People who like tinkering with malfunctioning electronic gadgets or have a knack for fixing broken televisions can become great employees within the electronics career field. Today, there are plenty of job opportunities and career choices within the electronics industry that allow individuals to explore technical aspects, creativity, and sales. With appropriate education and experience, one can make a decent living in the electronics field by pursuing a variety of exciting and challenging career opportunities.
Common Electronics Careers and Jobs
Electronics engineers are responsible for an array of technologies that span portable music players to global positioning systems (GPS). Many electronics engineers also work closely with computers and other electronic equipment. A variety of skills are associated with this type of job position, which deals with communications, control systems, and signal processing. Usually, a specialty is attached to the title of electronics engineer. An example of this is seen in the aviation electronics engineer that works for the military. There are also analysts in this field, such as the Airborne Electronics Analyst in charge of controlling airborne electronic systems that identify ships and submarines. They also help with vital search and rescue operations.
As a Level I Electronics Assembler, one puts together electronics to match product specifications. A high school diploma or its equivalent is required for this type of job, where 0 to 3 years of experience in the field is a plus. An Electronics Assembler should possess knowledge on commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures pertaining to their assigned product, as well as possess the ability to follow instructions and pre-set guidelines. Immediate supervision generally watches over worker progress. Usually, reports are made to supervisors or managers. The average salary for an Electronics Assembler is between $22,493 and $29,738.
As a Level I Electric/Electronics Technician, workers construct, maintain, and test electrical systems and their components. A high school diploma or its equivalent is needed for this type of job, where the completion of an apprenticeship and/or formal specialty training will elevate salaries and lead to more job opportunities. An electronic technician may tackle numerous jobs, such as the service and repair of both household and business electronic equipment. This may include radios, televisions and computers. Sometimes, employees are situated within a specific field, such as serving the medical, manufacturing, military, or telecommunications sector. An Electric/Electronics Technician I usually makes between $33,097 and $40,342, while an Electric/Electronics Technician III may earn between $49,269 and $61,874.
Home electronics repairers showcase their talents as installers and repairers of televisions, stereos, video cameras, as well as DVD and CD players. Those who work in shops are called bench technicians, while the repairer that visits the home is referred to as a field technician. Common duties include installing and tuning equipment to achieve the best sound or visual output; replacing faulty parts; and making service calls.
Educational Requirements: Electronics Career
The preparation for a career in electronics begins in high school, as a strong foundation in science and mathematics helps individuals pursue this type of job. Students in high school should focus on taking courses, such a physics and chemistry. Some positions also require advanced written and oral skills. Higher education paths associated with entering the electronics field include receiving a Bachelor of Science or an associates degree. Some of the college courses you may encounter include information on circuits, linear systems, electromagnetic fields, and computing.
Working in Electronics: United States & Canada
When it comes to working in the electronics industry, there are many different companies with a reputation for providing satisfying compensation and benefits throughout the United States and Canada. For starters, Microsoft is known for providing some of the best compensation and benefits for their employees, who work in a variety of positions, such as electronics engineers and electronic design engineers. Texas Instruments also pays their employees well, as an electrical design engineer stands to make an annual average salary of $109,223.
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