering course from.

How much does an electrical engineer earn on an average basis?

On average, an electrical engineer earns in the pay bracket of INR 3.5 LPA and INR 15 LPA.

In which sector can an electrical engineer find jobs easily?

Sectors such as government electrical sectors, airports, automobile sectors, railways, power generating sectors etc have a high demand for skilled electrical engineers

What qualities are required to become a successful electrical engineer?

To become a successful electrical engineer, the student must have a strong grip over subjects like physics, sciences and mathematics along with logical problem solving abilities and good communication skills.

Which is the toughest subject in electrical engineering?

The power electronics subject is considered the toughest subject in electrical engineering which might vary from individual to individual.

Which is the best country for electrical engineers to practice their art?

Canada is the best country in terms of job opportunities for electrical engineers.

Is electrical engineering a good career choice in India?

Electrical engineering can only be a good career choice in India if your heart beats for machines.

I am pursuing M.Tech. (Master of Technology) to become an Electrical Engineer. What other career options do I have ?

You could become a Chemical Engineer , an Electronics and Computer Engineer , a Software Engineer , a Computer Engineer , a Petroleum Engineer after studying M.Tech. (Master of Technology).

I am pursuing B.Tech+M.Tech Dual Degree to become an Electrical Engineer. What other career options do I have ?

You could become a Communication Engineer , a Computer Engineer , an Aeronautical Engineer , a Chemical Engineer , an Electronics Engineer after studying B.Tech+M.Tech Dual Degree.

I am pursuing B.Tech. (Bachelor of Technology) to become an Electrical Engineer. What other career options do I have ?

You could become a Computer Engineer , an Instrumentation Engineer , a Communication Engineer , a Chemical Engineer after studying B.Tech. (Bachelor of Technology).

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