Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Why Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. stands out: With a debt-to-income ratio of just 45.4%, graduates of this program typically enjoy manageable student loan payments compared to their first-year earnings. This low ratio means that, on average, students who complete Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. can expect to pay off their student debt faster and with less financial stress than most other fields. Programs with a DTI below 0.5 are considered excellent by financial experts, making this degree a smart investment for your future.
For example, with a median salary of $52306 and average student debt of $23734, the financial outlook for Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. graduates is especially strong in .
Key Insights
Wondering if Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $52306, and the average student debt is $23734, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.45—a strong position for financial independence.
With an annual graduating class of 8331 students, you’ll be part of a dynamic student body. Many students go on to become Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, a role with a projected 1.0% growth rate. Whether you’re looking for upward mobility, a chance to innovate, or a degree that’s respected in the job market, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other (CIP 15.0399) is a flexible and comprehensive category for specialized or emerging electronics fields that fall outside traditional power or telecommunications tracks. While a standard electronics technician might focus on general repair, professionals in this "Other" category often work on niche systems like medical imaging equipment, industrial laser systems, or advanced aerospace avionics. It is a path for "technical specialists" who want to master the specific electrical "nervous systems" of complex, high-stakes machinery.
This field is ideal for "meticulous troubleshooters"—individuals who are fascinated by how electricity can be precisely controlled to sense, move, or communicate in unconventional environments.
What Is an "Other" Electrical Engineering Technology Degree?
A degree in this category is an applied STEM path that emphasizes systems integration, diagnostic testing, and prototype development. You will study the fundamental laws of electricity (Ohm’s Law, Kirchhoff’s Laws) but apply them to highly specific hardware. Because technology moves faster than traditional curriculum codes, this major often houses "cutting-edge" specialties such as Renewable Energy Systems, Advanced Sensor Technology, or Marine Electronics. It prepares you to be the go-to expert for equipment that other technicians might find too complex or "exotic."
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Specialized Technicians" for high-growth industries like green energy or autonomous transport
- Develop experts in Embedded Systems Interface, connecting physical hardware to digital control software
- Prepare professionals for Precision Instrumentation, calibrating sensors that must be 100% accurate in surgical or laboratory settings
- Study Analog and Digital Hybrid Systems, maintaining equipment that uses both old-school signals and modern data
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that modern electrical systems are rarely "just" electrical; they are integrated webs of software, circuitry, and physical components that must be analyzed holistically.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Master Advanced Troubleshooting—using oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers to find "invisible" glitches
- Use "Circuit Simulation Software" (like Multisim) to test a design before building it physically
- Design Custom Wiring Harnesses for unique environments like aircraft or underwater ROVs
- Perform Surface-Mount Soldering and repair on modern, microscopic circuit boards
- Utilize Microcontroller Programming (Arduino, ESP32) to automate hardware tasks
- Understand Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)—shielding sensitive equipment from "noise" and signal loss
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is highly customizable but generally includes a mix of hardware and software fundamentals:
- AC/DC Circuits: The bedrock physics of how current and voltage behave.
- Digital Logic: Understanding the "1s and 0s" that allow machines to process information.
- Power Electronics: Learning how to manage the high-current systems used in electric vehicles and motors.
- Fiber Optics and Photonics: The study of using light to transmit data at high speeds.
- Industrial Controls: Working with the relay logic and sensors that run automated factory floors.
- Technical Documentation: Learning to read and create "schematics"—the complex maps of electrical systems.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates find roles as elite technicians and engineering assistants in industries that require specialized electrical knowledge.
Common job roles include:
- Specialized Electronics Technician: Maintaining niche systems like medical lasers or air traffic control arrays.
- Avionics Technician: Testing and repairing the electrical flight systems on aircraft and satellites.
- Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET): Ensuring that hospital machines like MRI scanners are safe and functional.
- Engineering Assistant: Helping design engineers build and test prototypes for new inventions.
- Field Service Engineer: Traveling to provide high-level support for proprietary industrial technology.
- Renewable Energy Technician: Installing and maintaining the complex inverters and controllers for solar and wind farms.
Where Can You Work?
These specialists are the "hidden experts" behind the most advanced technology on the planet:
- Aerospace and Defense: Working for companies like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, or SpaceX.
- Medical Centers: Maintaining the life-saving technology in major hospitals and clinics.
- Research Institutions: Supporting physics and chemistry labs at universities or national laboratories.
- Clean Tech Firms: Working on the infrastructure for the electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery industry.
- Manufacturing Tech: Managing the high-tech robotics and vision systems for global factories.
How Much Can You Earn?
Because this field requires more specialized knowledge than general electronics, the earning potential is often significantly higher than average technician roles.
- Specialized Technicians: Median annual salary of approximately $68,000–$88,000.
- Senior Avionics/Medical Techs: Salaries typically range from $75,000 to $105,000+.
- Field Service Engineers: Median annual salary of around $82,000–$110,000.
- Entry-Level Junior Technicians: Often start between $52,000 and $65,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the abstract nature of electricity. You cannot see voltage or current, so you must be a master of the math (Algebra and Trigonometry) and the diagnostic tools that allow you to "see" what is happening. It requires an analytical and patient mindset—sometimes finding a single "blown" component on a board with 1,000 parts can take hours of logical deduction. It is a very hands-on, lab-intensive major that requires high manual dexterity for delicate soldering work.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Love gadgets and are always the person who fixes the family’s broken electronics
- Enjoy "the hunt"—the process of logically tracking down why a machine isn't working
- Are interested in the "guts" of a machine more than its outer design
- Want a career that allows you to work with your hands but requires high-level brainpower
- Are excited by specialized fields like space exploration, medical tech, or green energy
How to Prepare in High School
- Take Algebra and Physics; these are the languages of electrical engineering
- Join a robotics or amateur radio (HAM) club to get experience with components and wiring
- Learn basic coding (C++ or Python); most modern electronics are "smart" and run on code
- Get a soldering kit and try building or repairing simple devices at home
- Read about Semiconductor Technology to understand the foundation of the modern digital world
The ability to apply specialized electrical mastery and technical logic to the world's most complex and proprietary systems is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor