<p>I hear people talk about numerous subfields in EE like comm., DSP, signal and image procc., etc..</p>
<p>but it seems like power engineering isn't that popular...</p>
<p>How is this field? the job opportunities?
is this a stable field?</p>
<p>Power engineering deals with everything from generation of electricity to transmission and distribution. I am a mechanical engineer for the generation side. I work at a coal-fired power plant. I think many opportunities will be opening up across the board in the utilities industry because of the significant number of retirements that will soon be here. I think my job stability is very good because the demand for the product that I make will never go away. One downside how demanding the job itself can be at times. I don't know about the transmission and distribution engineers, but being an engineer at a power plant can be hard. We usually work 40 to 50 hours per week but we are on call 24/7. And because demand for electricity is lower on the weekends and holidays, that is when a lot of maintenance outages take place. One young engineer I know worked every holiday at his plant last year. For the past two months I have been working 6-7 days per week at 12+ hours per day for some big improvement projects. The starting salary is in the average range for new engineers, and we get overtime but it is straight time pay. At my plant if you have a Bachelors degree you aren't qualified for real overtime pay.</p>
<p>Power engineering may be the most stable field in EE but pretty hard to learn.
Actually there are tons of branches under power engineering,like power system,powe electronics,etc.</p>
<p>The salary is low....</p>
<p>
[quote]
The salary is low....
[/quote]
What's low? 30k? or 60k?</p>
<p>Power Engineering seems boring. I'm an EE and would rather try to get into DSP. </p>
<p>I also dont like the fact that they work in plants, instead of highly professional settings.</p>
<p>I Have another Question, which one of the many fields of EE is the fastest to graduate in with a BA degree? Also I would like to know which one is it more easier to understand? Thanks this is just to illustrate my knowledge.</p>
<p>isu20cpree, you're taking the wrong approach. If you want to graduate with a bachelors degree (undergraduate level) in engineering, you really can't specialize in a field. Now, if you get a masters degree (either M.S. or MEng), then yes you can specalize in X or Y.</p>
<p>You're taking the wrong approach because in your undergraduate level, you'll be learning about the basics of each in the first few years and taking courses that will make you an all around good EE. The quickness on when you will graduate will be the same, if you want to work in Power, DSP, etc, because you'll be there for 4 years no matter what.</p>
<p>Also, what is more easier to understand? I don't think you can pose that question, because like I said earlier, you're going to be taking classes in DSP, circuits, electronics, semiconductors, signals and systems (this is a intro to DSP, and it is required by all EE programs) Emag, control systems, and a few technical electives that you chose. They might not make you take power electronics, but you can chose to take that. They might not make you take DSP courses, but you can chose to take that also. So in short, there is not course that is easier to understand. It also depends on the person...</p>
<p>Not to be harsh, but if you go into engineering with that attitude, you won't get very far, especially in EE. The amount of work outside of school EE requires is just nuts (that's if you chose to get a good grade). You'll be doing hours and hours of work each week, just outside of class. You need to want to have to learn, otherwise you won't succeed. That's the harsh reality of it. I'm a junior in a EE program and that's how I view it. Yes, I've lost slight interest and felt down because all the work is overwhelmin, but when I see statistics about starting salaries, I feel better. Also, when I hear that around 22% of the CEOs have engineering degrees, that makes me feel better. Also, when I go to certain companies websites and read the executive bios, it's nice to see that ___ ___ graduated with a degree in ___ Engineering. Yes, I'm on a tangent, but I hope you get what I'm saying.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What's low? 30k? or 60k?
[/quote]
50k generally.</p>
<p>Power is very difficult to learn.</p>
<p>I just heard a 20-something power engineer speak this week, to high school students on career night. He works for a company that designs and manufactures fuses for the lines. He also said that retirements would keep demand high for power engineers. I gather he decided to specialize in power engineering because of some electives he took getting his BS.</p>
<p>I have heard that the problem with the power industry is that they hire in cycles, so if your timing is off, you're going to have to look for another job. Not sure if it's true though.</p>