Will electrical engineering technicians be replaced by AI?
Updated
Electrical engineering technicians score 45 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 57%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 13% outright, and 30% stays with people.
- 13% AI can do it
- 57% AI helps
- 30% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 63% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 30 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 4 of them today, speeds up 17 and leaves 9 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Maintain system logs or manuals to document testing or operation of equipment. Logging test and operation records is routine documentation AI handles well. | 70% AI can do it |
| Compile and maintain records documenting engineering schematics, installed equipment, installation or operational problems, resources used, repairs, or corrective action performed. Compiling and maintaining equipment and repair records is routine documentation. | 70% AI can do it |
| Research equipment or component needs, sources, competitive prices, delivery times, or ongoing operational costs. Comparing sources, prices and lead times is research AI does quickly. | 70% AI can do it |
| Procure parts and maintain inventory and related documentation. Inventory tracking and procurement records are routine software tasks. | 65% AI can do it |
| Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable or nonsustainable designs. AI can run cost comparisons and statistics; analyst validates conclusions. | 60% AI helps |
| Review existing electrical engineering criteria to identify necessary revisions, deletions, or amendments to outdated material. AI can scan criteria documents and flag outdated content for revision. | 55% AI helps |
| Calculate design specifications or cost, material, and resource estimates, and prepare project schedules and budgets. AI drafts estimates and schedules well; figures need verification. | 55% AI helps |
| Review, develop, or prepare maintenance standards. AI can draft and revise maintenance standards; experts approve them. | 55% AI helps |
| Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components. AI can read and explain schematics, though diagrams still need checking. | 50% AI helps |
| Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards. AI can check plans against code; engineer must verify and sign off. | 50% AI helps |
Show the other 20 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Select electronics equipment, components, or systems to meet functional specifications. AI can match components to specs from catalogs; engineer decides. | 50% AI helps |
| Interpret test information to resolve design-related problems. AI can analyze test data and suggest causes; engineer resolves design issues. | 50% AI helps |
| Provide user applications or engineering support or recommendations for new or existing equipment with regard to installation, upgrades, or enhancements. AI can draft recommendations and support notes; engineer advises clients. | 45% AI helps |
| Produce electronics drawings or other graphics representing industrial control, instrumentation, sensors, or analog or digital telecommunications networks, using computer-aided design (CAD) software. CAD assistants speed drafting; technician still builds and checks drawings. | 45% AI helps |
| Design or modify engineering schematics for electrical transmission and distribution systems or for electrical installation in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, using computer-aided design (CAD) software. AI helps draft distribution schematics; code compliance needs expert review. | 45% AI helps |
| Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning. AI helps diagnose faults, but hands-on repair stays with the technician. | 40% AI helps |
| Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts. AI aids fault diagnosis and parts sourcing; vendor contact stays human. | 40% AI helps |
| Integrate software or hardware components, using computer, microprocessor, or control architecture. AI speeds firmware and code work; hardware integration remains hands-on. | 40% AI helps |
| Educate equipment operators on the proper use of equipment. AI can draft training materials; in-person instruction stays human. | 35% AI helps |
| Specify, coordinate, or conduct quality control or quality assurance programs or procedures. AI can draft QA procedures; coordinating and inspecting people stays human. | 35% AI helps |
| Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems. Test equipment operation is hands-on; AI can interpret readings. | 30% AI helps |
| Participate in the development or testing of electrical aspects of new green technologies, such as lighting, optical data storage devices, and energy efficient televisions. Hands-on development and testing of green tech hardware remains human. | 20% Needs a person |
| Modify electrical prototypes, parts, assemblies, or systems to correct functional deviations. Physically modifying prototypes and assemblies is hands-on work. | 18% Needs a person |
| Install or maintain electrical control systems, industrial automation systems, or electrical equipment, including control circuits, variable speed drives, or programmable logic controllers. Physical installation and PLC maintenance on equipment needs hands-on work. | 18% Needs a person |
| Supervise the installation or operation of electronic equipment or systems. On-site supervision of installation and operation needs human presence. | 15% Needs a person |
| Construct and evaluate electrical components for consumer electronics applications such as fuel cells for consumer electronic devices, power saving devices for computers or televisions, or energy efficient power chargers. Building and physically testing electrical components is hands-on work. | 15% Needs a person |
| Participate in training or continuing education activities to stay abreast of engineering or industry advances. Attending courses and training is mainly in-person and human-led. | 15% Needs a person |
| Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments. Physical component replacement with hand tools needs dexterity and presence. | 10% Needs a person |
| Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments. Physically assembling systems or prototypes with tools is hands-on work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Assemble, test, or maintain circuitry or electronic components, according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, or knowledge of electronics, using hand or power tools. Hand and power tool assembly and testing of circuitry is physical work. | 8% Needs a person |
How electrical engineering technicians compare
All occupations (923)
Architecture and engineering (56)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $78,190 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 95,130 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +2.4% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Assemble and test prototypes with hand tools and meters
- Draft and revise schematics in AutoCAD
- Run statistical cost comparisons in MATLAB
- Track parts procurement and inventory in SAP
- Maintain repair and corrective action databases in Microsoft Access
- Supervise on-site installation of electronic equipment and systems
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about electrical engineering technicians and AI
Will AI replace electrical engineering technicians?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly logging test and operation records and compiling repair documentation. Hands-on assembly, testing and component replacement stay with the technician at the bench, where a person has to handle the parts and read the instruments.
Which tasks is AI taking over for electrical engineering technicians?
Documentation and procurement research are the most exposed. Logging test and operation records and compiling equipment repair records both score 70 on exposure, since they are routine software work. Comparing component sources, prices and lead times also scores 70, and inventory tracking scores 65.
Which tasks stay with electrical engineering technicians?
Physical building and repair stay with people. Assembling electrical systems or prototypes with hand tools scores only 8 on exposure, and replacing defective components with precision instruments scores 10. On-site supervision of installation scores 15 because it needs a person present.
How can electrical engineering technicians stay valuable as AI takes over documentation?
Keep the bench work and check every AI-drafted record before engineers use it. Build and test prototypes manually, draft schematics in AutoCAD, and run cost statistics in MATLAB. Review the logs and procurement records that software produces, so engineers can trust the data behind their design decisions.
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