Top 3 electronic engineering jobs with the highest salaries

Electronics engineering often deals with the implementation of hardware applications, system principles, and embedded software algorithms developed within areas like signal processing, control systems, telecommunications, computer hardware engineering, electric power controls, instrumentation engineering, systems engineering, robotics, and much more.

SEE ALSO: Top 3 Industries for Highest Electrical Engineer Salary

As mentioned above, it is interrelated with electrical engineering as the latter often deals with handling power, heavy currents, and high voltages; thus, electrical engineers almost always work in teams with electronics engineers.

Electronics engineer job description

Electronic engineering jobs often include designing and developing electronic equipment. These can be for broadcasting and communication equipment such as mobile phones and portable music players. Electronics engineers design the components that allow electrical systems to operate according to the software embedded in them and incoming signals.

Electronics engineers design and develop devices, test components, equipment, and systems that primarily run on low-voltage power or electricity. A part of their responsibilities is discussing proposals with clients, working with colleagues to design new systems, circuits, and devices, improving existing technology, testing models, writing specifications, and technical reports.

Electronics engineers are also responsible for following a defined development process, developing the detailed design of a piece of electronic equipment, and ensuring that a product will be compatible with devices developed by other manufacturers. They create user-friendly interfaces, adhere to existing safety regulations, plan projects, prepare budgets, and supervise technicians, craftspeople, and other colleagues.

They usually work inside a laboratory or office-type environment, although there are some lines of work that require fieldwork.

Most companies require a degree in electrical or electronics engineering or other related fields like aeronautical engineering, communications engineering, software or computer engineering, mathematics, mechatronics engineering, applied physics, or manufacturing engineering.

It is always a plus to have a Master’s degree in the relevant profession and vast experience in the said field.

Having a high level of technical knowledge and IT skills, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, especially in design improvement, is important. Excellent communication skills allow them to explain complex ideas into clear concepts. Also, strategic thinking, commercial awareness, project management, and leadership skills, the ability to work within a team, and being able to understand electrical safety regulations are a must in this field of work.

3 jobs that offer the highest salaries for electronics engineering

1. Staff electronics engineer

Staff electronics engineers are responsible for concept design, new product introduction and development, pre-market entry testing, and supervision of the manufacturing process of electrical equipment - which can include electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communication and broadcasting systems, power generation equipment, etc.

Staff electronics engineer job descriptions include performing detailed calculations to construct, manufacture, and implement specifications. Staff electronics engineers work with senior electronics engineers to design new systems, circuits, devices, and related embedded systems and software.

Such engineers are in high demand in areas such as automotive and aerospace engineering companies, as well as telecommunication and hardware solutions use in wireless communication or space defense applications. Entering these fields is sometimes a bit harder than other engineering fields as per security and privacy concerns, which is often why employees are required to be full-time residents or citizens of the country in which they'll be working.

Staff electronics engineers can often earn salaries of around $141k per year, with companies such as Intel paying staff electronics engineers salaries as high as $145k per year, depending on their experience and skill set. The company you work for will ultimately dictate the salary amount you'll receive, especially since there aren't any hard regulations for salary amounts within private corporations. 

2. Electronics field engineers

Electronics field engineers work in the field, visiting customers to sell complex technological products and services. Therefore, they must have extensive knowledge of the products that they are selling including their parts and functions, how they work, and how they will benefit the customers in the short and long run.

Electronics field engineers are responsible for the preparation and delivery of technical presentations that aim to explain the products or services to the customers or prospects. They hold discussions with the clients and fellow engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine the system requirements. They work with the in-house sales teams to understand customer requirements and to provide sales support.

Electronics field engineers also renew and secure purchase orders and arrange delivery, plan and modify products to meet customers’ expectations, help clients to solve problems with installed equipment, make recommendations for materials or machinery improvements, and assist in the research for new products.

They specialize in the technological and scientific advancement of products. With their technical skills, they explain the benefits of the product and services they are selling to show that their products are better than the competitors’.

Electronics field engineers can earn salaries of around $65k per year; with most companies also paying a commission or bonus payment which can result in considerably higher net pay.

Field engineers must also pay close attention to the lifestyle requirements of such positions, and note that these careers can require frequent travel and long working hours, hence these positions are best if you can be flexible in your working hours. You should also have an adaptive personality and strong communication skills so that you can work with people from a variety of locations.

3. Senior electronics engineers and technicians

Senior electronics engineers and technicians are responsible for troubleshooting and finding solutions to complex technical problems that relate to a wide variety of industries. It is their responsibility to create, modify, and test processes and products through research and development.

Senior electronics engineers and technicians also inspect the flaws in products and processes and identify the areas that need improvement – so part of this job involves the collection of data and conducting tests. They assist in product design, development, production, building, and equipment setup as well.

An engineering technician should be able to calculate, record results during experiments, create prototypes, and utilize computer-aided design. They must make a draft during the design phase, operate, and maintain equipment used in testing. They calibrate test equipment, manage computer simulations to test their design virtually, and manufacture electrical and electronic equipment for different fields, etc. 

Senior electronics engineers and technicians earn around $103k on average, going up to $132k per year.