👩‍💻 Electronics Technicians!

What is an electronics Technician (ET)?

Electronics technicians help design, develop, test, manufacture, install, and repair electrical and electronic equipment such as communication equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and computers.  They may be employed in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment.  Programming (especially micro-controllers like Arduino) is becoming a big part of the ET job description as well.

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash

How do you become an ET and what kind of education or certificates are needed?

Most ETs have at least a two-year (associate’s) degree.  But nationwide, over 25% of ETs have a four-year (bachelor’s) degree or higher.  It is possible to become an ET with only a high school diploma, but somewhat more difficult.

What is the career progression for an ET?

Entry-level ETs out of school can increase their earning power by continuing education, or specializing in certain high-demand career fields like robotics.  Pay increases with experience and education.  Some ETs move into supervision and management positions with additional education.

Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash

What are the working conditions for ETs?

Electronics technicians often work closely with electrical engineers.  They work primarily in manufacturing settings, engineering services, the federal government, research-and-development laboratories, and the utilities industry.  Good hand-eye coordination is key, and good color vision is very important.  Strong math skills help accelerate your success as an ET.