Electrical engineers map out and wire buildings to make sure they have all the electricity they need in each room. They need to make sure each room is hooked up with lighting and sockets as well as cable and internet. They might also hook up surround sound speakers or some other entertainment center setup. For the most part, they deal with wires and work hand in hand with the architects and contractors in building houses and offices. They come in once the beams have all been built, once most of the walls have already been placed, just before the construction workers begin putting up dry wall.
Most electrical engineers get their bachelor’s degree before going into engineering. It’s a requirement for most companies. There are those who also have a knack for electrical wiring and have quite a bit of experience with it. Perhaps they began as a construction worker and started working as an intern for the electrical engineering company. This is possible, but not likely. Most engineers are hired based on their schooling and previous experience.
Salaries range from $15/hr to $60K a year. It all depends on how much experience they have and the demand for engineers. There are times when houses and buildings go up on a daily basis. This is when there will be a high demand for engineers and those engineers can expect to get paid a lot more than usual. However, when construction slows down, those engineers will have to lower their rates to make sure they keep on working. It’s all about supply and demand, and when you’re that closely related to the construction industry, you need to keep an eye on how that industry is doing before you decide how much to charge people.
Electrical engineering jobs aren’t easy, but once you get the hang of where all the wires go and how to place them behind each wall, it gets easier as you go. They grow up visiting houses and buildings that aren’t completed yet, watching as their father, brother, or uncle place wires all around the building. They see it first hand and it becomes second nature later on when they decide to pursue it as their own career. They go to school for it and then they come out ready to work.
