Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
SOC Code: 17-3023
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians carries a 46% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $77,180 and +0.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 93,700 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 46% AI exposure, Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians sits 9 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 82% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
42/100
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage B $77,180
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth F +0.6%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) F 46% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in the High band.
Credential × growth standing
Associate / award entry with a named growth shelf
Entry credential Associate / award covers 99 of 832 occupations; BLS places this one in Slow growth (245/832). Mid-credential standing - thicker than graduate shelves, thinner than HS-dominated mass.
Where Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
46% Higher than most higher than 82% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians's High automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 17-3023) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Registered Apprenticeship Pathway Available
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is a recognized registered apprenticeship occupation under the DOL RAPIDS system. Earn while you train, apprentices typically start at ~$16/hr and reach $28–$46/hr upon completion, depending on the specific trade and region.
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
- 2. Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments.
- 3. Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems.
- 4. Install or maintain electrical control systems, industrial automation systems, or electrical equipment, including control circuits, variable speed drives, or programmable logic controllers.
- 5. Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components.
- 6. Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
- 7. Design or modify engineering schematics for electrical transmission and distribution systems or for electrical installation in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- 8. Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments.
- 9. Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards.
- 10. Interpret test information to resolve design-related problems.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Knowledge Areas
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Design
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
- Telecommunications
- Physics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians?
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians has an AI exposure score of 46%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow by 0.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 93,700 workers.
What skills are needed for Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians?
Key skills for Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians include Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is Associate's degree.
How much do Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians earn?
The median annual wage for Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is $77,180, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians?
The typical entry-level education for Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians is Associate's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians?
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (46% here).
- Administrative services managers · AI exposure 46%
- Conservation scientists · AI exposure 46%
- Dental assistants · AI exposure 46%
- Economists · AI exposure 46%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (+0.6% here).
- Continuous mining machine operators · growth +0.6%
- Editors · growth +0.6%
- Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders · growth +0.6%
- Food cooking machine operators and tenders · growth +0.6%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 15 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).