Pursue a Degree and Career in the Field of Electrical Engineering

 In Uncategorized

Electrical engineering is one of the newest and fastest growing career fields in the petrochemical industry, with more than 16,000 entry level jobs available. Electrical engineering technicians design, develop, test and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment on industrial sites.  They work with a wide array of devices, components and systems from tiny microchips to huge supercomputers. To become one, a person must have a certificate or Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Technology and may be required to complete a nationally certified Apprenticeship program, where an apprentice must complete 2,000 hours of supervised work.

3261

That is where Texas Gulf Coast Community Colleges come in. Earning your two-year degree through one of our member schools will help to lay the foundation for your success in a career you love. Colleges like San Jacinto or Alvin College offer hands-on, interesting classes such as Electrical Theory, DC/AC Circuits Fundamentals, Computer Networking Technology, and Fundamentals of Electronics and Math. These courses will pave the way for your associate degree, as well as help you enhance your critical thinking, reading comprehension, problem solving, and troubleshooting skills.

The type of industries you can expect to work in with an A.S. in electrical engineering include:

  • Research and Development
  • Engineering services firms
  • Manufacturing
  • The Federal Government

In addition, students who complete their associate degree in electrical technology may often find themselves working for large industrial plants, public utilities, government agencies, electrical contractors, building contractors, and construction companies. Electrical engineers and technicians also work less commonly in department store chains, hospitals and school districts.

What a Degree in Electrical Technology Offers

If you decide to move forward with this career path, the average salary is something our students will appreciate. Generally, electrical engineering technicians can expect to earn anywhere from $30,000 to $80,000 per year with an associate degree. In 2014 the median pay was about $30 per hour or more than $60,000 per year. And, you will be in good company should you choose this career path. Several famous electrical engineers are Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla.

One of the hardest challenges for college students is finding a career with available jobs when they graduate. Prospective students should know that a career in the petrochemical industry guarantees a job in the field. Exxon Mobile is coordinating programs in our community colleges to share expertise and has committed to $500,000 for a workforce training program. There are thousands of jobs coming to the Houston area and across the Gulf Coast because of this huge new investment in the chemical industry.

“The chemical industry supports 73,000 high-paying Texas manufacturing jobs and will add more under announced expansion plans by our industry, including at ExxonMobil,” said Steve Pryor, President of the ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

Houston and the surrounding area have a thriving electrical engineering field, and if you’re interested in an electrical engineering degree, there will be plenty of jobs and opportunity awaiting you.