Published May 28, 2026 7 min read
Unless otherwise noted, salary and labor market data sourced from Lightcast/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2026. Salaries reflect US national wage distributions.
Electrical, electronic, and related engineering careers offer significant earning potential, with median wages spanning from around $116,534 to $156,594 annually. For students and young adults exploring high-earning paths, this field combines technical challenge with strong financial rewards. These roles are critical to developing the electronic devices and systems that power our modern world.
1. Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Engineer
Salary: Median: $156,594 | Entry: $106,558 | Top: $198,995
What you’d do day-to-day: As an Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Engineer, you’d be responsible for the design and development of integrated circuits, which are essential components in electronic devices and communication systems. You’d apply your problem-solving and innovation skills to build circuitry frameworks and ensure effective packaging and labeling for new products and systems, often working with leadership and management to plan project execution.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Problem Solving, Innovation, Leadership, Writing, Packaging And Labeling, Management, Planning
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Apple, Marvell Technology, Electrical Consultants, Nvidia, AMD
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2. Circuit Design Engineer
Salary: Median: $147,371 | Entry: $96,829 | Top: $187,048
What you’d do day-to-day: As a Circuit Design Engineer, you’d design, develop, and test analog and digital circuits for complex electrical systems across various industries like aeronautics or vehicle design. You’d use your problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to innovate solutions, communicate your designs through presentations, and manage project aspects under leadership direction, often applying advanced mathematics.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Problem Solving, Innovation, Management, Leadership, Troubleshooting (Problem Solving), Presentations, Mathematics
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Apple, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, GE Aerospace, General Motors
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3. Verification Engineer
Salary: Median: $140,679 | Entry: $100,098 | Top: $183,785
What you’d do day-to-day: As a Verification Engineer, you’d be crucial in ensuring products meet their specifications and requirements. Your daily tasks would involve designing testing methods, identifying bugs, and communicating with cross-functional teams. You’d apply your problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to verify system functionality and reliability, contributing to planning and managing product development procedures to meet regulatory standards.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Problem Solving, Leadership, Management, Planning, Innovation, Writing, Troubleshooting (Problem Solving)
Top certifications: Secret Clearance, Security Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Apple, Northrop Grumman, Intel, AMD, Boeing
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4. Hardware Design Engineer
Salary: Median: $135,294 | Entry: $107,105 | Top: $174,509
What you’d do day-to-day: As a Hardware Design Engineer, you’d design and develop computer hardware and related equipment, using your innovation and problem-solving skills to create and validate new components. You might supervise the production of hardware or provide technical assistance during installation, communicating solutions and mentoring others, often involving research and management tasks.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Problem Solving, Troubleshooting (Problem Solving), Innovation, Leadership, Management, Research, Mentorship
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Amazon, Actalent, Apple, Meta, Raytheon Technologies
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5. Signal Processing Engineer
Salary: Median: $136,150 | Entry: $95,292 | Top: $184,743
What you’d do day-to-day: As a Signal Processing Engineer, you’d develop, test, and implement digital signal processing algorithms, applying your strong mathematics and problem-solving skills. Your work would involve research and innovation to create new solutions, and you’d communicate your findings while potentially managing operations or leading project aspects.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Mathematics, Research, Innovation, Problem Solving, Leadership, Management, Operations
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance), Secret Clearance
Top employers: Raytheon Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Apple, Leidos, Meta
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6. Electronic Design Engineer
Salary: Median: $128,691 | Entry: $101,345 | Top: $173,329
What you’d do day-to-day: As an Electronic Design Engineer, you’d design, develop, and engineer various electronic equipment, working extensively with circuits and other electronic components and systems. You’d leverage your problem-solving and innovation skills, engage in planning, and collaborate effectively through teamwork, communicating your designs through writing and providing leadership in project management.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Problem Solving, Management, Leadership, Writing, Innovation, Planning, Teamwork
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Apple, Raytheon Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Enercon, Synopsys
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7. Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer
Salary: Median: $129,235 | Entry: $99,616 | Top: $168,691
What you’d do day-to-day: As a Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer, you’d work with technology and electronic equipment utilizing radio waves, such as those found in cell phones or radio stations. Your responsibilities would include designing, installing, and repairing systems that transmit radio signals. You’d apply your problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, engage in planning, and potentially manage larger systems like cell phone tower networks, often requiring strong communication and mathematical understanding.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Troubleshooting (Problem Solving), Management, Problem Solving, Leadership, Planning, Mathematics, Innovation
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Raytheon Technologies, The Judge Group, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Skyworks
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8. Hardware Engineer (General)
Salary: Median: $124,237 | Entry: $81,148 | Top: $175,714
What you’d do day-to-day: As a Hardware Engineer, you’d design and develop various computer hardware components like circuit boards, chips, modems, and keyboards. You’d collaborate with software engineers to improve technology, using your problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Your role would involve managing operations, providing leadership, fostering innovation, and communicating technical information effectively through writing.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Troubleshooting (Problem Solving), Problem Solving, Operations, Management, Leadership, Innovation, Writing
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Actalent, Apple, Amazon, Blue Origin, Cisco
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9. PCB Layout and Design Engineer
Salary: Median: $117,808 | Entry: $80,606 | Top: $167,511
What you’d do day-to-day: As a PCB Layout and Design Engineer, you’d focus on designing and developing layouts for printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in various electronic and communication systems. You’d apply your detail-oriented approach and problem-solving skills to develop the applications and hardware for PCB manufacturing, ensuring reliability, proper packaging and labeling, and communicating with management to innovate solutions.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Troubleshooting (Problem Solving), Detail Oriented, Problem Solving, Packaging And Labeling, Reliability, Management, Innovation
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Certified Interconnect Designer
Top employers: Actalent, GE Aerospace, Apple, Raytheon Technologies, L3Harris Technologies
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10. Electronics Engineer (General)
Salary: Median: $116,534 | Entry: $84,590 | Top: $160,118
What you’d do day-to-day: As an Electronics Engineer, you’d design and develop a wide range of electronic equipment, from consumer devices like iPods to complex systems like GPS. Your work would primarily involve smaller electronic equipment that uses electricity for information storage. You’d apply your problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, engage in planning and operations, and communicate effectively with leadership and management, often utilizing mathematical principles.
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Top skills: Communication, Management, Troubleshooting (Problem Solving), Mathematics, Leadership, Planning, Operations, Problem Solving
Top certifications: Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
Top employers: Northrop Grumman, Uline, Lockheed Martin, Lee Company, United States Department of Defense
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These high-paying careers in Electrical, Electronic, and Related Engineering offer exciting opportunities to shape the future of technology. If you’re passionate about innovation and problem-solving, exploring these paths could lead to a rewarding and financially stable future. Create a free profile on Tallo.com