What Percentage of Automation Has Taken Over Electrical Engineering? [2025 Data & Expert Breakdown]

If you’ve been wondering what percentage of automation has taken over electrical engineering, you’re not alone. It’s one of the top questions popping up in forums, job boards, and AI Overviews right now. With AI moving fast and automation tools becoming more capable than ever, it’s natural to wonder: Are electrical engineers still safe?

The short answer? Automation is changing the field, but it hasn’t taken over, and it likely won’t in the way many people fear. In this blog post, we’ll break down the current automation landscape in electrical engineering, share real stats, and explore what’s already being automated (and what still needs human expertise).

Let’s dive in and unpack what’s going on behind the headlines.

What Percentage of Electrical Engineering Is Automated Today?

If you’re looking for a straight answer: around 25% of electrical engineering tasks are currently considered automatable, according to WillRobotsTakeMyJob. That might sound like a lot at first but here’s the important nuance: automation tends to target repetitive, rule-based tasks, not complex problem-solving or high-level design.

Zooming out, the World Economic Forum reported that 34% of all business tasks were automated by 2023, and that figure is expected to hit 42% by 2027 (source). Electrical engineering is absolutely part of that shift, but it’s not being “taken over” the way some headlines suggest.

Here’s a quick look at where automation is showing up most in electrical engineering:

• Design & Simulation: Tools like EDA software auto-route circuits and simulate performance.

• Testing & Diagnostics: AI systems detect hardware issues faster than manual methods.

• Manufacturing Processes: Robotics handles PCB fabrication and component placement.

• Embedded Systems Programming: Low-code tools make configuring PLCs quicker and easier.

Still, the deeper skills — system architecture, innovation, troubleshooting in the field — are nowhere near being replaced. Automation is here to help, not take over.

How Electrical Engineers Are Using AI Actually in 2025?

So what does working with AI look like as an electrical engineer today?

We’re way past the “sci-fi takeover” stage. AI isn’t replacing engineers; rather, it’s becoming their right hand. In 2025, many engineers will integrate AI and machine learning tools into their workflow to speed things up, spot problems early, and even uncover insights they might’ve missed otherwise, much like what’s happening with AI transforming education systems.

Here are some real-world ways AI is being used in electrical engineering right now:

Predictive Maintenance in Industrial Systems

Instead of waiting for equipment to fail, engineers are now using AI models to monitor sensor data and predict failures before they happen. This saves massive costs in the manufacturing, energy, and transportation sectors; areas where AI saving small businesses time and money is already a proven outcome.

Smart Grid and Energy Systems

AI helps balance loads, detect faults, and optimize energy flow across modern grids. Electrical engineers working in utilities or energy tech are often the ones designing, training, and managing these systems.

AI-Assisted Design Optimization

Tools now use machine learning to suggest optimal component values or layouts based on past design patterns and performance data. Engineers are still in control, only they just move faster and with better information, similar to how workflow automation trends have reshaped operations across industries.

Embedded Systems and Robotics

Electrical engineers use AI models to interpret signals, adjust controls, and improve real-time decision-making from autonomous vehicles to IoT-enabled devices.

Prototyping with Digital Twins

Some teams are now building virtual models (digital twins) of systems and running AI-driven simulations before building anything physical. This is especially useful in aerospace, defence, and hardware R&D.

Will AI Replace Electrical Engineers? (Here’s the Real Answer)

This is the question that keeps popping up everywhere: Will electrical engineers be replaced by AI? Short answer? No, but your job might evolve — fast.

Engineers aren’t alone in this shift; AI changing the sales landscape has already set off similar alarms in another field.

If you’ve ever gone down a Reddit rabbit hole on this, you’ve probably seen everything from panic posts to futuristic hot takes. Some users claim AI will make engineering obsolete. Others argue that “real-world problem solving can’t be automated.” And the truth? It’s somewhere in the middle.

Real Engineers Weigh In (Reddit Quote)

“AI can optimize and speed things up, but it still takes a human to decide what problem to solve in the first place.”

– u/ResistorWrangler, r/ElectricalEngineering Source

“Honestly, if your job is just crunching numbers or running test scripts, yeah, AI might take that over. But actual engineering? You still need intuition, field experience, and judgment.”

