Education and Training

• Electronics technicians may enter the field with little or no formal experience or training. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most employers prefer to hire electronics technicians with extensive experience or a two-year degree from a technical, vocational or community college. High school students who plan to make a career of electronics engineering would benefit greatly from intensive coursework in science and advanced math.
  
  

Skills

• Electronics technicians should have a strong command of advanced mathematical disciplines, including algebra and trigonometry. They should also have a solid grasp of circuit theory and how electronic circuits are designed and constructed. Additionally, many electronics technicians assist lead electronics engineers in the design and troubleshooting of electronic devices, which requires excellent communication skills to be able to clearly explain complex instructions to their supervisors and peers.
  
  

Work Environment

• Electronics technicians typically work 40 hours per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most technicians work inside large industrial factories or warehouses for most of the work shift. There is some danger working as an electronics technician, as they're often exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals and toxic materials. There are very few incidents of injury, however, because of the stringent safety requirements usually implemented by electronics manufacturers.
  
  

Salary

• As of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average electronics technician's salary was just over $53,000 per year. This may fluctuate depending on the technician's experience level, overall knowledge and size of the electronics manufacturing company she works for.
  
  

Job Outlook

• Engineering technician jobs are expected to see very little, if any, growth through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2010--2011 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook. As of 2008, engineering technicians occupied 164,000 jobs, but electronics technician jobs may see a decline of 2 percent before 2020.