Electronics Schools

Individuals interested in pursuing a career in electronics may likely need formal education and training to fully understand the products and services they will be working with. Examples of workplaces where electronics professionals might find employment at include repair and service shops, manufacturing companies, research laboratories, and local and federal government agencies.

Duties that electronics professionals are expected to perform can vary depending on their exact job role and educational background, but may include things like installation of electronic devices, maintenance and repair using software testing, and providing cost estimates for clients.

Many organizations offer electronics certification programs for those who want to prove their worth to potential employers, including The Electronics Technicians Association International and the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012).

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual national wage of electrical and electronics installation and repair careers was $46,890 in May 2011. Exact wages depend on an individual’s job title, training and education, as well as the location where he/she resides and works.

Individuals interested in pursuing a career in electronics may likely need formal education and training to fully understand the products and services they will be working with. Examples of workplaces where electronics professionals might find employment at include repair and service shops, manufacturing companies, research laboratories, and local and federal government agencies.

Duties that electronics professionals are expected to perform can vary depending on their exact job role and educational background, but may include things like installation of electronic devices, maintenance and repair using software testing, and providing cost estimates for clients.

Many organizations offer electronics certification programs for those who want to prove their worth to potential employers, including The Electronics Technicians Association International and the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012).

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual national wage of electrical and electronics installation and repair careers was $46,890 in May 2011. Exact wages depend on an individual’s job title, training and education, as well as the location where he/she resides and works.

Future growth for electrical and electronics installers and repairers is expected to grow by up to three percent nationally between 2010 and 2020 (BLS, 2012), though some sub-specialties could see higher growth. For example, home entertainment equipment installers and repairers, whose employment is expected to rise 14 percent nationally during the same time-span (BLS.gov, 2012). The best and highest-paid positions may likely go to those who have the most job experience or education in their repertoire.

While many electronics professionals remain technicians, some might go on to work in the related field of electronics engineering. Electronics engineers generally focus more on the creation and design of new electronics devices and systems, instead of repairing and installing existing ones.

To give you an idea of some of the best electronics schools, we’ve listed U.S. News and World Report's 2012 top-ten grad schools for electrical, electronics and communications engineering.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Stanford University
3. University of California, Berkeley
4. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
5.  Georgia Institute of Technology
6. California Institute of Technology
7. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
8. Cornell University
10. Princeton University

Sources:

Career Info from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers

Salary Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment

Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

Best Electrical/Engineering/Communications Engineering Schools, U.S. News and World Report