Job profiles
Electronics engineering technician
Hours
40 per week
Starting salary
18,000 + per year
Electronics engineering technicians design, build and maintain systems and
components found in all kinds of areas from mobile telecommunications and
consumer electronics, through to aircraft flight controls and satellite technology.
If you're good at maths and science, like solving problems and want a practical
career this could be an ideal job for you.
You would normally start by doing an Apprenticeship but you may also be able to
take an electronics course at college to help get a trainee position. Previous
experience of working in engineering or electrics could also be useful.
Work activities
As an electronics engineering technician you would design, build, test and repair the
electronic components found in:
telecommunications mobile phones, radio and TV
medical scientific instruments clinical and laboratory apparatus
programmable control systems manufacturing and industrial machinery
datacommunications computers, tablets, PDAs and ATM machines
control systems - used in everything from satellites to cars.
Your work could involve:
designing printed circuit boards and wiring diagrams using computer-aided
design (CAD) software
researching and developing new ideas and products
testing prototype products and analysing the results
building and installing electronic control systems used in computer-aided
manufacturing (CAM)
inspecting and calibrating instruments for quality control purposes
setting up maintenance schedules for industrial and commercial equipment
finding and fixing equipment faults.
You would work closely with a team of engineers, as well as craftspeople from
different engineering fields.
Working hours and conditions
You would normally work a 40-hour week. You may work on a shift system, with
overtime and on-call duties.
You could be based in a factory, workshop or research facility.
Income
Qualified technicians can earn between 18,000 and 24,000 a year. With
experience, this can rise to between 25,000 and 35,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Entry requirements
You could become an technician after completing an electronics engineering
Apprenticeship. To get on to an Apprenticeship, you are likely to need four or five
GCSEs (A-C), including maths, English, science, design and technology, or equivalent
qualifications. Previous experience in electrical or related work may also be accepted.
The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs
market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. Visit the
Apprenticeships website to find out more.
Apprenticeships
You could also take a college course which would teach you some of the skills needed
for the job and may help you to find a trainee position with a company. Relevant
courses include:
Level 1 Certificate in Electronics
Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Engineering Electronics and Computer Control
Technologies
Level 2 Certificate In Electrical Installation Studies
Level 2 Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology.
See the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), SEMTA and Tomorrow's
Engineers for more details about electronic engineering as a career.
IET
SEMTA
Tomorrow's Engineers
Training and development
Once you are working, you could take various qualifications, depending on your job
role, including:
Level
Level
Level
Level
Level
3
3
3
3
3
Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology
(NVQ) Extended Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
(NVQ) Diploma in Process Engineering Maintenance
(NVQ) Extended Diploma in Installation and Commissioning
Diploma in Aircraft Manufacture (Electrical and Avionics Manufacture).
Once qualified, you could continue your training by taking a foundation degree, HNC
or HND in electronic engineering. You can search the UCAS website for courses at
this level.
UCAS
As an experienced technician, your employer may encourage you to register with the
Engineering Council to gain EngTech status. This could help with your professional
development and improve your promotion prospects. See the Engineering Council
website for more details.
Engineering Council
Skills, interests and qualities
To be an electronics engineering technician you should have:
a flair for maths, science and technology
practical skills
good communication skills
IT skills
the ability to understand engineering drawings and principles
a willingness to keep up to date with new developments
excellent problem-solving skills
ability to work as part of a team and unsupervised
an awareness of electrical health and safety issues
colour-normal vision.
More information
SEMTA
Tel: 0845 643 9001
www.semta.org.uk
Tomorrow's Engineers
EngineeringUK
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EX
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 3206 0400
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
WISE Campaign
www.wisecampaign.org.uk
Institution of Engineering and Technology
Michael Faraday House
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2AY
Tel: 01438 313 311
www.theiet.org
Opportunities
You will have an advantage when looking for work if you have skills in IT and
electronics, due to the merging of data and telecommunications technologies.
Typical employers include local and central government departments, the armed
services, manufacturers in all industries, research and development companies, IT
companies, and public utilities such as water, gas and electricity.
With experience, you could become a project team leader, maintenance or quality
control manager, or work towards qualifying as an electronics engineer. You may also
find opportunities in related areas, such as electrical or telecommunications
engineering.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading:
JustEngineers
The Engineer
Flipside Magazine
Engineering Jobs Network
Universal Jobmatch
Job market information
This section gives you an overview of the job area that this profile belongs to. You
can use it to work out your next career move. It can help if youre looking for a job
now or want to do some further training.
The 'Market statistics' charts are based on figures from the UK Commission for
Employment and Skills (UKCES) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The list of job vacancies under 'Apply for jobs' is from the Universal Jobmatch
database. The vacancies are not from the National Careers Service.
Electronic Technician: Job Information
and Career Requirements
Learn the job duties of electronics technicians. Find out the education and training requirements
for a career in this field, as well as some alternative career options.
Show Me Schools
View 9 Popular Schools
Career Definition
Sophisticated electronic equipment marks most business, communication, military, transportation,
and production applications today. In order to keep this equipment in top operating condition, the
services of an electronics technician are needed. Electronics technicians can either serve as field
technicians or bench technicians.
How to Become an Electronics Technician
Required Education
A career as an electronics tech requires an associate degree in electronics from a community
college or trade school with additional training provided while on the job under the direction of a
more experienced technician. Electronics technicians usually earn certification in the field through
additional experience, classes and testing.
Skills Required
Electronics techs must pay close attention to detail and be able to follow highly complex
instructions. Electronics technicians should have skill in troubleshooting problems and coming up
with correct solutions. The ability to communicate effectively both in written and oral interaction is
important in this career.
Career and Economic Outlook
Little or no job growth is expected for the electronics technician field from 2012 to 2022, according
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Median hourly earnings for electronics technicians
are dependent on the type of work. Electronics installers and repairers who work on commercial
and industrial equipment made a median annual salary of $52,650 in 2012, while those who work
on transportation equipment made a median salary of $51,240, according to the BLS. Most
electronics technician positions are in the specialty area of commercial and industrial equipment.
Alternative Career Options
Electronics Engineering Technician
While electronics technicians install and repair electronic equipment, electronics engineering
technicians help design, build and test it. An associate's degree is often required to begin a career
as an electronics engineering technician. Like electronics technicians, this career field is also
projected to show little or no job growth from 2012 to 2022, according to the BLS. However, the
BLS reported in 2012 that electronics engineering technicians earned a median salary of
$57,850, which is slightly higher than the median salary for electronics installers and repairers.
Computer Repairer
Computer repairers specialize in fixing computers and related electronic equipment, such as
monitors and keyboards. Computer repairers typically take a few courses in computer technology
after high school to prepare for this career. According to the BLS, the field of computer, ATM and
office machine repairers is projected to increase by 4% from 2012 to 2022, which is slower than
average growth for this period. These workers had a median annual salary of $36,620 as of May
2012, per the BLS.
