What Can You Do with an Engineering Degree?
If you are interested in fast-paced, challenging work that comes with a hefty salary, then working towards a degree in engineering is the perfect chance to show off your skills! This diverse field is filled with opportunity, and there are several career paths you can choose from after graduating from an engineering program.
List of the Top 40 Engineering Careers & Salaries
To give you a better understanding of the various options in engineering, we have put together a list of the top 40 careers associated with this degree. In the table below, you will also find numbers representing the median annual pay for each career path.
| Job Title | Job Summary |
Median Salary |
| Director of Engineering | Coordinates and manages the activities of technical and engineering crews for a company. |
$133,313 |
| Program Manager, Engineering | Coordinates all technical activities of assigned programs within an organization. |
$107,482 |
| Senior Software Engineer | Works independently or as a team to write, modify, and debug software for client applications. |
$102,779 |
| Design Engineering Manager | Consults with clients to prepare project specifications while coordinating engineering activities and teams. |
$102,347 |
| Senior Electrical Engineer | Designs, develops, and tests electrical equipment and machinery while supervising and training project staff. |
$96,237 |
| Senior Mechanical Engineer | Creates and improves mechanical and electrical systems for products. |
$90,756 |
| Industrial Engineering Manager | Performs a variety of tasks that support the logistics systems of a business. |
$89,938 |
| Project Manager, Engineering | Leads a team of engineers to create product development plans and ensure conformity with safety regulations. |
$85,601 |
| Construction Engineer Manager | Oversees teams of construction engineers and works to design buildings and infrastructure. |
$82,493 |
| Nuclear Engineer | Manages the completion of nuclear engineering tasks to minimize risks and increase facility efficiency. |
$80,918 |
| Marine Engineer | Works for private organizations or the military to research, design, and construct new marine vessels. |
$80,486 |
| Software Engineer | Plays a key role in working with software designers to develop the ways that a company’s software functions. |
$79,357 |
| Aerospace Engineer | Designs, constructs, and tests aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and satellites. |
$78,544 |
| Chemical Engineer | Applies knowledge of chemical properties to develop or improve upon chemical substances. |
$73,105 |
| Electronics Engineer | Broad specialization of engineers that handle the various practical aspects of electronic systems. |
$72,937 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | Designs computer components and develops computer hardware and systems. |
$72,653 |
| Controls Engineer | Involved in a wide number of projects that have to do with rapidly evolving technologies and control systems. |
$72,434 |
| Materials Engineer | Conducts materials analysis for their organization and recommends changes or corrections. |
$72,296 |
| Electrical Engineer | Implements and designs components for electrical devices and ensures they conform to design standards. |
$71,100 |
| Process Engineer | In charge of studying the processes of manufactured products within the context of chemical engineering. |
$70,876 |
| Electrical Design Engineer | Works in a variety of industries to apply principles of electrical theory to engineering projects. |
$70,336 |
| Environmental Health & Safety Engineer | Works with a variety of companies to perform audits in order to minimize risks of environmental impact. |
$67,234 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Develops, designs, and tests mechanical devices in the manufacturing of new products. |
$66,890 |
| Construction Engineer | Handles engineering duties during construction projects for their organization. |
$66,672 |
| Mining/Geological Engineer | Identifies hazards and constructs design plans for mining and pipeline projects. |
$65,946 |
| Project Engineer | Oversees technical staff on a company’s engineering projects to ensure they are completed within project specifications. |
$65,678 |
| Structural Engineer | Designs and creates various forms of infrastructures for community development. |
$65,175 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Works with industry-based companies to design and research mechanical design of products. |
$64,800 |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial production experts who develop methods to design, build, and ship items. |
$64,548 |
| Design Engineer | Creates blueprints and schematics for systems, machines, and equipment. |
$64,500 |
| Biomedical Engineer | Designs, develops, and maintains biomedical equipment while paving the way for new treatments for injuries and disease. |
$63,541 |
| Industrial Engineer | Works to improve and manage the manufacturing processes for a company. |
$63,508 |
| Environmental Engineer | Uses technology to assist with the issues of land use, pollution, resource regulation, and environmental laws. |
$62,679 |
| Civil Engineer | Plans, designs, and manages construction projects for a variety of large and small scale projects. |
$62,019 |
| Agricultural Engineer | Works within the farming industry to apply their knowledge to agricultural production and processing. |
$60,336 |
| Electro-Mechanical Technician | Maintains and repairs items that have mechanical and/or electronic components. |
$52,005 |
| Engineering Technician | Assists engineers or scientists with duties related to the technician’s field of specialization. |
$51,734 |
| Industrial Engineering Technician | Assists operations and industrial engineers in tasks that improve a company’s production systems. |
$51,428 |
| Electronics Engineering Technician | Handles the electrical maintenance, troubleshooting, and programming within their company. |
$51,151 |
| Civil Engineering Technician | Assists and supports civil engineers working on building and construction projects. |
$49,988 |
*Data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale.com
What can you do with an Engineering Degree?
When working in the engineering field, you may assist companies and government agencies with technical issues, mechanical and electrical development, or project management. From industrial and construction careers to occupations within the medical industry, there are several different paths that you can choose from after graduating from your degree program.
In the table above, we listed 40 different occupations within engineering that you may be interested in pursuing. As you can see, engineering is an expansive field and contains many high-level career opportunities! All of the careers listed above show median salaries that range from nearly $50,000 annually to well over $100,000! These numbers are all above the national average salaries across all occupations, making engineering a lucrative and rewarding degree choice!
It is important to remember that salaries can vary based on your education and skill level. While this table highlights the average pay across each occupation, you may make more or less depending on your specific role within your organization.
What is an Engineering Degree?
Engineering is an extremely hands-on field, and it involves a variety of tasks that range from blueprint development and research to coordinating projects on the job site. Mathematics is an essential skill for engineers, and you will likely take several high-level math courses throughout your degree program.
The most common online engineering degrees are bachelor’s programs that give you a solid foundation to enter the workforce. With that being said, many engineers go on to earn graduate degrees that provide them with the specialized skills needed to reach top level positions within their organization.
As discussed previously, there are many concentrations within the degree program of engineering, and what you choose depends on where you see yourself long-term in your career.
A few of the engineering options you can choose to specialize in during your degree program include:
- Electrical and Electronics
- Aeronautics
- Industrial
- Mechanical
- Agricultural
- Environmental or Geological
- Health and Safety
- Biomedical
Due to the fact that in-person skill teaching is core to an engineering degree program, there are more limited options for distance learning than you may find with other degrees. However, several reputable schools offer online engineering degree programs catered to adult students who are trying to fit their courses around career and family obligations! This can be an excellent choice for many that are interested in working at their own pace and holding down a full-time job while still in school.
Engineering Career Outlook
Advancing technology and construction expansion are two key areas that set the stage for a positive career outlook in the field of engineering. Whether you are interested in working with government agencies, corporations, or consulting with individual clients, skilled engineers are nearly always in high demand!
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is an excellent resource for looking at the specific career outlook for each sub-field of engineering. For example, they predict that civil engineering will grow 8% from 2014 to 2024, while biomedical engineering occupations are expected to jump 23% during that time frame! These predictions represent above average growth which is excellent news for students majoring in engineering.
If you have a technical mind and enjoy challenging work environments, the field of engineering is a respected choice for a rewarding career. Advancements within our society continue to support the growth of several engineering sub-fields, and the above average salaries are an added bonus for students willing to put in the commitment required to earn a degree in a specialized engineering concentration.
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