← UK Occupations
🇬🇧 UKSOC 2123· Science, Research, Engineering and Technology Professionals

Electrical engineers

Electrical engineers undertake research and design, direct construction and manage the operation and maintenance of electrical equipment, power stations, building control systems and other electrical products and systems.

Electrical design engineerElectrical engineer (professional)Electrical surveyorEquipment engineerPower engineerSignal engineer (professional, railways)
£59,930
median salary
£43,040 – £67,457
43,100
currently employed
38,197
projected 2035
Strong growth
5 tasks scored5 AI Assists

Task Bundle Breakdown

How AI interacts with this occupation's task bundle

100%
0%
AI automates
100%
AI assists
0%
Human-led

Task-by-Task Breakdown

Every task scored individually — sorted highest to lowest AI exposure

56

conceives and develops engineering designs from product ideas in electrical engineering

AI Assists

AI tools like Ansys AI and generative design platforms (e.g., Autodesk Fusion 360) can propose initial circuit topologies and component configurations, but human engineering judgment is essential for novel constraints, safety validation, and regulatory compliance.

56

organises and establishes control systems to monitor the performance and safety of electrical assemblies and systems

AI Assists

AI and ML-based monitoring platforms (e.g., IBM Maximo, Uptake) can autonomously detect performance degradation and safety risks in real time, though engineers are needed to design the control logic, validate thresholds, and respond to complex failure scenarios.

44

supervises, controls and monitors the operation of electrical generation, transmission and distribution systems

AI Assists

AI-powered SCADA and predictive analytics platforms (e.g., GE Digital's Grid Solutions, Siemens MindSphere) can flag anomalies and optimise load balancing, but qualified engineers must interpret alerts and make critical operational decisions.

44

determines and specifies manufacturing methods of electrical systems

AI Assists

AI can assist in evaluating manufacturing process options and generating documentation via tools like Copilot integrated into CAD/CAM software, but specifying methods for novel electrical systems still requires deep domain expertise and contextual judgment.

44

ensures that manufacture, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and contractual arrangements

AI Assists

AI-driven quality management systems and computer vision tools (e.g., Cognex, Sight Machine) can automate inspection and flag non-conformances, but engineers must interpret results, manage contractual obligations, and take accountability for compliance decisions.

ROI Calculator

Electrical engineers

15hrs
saved per week
720hrs
per year ≈ 19.2 weeks
£23,972
salary-equivalent capacity freed per year

This is not a pay rise — it's 720 hours of productive capacity that AI could return to you, valued at your current rate.

£59,930
value at risk — 100% of role exposed to AI

The portion of your current salary tied to tasks AI can automate or augment. Not a prediction of job loss — a signal of where your role is changing fastest.

How is this calculated?▾

Task weights — each task is weighted by its O*NET frequency rating. Where frequency data is absent, equal weighting is applied.

AI time reduction — tasks scored as "AI Automates" assume 80% time saving; "AI Assists" assumes 40%; "Human-Led" assumes 5%.

Salary equivalent — annual hours saved × (salary ÷ 1,800 working hours/year).

Value at risk — salary × share of role time in AI-automate or AI-assist tasks.

Figures are indicative estimates for planning purposes, not guarantees of productivity gain or job loss risk.