Employment Outlook

The current employment outlook for electrical and computer engineers is positive and job growth is expected to continue. Software Engineers held about 317,000 jobs Electrical Engineers held approximately 289,000 jobs, making ECE the largest segment of the U.S. engineering community, according to the numbers provided by Engineering Salary Calculator.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical and electronics engineering graduates should expect favorable employment opportunities. The number of job openings resulting from employment growth and the need to replace electrical engineers who grow into management or other related positions is expected to be in balance with the supply of graduates, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Computer Engineering

Highly favorable opportunities are expected for college graduates with at least a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. Computer software engineers are projected to be one of the fastest growing occupations from 2002 to 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Typical ECE job titles:

• Design Engineer
• Project Engineer
• Engineering Specialist
• Chief Engineer
• Software Engineer
• Research Engineer
• Systems Design Engineer
• Field Engineer
• Quality Control Engineer

Visit Discover Engineering for general descriptions of the different types of work you can do with an ECE degree.

To learn more about the many challenging careers in electrical and computer engineering, go to the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center to get acquainted with a handful of electrical and computer engineers. Watch video clips of ECE professionals as they provide insight into the activities, educational preparation, and daily challenges of individuals working in their field. Their stories may help you decide if a career in engineering is right for you.

Projected Salaries for 2004 ECE Graduates (according to Engineeringsalary.com and the December 2004 Graduate Student Survey)

National Average (B.S. Degree): Median starting salary: $52,920

National Average (M.S. Degree): Median starting salary: $65,812

CSU ECE Graduates (B.S. Degree): Median starting salary: $55,000

Links to companies that hire electrical and computer engineering graduates:

ECE Industrial Advisory Board (IAB). Representing companies around the globe, IAB members assist the department in our efforts to continually improve the educational experience we offer our students.
GradNet. An online resource designed for undergraduate and graduate-level engineering students as they prepare for their careers after college. The site features information about various companies that hire electrical and computer engineers.
American Society for Engineering Education. Read company profiles and view available job openings via the ASEE web site.
Society of Women Engineering Online Career Fair. A site geared toward women pursuing careers in engineering, the SWE “Online Career Fair” highlights top organizations that typically hire ECE graduates.