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Electrical and Electronics Technician?
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Important Career Information
- Electrical and electronic engineering technicians make up 33 percent of all engineering technicians.
- Employment of engineering technicians is influenced by economic conditions similar to those which affect engineers; as a result, job outlook varies by specialty.
- Opportunities will be best for individuals with an associate degree or other postsecondary training in engineering technology.
Salary: How Much Do Electrical and Electronics Technicians Make?
Median annual pay in May 2008 of engineering technicians by specialty were:
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians $55,040
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians 53,240
Mechanical engineering technicians 48,130
Industrial engineering technicians 47,180
Electro-mechanical technicians 46,310
Civil engineering technicians 44,290
Environmental engineering technicians 41,100
Median annual pay of electrical and electronic engineering technicians were $53,240 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent were paid between $41,550 and $64,120. The lowest 10 percent were paid less than $32,490, and the highest 10 percent were paid more than $78,560. Median annual pay in the industries employing the largest numbers of electrical and electronic engineering technicians were:
Wired telecommunications carriers $56,080
Architectural, engineering, and related services 51,650
Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing 48,960
Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing 48,200
Employment services 42,960
In May 2008, median annual pay for aerospace engineering and operations technicians in the aerospace products and parts manufacturing industry were $52,150, and the median annual salary for environmental engineering technicians in the architectural, engineering, and related services industry was $39,510. Median annual pay for civil engineering technicians in the architectural, engineering, and related services industry were $43,880. The median annual pay for industrial engineering technicians in the semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing industry was $43,760. In the architectural, engineering, and related services industry, the median annual pay for mechanical engineering technicians was $47,130. Electro-mechanical technicians were paid a median annual pay of $44,580 in the semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing industry.
What does an Electrical and Electronics Technician do?
Electrical and Electronics Technician Jobs, Job Description, and Responsibilities
Businesses and other organizations depend on complex electronic equipment for a variety of functions. Industrial controls automatically monitor and direct production processes on the factory floor. Transmitters and antennae provide communication links for many organizations. Electric power companies use electronic equipment to operate and control generating plants, substations, and monitoring equipment. The Federal Government uses radar and missile control systems to provide for the national defense and to direct commercial air traffic. These complex pieces of electronic equipment are installed, maintained, and repaired by electrical and electronics technicians.
Electrical equipment and electronic equipment are two distinct types of industrial equipment, although much equipment contains both electrical and electronic components. In general, electrical portions provide the power for the equipment, while electronic components control the device, although many types of equipment still are controlled with electrical devices. Electronic sensors monitor the equipment and the manufacturing process, providing feedback to the programmable logic control (PLC), which controls the equipment. The PLC processes the information provided by the sensors and makes adjustments to optimize output. To adjust the output, the PLC sends signals to the electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic devices that power the machine—changing feed rates, pressures, and other variables in the manufacturing process. Many technicians, known as field technicians, travel to factories or other locations to repair equipment. These specialists often have assigned areas in which they perform preventive maintenance on a regular basis. When equipment breaks down, field technicians go to a customer's site to repair the equipment. Bench technicians work in repair shops located in factories and service centers, fixing components that cannot be repaired on the factory floor.
Some industrial electronic equipment is self-monitoring and alerts repairers to malfunctions. When equipment breaks down, repairers first check for common causes of trouble, such as loose connections or obviously defective components. If routine checks do not locate the trouble, repairers may refer to schematics and manufacturers' specifications that show connections and provide instructions on how to locate problems. Automated electronic control systems are increasing in complexity, making diagnosis more challenging. With these systems, repairers use software programs and testing equipment to diagnose malfunctions. Among their diagnostic tools are multimeters, which measure voltage, current, and resistance, and advanced multimeters, which measure capacitance, inductance, and current gain of transistors. Repairers also use signal generators, which provide test signals, and oscilloscopes, which display signals graphically. Finally, repairers use handtools such as pliers, screwdrivers, soldering irons, and wrenches to replace faulty parts and adjust equipment.
Because repairing components is a complex activity and factories cannot allow production equipment to stand idle, repairers on the factory floor usually remove and replace defective units, such as circuit boards, instead of fixing them. Defective units are discarded or returned to the manufacturer or a specialized shop for repair. Bench technicians at these locations have the training, tools, and parts needed to thoroughly diagnose and repair circuit boards or other complex components. These specialists also locate and repair circuit defects, such as poorly soldered joints, blown fuses, or malfunctioning transistors.
Electrical and electronics technicians often fit older manufacturing equipment with new automated control devices. Older manufacturing machines are frequently in good working order but are limited by inefficient control systems for which replacement parts are no longer available. Technicians replace old electronic control units with new PLCs. Setting up and installing a new PLC involves connecting it to different sensors and electrically powered devices (electric motors, switches, and pumps) and writing a computer program to operate the PLC. Electronics technicians coordinate their efforts with those of other specialists who are installing and maintaining equipment.)
Electrical and electronics technicians, install, adjust, or maintain mobile electronic communication equipment, including sound, sonar, security, navigation, and surveillance systems on trains, watercraft, or other vehicles. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay inspect, test, maintain, or repair electrical equipment used in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays. These specialists may be known as powerhouse electricians, relay technicians, or power transformer repairers. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers—such as armature winders, generator mechanics, and electric golf cart repairers—specialize in installing, maintaining, and repairing electric motors, wiring, or switches.
