Electrical Engineeringat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $85,369/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,129K; scenarios range from $905K to $1,202K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
UCLA's Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering program thrives on its stellar academic reputation and prime location within Southern California's dynamic tech ecosystem. This region is a significant hub for aerospace, defense, and entertainment technology, offering a robust pipeline of employers from startups to giants like SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. Your strong foundational training and likely exposure to cutting-edge research projects prepare you for high-impact roles, often leading to rapid advancement into leadership positions like architectural and engineering managers. The listed "Very High" AI risk signals a field undergoing rapid evolution, not obsolescence. To stay ahead, focus on developing interdisciplinary skills and specializing in areas where human creativity, complex problem-solving, and ethical oversight remain critical.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Electrical Engineering
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Electrical Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Electrical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Electrical Engineering at UCLA
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles?
This program scores 77/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Electrical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Electrical Engineering careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $904,612 in decade earnings vs $1,202,433 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Los Angeles's Electrical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #4 of 262 programs nationally, University of California-Los Angeles lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.