– u/LowVoltageLogic, r/AskEngineers Source

AI Can Assist, But Not Replace Core Engineering Functions

AI excels at pattern recognition, simulations, and predictive analytics, all valuable. But it struggles with abstract thinking, creative innovation, ethical decision-making, and adapting to messy, real-world scenarios. An AI can simulate a circuit. It can’t take feedback from a frustrated client, rework a prototype under a deadline, or design a custom solution for an unstable power grid.

Routine Tasks Are the First to Go (And That’s a Good Thing)

Many engineers are already offloading the most repetitive tasks to automation:

• Running design simulations

• Debugging standard components

• Generating documentation

• Monitoring sensor data

This isn’t job loss, but it’s time saved. Which means more hours for high-level design, testing, and innovation. The World Economic Forum and industry professionals agree that AI will displace some job functions, but it will also create new roles we haven’t seen yet.

Which Electrical Engineering Jobs Are Safe From Automation (And Which Aren’t)?

If you're wondering how AI will affect electrical engineering in real, practical terms, this is it. Automation isn’t coming for your whole career. It’s coming for specific tasks. Here’s a breakdown of the kinds of tasks electrical engineers do and how likely each is to be automated:

So, Do Electrical Engineers Work in Automation?

Absolutely. In fact, electrical engineers are often the ones building and managing the very systems that make automation possible, from PLCs and control systems to IoT devices and AI-enhanced sensors. You’re not just working alongside automation. You’re helping create it.

Is Electrical Engineering Still a Good Career in the Age of AI?

Yes! and here’s why.

Despite the rise of AI, electrical engineering remains a high-demand, future-proof career. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

This growth is fueled by advancements in areas like automation, clean energy, robotics, and AI-integrated systems.

Roles are evolving, not disappearing. Engineers who once focused solely on hardware are now collaborating with data teams, integrating machine learning models, and developing AI-ready systems. These shifts represent new opportunities rather than the end of traditional roles.

So, if you're pondering “Will electrical engineers be needed in the future?” the answer is a confident yes, especially for those who adapt and grow with technological advancements.

Are Electrical Engineers Already Working in Automation Fields?

Yes! and not just recently. They’ve been at the center of it for years. It’s similar to how business leaders are influencing automation for scaling their own workflows.

According to the IEEE, automation, robotics, and IoT are among the top growth areas for electrical engineers in 2025 and beyond.

In fact, electrical engineers are often the ones designing and integrating the systems that make automation possible in the first place. From factory floors to self-driving cars, their skills are behind the scenes in just about every automated process you can think of.

Here are a few crossover roles where electrical engineering and automation go hand in hand:

Automation Engineer

Electrical engineers in this role program PLCs (programmable logic controllers), configure sensors, and manage industrial control systems that power smart factories.

Controls + Robotics Specialist

These engineers design control systems that allow machines and robots to operate safely, precisely, and independently, whether it’s robotic arms or autonomous vehicles.

Embedded Systems & IoT Developer

Think smart home devices, wearables, or any tech that connects to the internet. Electrical engineers here build microcontroller-based systems, integrating sensors, communication protocols, and even AI logic.

How Does Automation Impact Electrical Engineer Salaries?

Automation is reshaping the electrical engineering landscape, influencing salary trends across various roles. While routine tasks are increasingly automated, there's a growing demand for engineers with specialized skills in automation, AI integration, and advanced system design.

Electrical Engineer Salary Overview

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for electrical engineers was $111,910 in May 2024. Salaries vary based on industry and experience. But just like what we’re seeing in AI in HR recruitment where certain hiring roles are evolving, engineering compensation is shifting with specialization. :

1. Aerospace Manufacturing: $136,570

2. Research & Development: $130,840

3. Electric Power Generation: $114,720

Automation Engineer Salary Insights

According to Salary, Engineers specializing in automation are seeing competitive compensation:

• Average Base Salary: $117,889

• Total Compensation (with bonuses): Up to $122,141

Final Word from Purely Startup

Automation isn’t the enemy. It’s the shift.

While some tasks quietly hand themselves off to machines, the future of electrical engineering isn’t shrinking, but it’s expanding. Not in predictable directions, either. The real opportunity? It’s in the gray areas: systems that don’t exist yet, problems we haven’t faced, solutions no dataset can dream up.

So, if you came here wondering what percentage of automation has taken over electrical engineering, now you know the number. But more importantly, you know that number isn’t the full story. The percentage doesn’t matter as much as the posture you take.

Will you wait for disruption to happen to you?

Or will you be the one who rewires what’s next?

Because the engineers shaping the future won’t be automated. They’ll be the ones teaching automation what to do.