Is Electrical Engineering Hard?

Yes, Electrical Engineering is hard and challenging by all standards. Not only is studying Electrical Engineering hard, it is also hard to practice Electrical Engineering in the real world.

Unlike other engineering disciplines where you physically see and design the things you are working on, in Electrical Engineering, you will be working with things that you cannot see or touch and there is a lot of abstract thinking.

You cannot see current flowing in a circuit, or signals transmitting a message but you must develop systems and models to work with current in electrical equipment or signals in communication devices.

In addition, Electrical Engineering is one of the most math-intensive engineering disciplines. There is a lot of Calculus and Trigonometry involved in Electrical Engineering classes. For example, a Signals and System or Digital Signal Processing (DSP) class is pages upon pages of mathematical concepts and applications.

There were times in my second year of Electrical Engineering when I could hardly tell if I am learning Engineering math or Signals and Systems, it was all Calculus and other mathematical applications.

If you have challenges working with Physics and Math, you will have great difficulties understanding many of the Electrical Engineering concepts. However, if you have an aptitude for Math and Physics, you are going to enjoy Electrical Engineering and you will find it relatively easy.

HOW HARD IS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING?

Electrical Engineering is considered one of the hardest engineering disciplines by many standards. There are a lot of advanced Math and Physics concepts to contend with. Plus, it is hard to visualize things that you cannot see, e.g. electrical current, magnetic fields, electrical fields, signals, etc.

The Electrical Engineering coursework is so demanding, you will have to put in a lot of work of study and practice to be a successful Electrical Engineer, add to that laboratory experiments and reports and you will begin to see how much time you will have to spend on your books.

When you choose Electrical Engineering, you have chosen a lifetime of learning. You need to keep learning to stay relevant in Electrical Engineering, you need to embrace laboratory experiments because nothing in the real world ever behaves exactly like the theory that you studied.

Electrical Engineering jobs are also challenging, Electrical Engineers design, test, and maintain electrical devices and equipment, these can range from small objects like microchips and computers to large-scale projects like satellites and power station generators.

A lot of calculation and testing is done to make sure that the power station operates safely or that a satellite is configured efficiently for communication, none of this is easy, it takes a lot of discipline, study, and hard work.

IS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING WORTH IT?

If Electrical Engineering is hard, is it even worth it to become an Electrical Engineer?

Yes, Electrical Engineering is worth it because of the many benefits that come with it. Electrical Engineering has many applications in communication, transportation, computing, healthcare, banking systems, consumer electronics, and many other fields too numerous to mention.

Here are some of the benefits of electrical engineering.

HIGH INCOME

When you study electrical engineering, you will have an opportunity to earn some of the highest salaries in the industry. According to Indeed.com, some top companies in the United States pay up to $241 285 per year.

And according to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for an Electrical Engineer is $103,827 per year in the United States. The salary is going to vary depending on the country, experience, and the company you are working for.

Ultimately, salaries for Electrical Engineers are generally high in many countries.

SOLVING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS

Electrical Engineers are trained to solve problems in many different fields. When you think of the scale and magnitude of the applications of electrical engineering, it will become vividly clear why electrical engineering is worth it.

Electrical Engineers solve real word problems in communication, transport, computing, healthcare, and many others. Think of consumer electronics, healthcare equipment, airplane systems, electrical vehicles, ATMs, substations, computers, etc.

Electrical Engineers are also researching new forms of renewable energy to help save the planet. This alone makes electrical engineering worthwhile.

STARTUPS

Electrical Engineers can also use their Electrical Engineering knowledge to build an Electric or energy-based startup. This startup if successful can provide employment and contribute to access to sustainable energy.

A good example of a startup in renewable energy is Northvolt, a Swedish-based startup founded in 2015, it specializes in developing and manufacturing of lithium-ion technology for electric vehicles.

WORKING FOR BIG TECH COMPANIES

When you study Electrical Engineering, you open up opportunities to work for big technology companies around the world. Companies such as Google, Apple, Samsung, Dell Technologies, NASA, IBM, Intel, Tesla, Boeing, Amazon, General Electric, Texas Instruments, and many others.

These companies provide amazing perks to keep their talented engineers and working for these companies is a dream that every engineer would cherish. These and other opportunities make electrical engineering worthwhile.

Working with these big companies helps you to take part in some of the biggest, life-changing projects. You will be working on a great range of projects from satellites to computing devices, consumer electronics, electric vehicles, airplanes, processors, circuit boards, memory devices, etc.

DEMAND FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS

There are many people who are interested in Electrical Engineering and the question they always ask is:

IS THERE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS?

Yes, there is a huge demand for talented Electrical Engineers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 22,700 openings for electrical and electronics engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. This shows that Electrical Engineers are in demand and there is a future for Electrical Engineers.

Because Electrical Engineering is hard and challenging, there are not many people who study it. As a result, Electrical Engineers are always in demand.

CONCLUSION

Electrical Engineering is hard and challenging, especially for those who are not very interested in math and physics. However, if you have an aptitude for math and physics, choosing electrical engineering will be the best option.

Although electrical engineering may be challenging and hard, it promises a rewarding career with many opportunities and high-paying jobs. Electrical Engineers can work in many different industries such as Aerospace, Healthcare, Automobile, Communication, Agriculture, Energy, and many other industries.