Jobs Similar to Electrical Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to electrical engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Computer Hardware Engineers, Solar Energy Systems Engineers and Aerospace Engineers.
Electrical Engineers: $120,630 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Electrical Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Hardware EngineersSame group | 81% | $161,740+34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Solar Energy Systems EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 81% | $134,960+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 80% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 79% | $125,040+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 79% | $76,870−36% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Materials EngineersSame group | 79% | $112,860−6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $66,120−45% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 79% | $104,110−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Validation EngineersSame group | 79% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 79% | $133,970+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Materials Scientists | 79% | $117,790−2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 79% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 78% | $102,440−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 78% | $106,220−12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Radio Frequency Identification Device SpecialistsSame group | 78% | $130,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsSame group | 77% | $112,230−7% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Computer Hardware Engineers
81% similar · $161,740 (+34%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Solar Energy Systems Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Aerospace Engineers
81% similar · $134,960 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Microsystems Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Wind Energy Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Automotive Engineers
80% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Chemical Engineers
79% similar · $125,040 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Electrical and Electronics Drafters
79% similar · $76,870 (−36%) · Training or associate
- 9Materials Engineers
79% similar · $112,860 (−6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $66,120 (−45%) · Training or associate
- 11Mechanical Engineers
79% similar · $104,110 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Validation Engineers
79% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Nuclear Engineers
79% similar · $133,970 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Materials Scientists
79% similar · $117,790 (−2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
79% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Industrial Engineers
78% similar · $102,440 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
78% similar · $106,220 (−12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
78% similar · $130,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
77% similar · $112,230 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than electrical engineers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for electrical engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where electrical engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Materials Scientists (86)
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters (81)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (78)
- Mechanical Drafters (75)
- Hydrologists (74)
- Information Security Analysts (73)
- Architectural and Civil Drafters (72)
- Computer Network Architects (72)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (72)
- Geodetic Surveyors (72)
Questions about jobs like electrical engineers
What jobs are most similar to electrical engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Computer Hardware Engineers (81% similar), Solar Energy Systems Engineers (81% similar), Aerospace Engineers (81% similar), Microsystems Engineers (81% similar) and Wind Energy Engineers (80% similar).
Which jobs like electrical engineers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Computer Hardware Engineers ($161,740, +34%; usually a bachelor's degree), Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +12%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Nuclear Engineers ($133,970, +11%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with electrical engineers ($120,630). Without more preparation than electrical engineers usually need: Computer Hardware Engineers, Aerospace Engineers and Nuclear Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.