Should I be an Electrical Engineer or a Master Electrician?

Question

I am undecided whether I want to become a Electrical Engineer or a Master Electrician. I know that Master Electricians can start their own business (Contractor) or take responsibility on a project. Electrical Engineers are the ones who design electrical equipment and that design the electrical projects. I am just curious of which career would have more opportunity to make more salary. I also would like to know if an Electrical Engineer can also be a contractor like the Masters electricians.

Country: USA

Answer 1

no doubts....be an electrical engineer...coz its a professional course, u ll get on campus placement even if u study in  a "not so good" college... far more better than a master electrician...

Answer 2

If you are a hard working that like long hours Master electricians can make $300,000 and up ,,if you are a good business man and are willing to take risks

but the same can be said for anyone that opens a business, restaurant, bakery real estate,,

It is the business part that gets you the money not the electrician part

But from what i have heard EE get to $100,000 with much less work

If you want to say safe and only work 40 hrs per week Electricians make like$50,000

Answer 3

you beter to  become a Electrical Engineer haveing knoldeg of  Master Electricians can design the electrical projects.

Answer 4

Electrical Engineering also allows you to do anything related to signals such as designing cell phone towers/antennae, designing 802.11 circuitry... it's actually much more broad a profession.

Get a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, and all the big defense contractors, microchip companies like Intel and AMD, cellular companies, etc. will be all over you because there's a shortage nationwide in that field.  Expect starting salaries of at least 50K, and the potential to make 80K+ with decent health/vacation/stock benefits within 5 years of graduation depending upon where you work.

Answer 5

I would go with Electrical Engineer

Answer 6

I've been fortunate enough to be on both sides of this fence and I will say being an EE is the way to go.

To become a Master Electrician you will have to go through first becoming a Journeyman Electrician. This usually requires a minimum of 4 years of work without an Associates degree, 2 years of work experience with an Associates degree or 1 year of experience with a BSEE.

Then after you have had your Journeymans license for a year you can then take the test to become a Master Electrician.

Thats how its done in my state, yours may be different. With any of them though you just can't come straight out of school and be a Master Electrician.

I started out life wanting to be an electrician and got my Associates degree in Electrical Technology to do so. I worked as an electrician for 2 years before I went back to school and got my BSEE. Both are respectable jobs but I really like my engineering job a lot more, my back likes it a lot more too.

Personally my starting salary as an EE was more than was paid to the Master Electricians at the first electrical contractor I worked for.

Remember though, money isn't everything!

Answer 7

Master  Electrician

Answer 8

I know an Electrical Engineer who started his own business.  He got a PE license and does work for architects and some expert witness.