Electronic equipment technicians, motor vehicles have a significantly different job. They install, diagnose, and repair communication, sound, security, and navigation equipment in motor vehicles. Most installation work involves either new alarm or sound systems. New sound systems vary significantly in cost and complexity of installation. Replacing a head unit (radio) with a new CD player is simple, requiring the removal of a few screws and the connection of a few wires. Installing a new sound system with a subwoofer, amplifier, and fuses is far more complicated. The technician builds a fiberglass or wood box designed to hold the subwoofer and to fit inside the unique dimensions of the automobile. Installing sound-deadening material, which often is necessary with more powerful speakers, requires a technician to remove many parts of a car (for example, seats, carpeting, or interiors of doors), add sound-absorbing material in empty spaces, and reinstall the interior parts. The technicians also runs new speaker and electrical cables. The new system may require additional fuses, a new electrical line to be run from the battery through a newly drilled hole in the firewall into the interior of the vehicle, or an additional or more powerful alternator or battery. Motor vehicle technicians work with an increasingly complex range of electronic equipment, including DVD players, satellite navigation equipment, passive security systems, and active security systems.
Job Working Conditions for Electrical and Electronics Technicians
Many electrical and electronics technicians work on factory floors, where they are subject to noise, dirt, vibration, and heat. Bench technicians work primarily in repair shops, where the surroundings are relatively quiet, comfortable, and well lighted.
Technicians may have to do heavy lifting and work in a variety of jobs. They must follow safety guidelines and often wear protective goggles and hardhats. When working on ladders or on elevated equipment, repairers must wear harnesses to avoid falls. Before repairing a piece of machinery, these specialists must follow procedures to ensure that others cannot start the equipment during the repair process. They also must take precautions against electric shock by locking off power to the unit under repair.
Motor vehicle electronic equipment technicians normally work indoors in well-ventilated and well-lighted repair shops. Minor cuts and bruises are common, but serious accidents usually are avoided when safety practices are observed.
Electrical and Electronics Technician
Training, College Programs, and Advancement
Knowledge of electrical equipment and electronics is necessary for employment. Many applicants gain this knowledge through programs lasting 1 to 2 years at vocational schools or community colleges, although some less skilled repairers may have only a high school diploma. Entry-level repairers may work closely with more experienced technicians who provide technical guidance.
Technicians should have good eyesight and color perception to work with the intricate components used in electronic equipment. Field technicians work closely with customers and should have good communication skills and a neat appearance. Employers also may require that field technicians have a driver's license.
Various organizations offer certification. Repairers may specialize—in industrial electronics, for example. To receive certification, repairers must pass qualifying exams corresponding to their level of training and experience.
Experienced repairers with advanced training may become specialists or troubleshooters who help other repairers diagnose difficult problems. Workers with leadership ability may become supervisors of other repairers. Some experienced specialists open their own repair shops.
Where are the Jobs? Electrical and Electronics Tech Jobs
Electrical and electronics technicians held about 158,000 jobs in 2004. The following tabulation breaks down their jobs by occupational specialty:
| Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment |
72,000 |
| Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers |
28,000 |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay |
21,000 |
| Electronic equipment technicians, motor vehicles |
19,000 |
| Electrical and electronics technicians, transportation equipment |
18,000 |
Many repairers worked for utilities; building equipment contractors; machinery and equipment repair shops; wholesalers; the Federal Government; retailers of automotive parts and accessories; rail transportation companies; and manufacturers of electrical, electronic, and transportation equipment.
Job Outlook and Job Opportunities for Electrical and Electronics Technicians
Job opportunities should be best for applicants with a thorough knowledge of electrical equipment and electronics as well as with repair experience. Overall jobs for electrical and electronics technicians is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all careers during the 2004-14 period, but prospects vary by occupational specialty. In addition to jobs growth, the need to replace specialists who transfer to other careers or leave the labor force will result in many job openings.
Average jobs growth is projected for electrical and electronics technicians of commercial and industrial equipment. This equipment will become more sophisticated and will be used more frequently as businesses strive to lower costs by increasing and improving automation. Companies will install electronic controls, robots, sensors, and other equipment to automate processes such as assembly and testing. As prices decline, applications will be found across a number of industries, including services, utilities, and construction, as well as manufacturing. Improved reliability of equipment should not constrain jobs growth, however: companies increasingly will rely on repairers because malfunctions that idle commercial and industrial equipment will continue to be costly.
Employment of motor vehicle electronic equipment technicians also is expected to grow about as fast as the average. However, as motor vehicle manufacturers install more and better sound, security, entertainment, and navigation systems in new vehicles, and as newer electronic systems require progressively less maintenance, jobs growth for aftermarket electronic equipment technicians will be limited.
Employment of electric motor, power tool, and related repairers is expected to grow more slowly than average. Improvements in electrical and electronic equipment design should limit job growth by simplifying repair tasks. The design of more parts that are easily disposable will further reduce jobs growth.
Employment of electrical and electronic technicians of transportation equipment is also expected to grow more slowly than the average because of declining jobs in railroad rolling stock manufacturing and shipbuilding and boatbuilding.
Employment of electrical and electronics technicians, powerhouse, substation, and relay is expected to decline slightly. Consolidation and privatization in utilities industries should improve productivity, reducing jobs. Newer equipment will be more reliable and easier to repair, further limiting jobs.
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