Engineering Salaries & Salary Outlook

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Do you want to help solve some of the world’s most challenging technical problems while being handsomely compensated? Get started on your way to high salaries with a degree in engineering.

Engineering Salaries

We live in an imperfect world, one where all manner of problems, from global warming to war, threaten our quality of life. Certain issues may be insoluble, but many groups of people work to change what they can. Our elected officials strive to enact ethical domestic and foreign policies. Volunteers and philanthropists serve the less fortunate–but what about the everyday problems that demand smarter designs? What about traffic congestion, agricultural inefficiency, and disease? Can our airplanes be safer and our power sources more environmentally friendly? These are the questions confronting engineers, and their job is to answer them intelligently and in a cost-effective manner. If you have an eye for identifying design flaws and think you have what it takes to propose creative solutions, consider earning an engineering degree. Not only will you be on your way to helping ensure our future is safer and more prosperous, you’ll also be equipped to enter a field that boasts good job opportunities and one of the highest starting salaries for college graduates.

Engineering Your Degree–and Your Future

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that a bachelor’s degree in engineering is required for nearly all entry-level engineering jobs, and research positions often demand master’s degrees. Students wishing to pursue engineering degrees can expect to spend their first two years of school studying mathematics, physical and social sciences, introductory engineering, and humanities. The final two years focus primarily on engineering, typically with a concentration in one speciality.

The BLS shows how important the level of your degree is when it comes to your salary. Take a look at some average starting salaries from 2007:

• Chemical Engineers
o Bachelor’s Degree: $59,361
o Master’s Degree: $68,561
o Ph.D.: $73,667
• Computer Engineers
o Bachelor’s Degree: $56,201
o Master’s Degree: $60,000
o Ph.D.: $92,500
• Mechanical Engineers
o Bachelor’s Degree: $54,128
o Master’s Degree: $62,798
o Ph.D.: $72,763

Day-to-day responsibilities vary in accordance with specialty, but most engineers spend their time researching, designing and testing new technology. Computers are used extensively in the design process, making up-to-date training imperative. An engineering degree paired with awareness of constantly evolving technology go a long way in ensuring favorable job prospects for aspiring engineers.

Career Opportunities with an Engineering Degree

Engineers combine their training in mathematics with their own creative vision to develop solutions to technical problems. They are employed throughout in a vast cross-section of careers, including (with 2008 median salaries from the BLS):

• Aerospace Engineer, $92,520
• Agricultural Engineer, $68,730
• Biomedical Engineer, $77,400
• Chemical Engineer, $84,680
• Civil Engineer, $74,600
• Computer Hardware Engineer, $97,400
• Electrical Engineer, $82,160
• Environmental Engineer, $74,020
• Industrial Engineer, $73,820
• Materials Engineer, $81,820
• Mechanical Engineer, $74,920
• Nuclear Engineer, $97,080
• Petroleum Engineer, $108,020

Salaries tend to be about the same in the public sector, which can largely be attributed to the high demand for engineers. In many cases, the government pays more than the private sector, which is almost unheard of in other industries.

Karin Hansen
Karin Hansen holds a BA in English from San Francisco State University and currently works two part-time jobs. In her spare time, Karin enjoys traveling, trail running, and reading.

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