Engineering Degree Programs
Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics in order to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Overall, job opportunities in engineering are expected to be favorable. This is because the number of engineering graduates should be in balance with the number of job openings over this period.
Engineer Degree Program Information
Engineers are the problem solvers in society. They take the latest discoveries and find ways to modify them for commercial application. From airplanes to nuclear power, they apply scientific principles to technical problems in order to make our lives better. Engineers are creative, inquisitive and analytical. They also must pay attention to detail, because a mistake could mean disaster.
While much of the work they do concerns design and development, many engineering jobs pertain to testing, production and maintenance. Engineers supervise production in factories, test storage units for corrosion or determine the cause of product failure.
Careers in Engineering
The work engineers do is highly specialized. At last count, there were 17 engineering specialties in the Federal Government's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Many of these specialties have branches of specialization, such as the specific materials used by civil engineers. In addition, many professional organizations recognize even more highly specialized subdivisions.
Training in Engineering
Students interested in careers in engineering typically pursue a degree in engineering. A Bachelor's degree is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs. Most engineering degrees are granted in electrical, electronics, mechanical or civil engineering. However, engineers trained in one branch may work in related branches.
Some engineering jobs, however, do require a graduate degree. Graduate training is essential for faculty positions and many research and development programs. It is not required for the majority of entry-level engineering jobs. Many experienced engineers obtain graduate degrees in engineering or business administration to learn new technology and broaden their education.
Engineering Jobs
If this sounds like your type of job, you couldn't pick a better time to get into an engineering career. Information from the U.S. Department of Labor1 suggests that engineers held about 1.5 million jobs in 2006. About 37% of engineering jobs were in manufacturing industries and another 28% were in the professional, scientific and technical services sector.
The job market for engineering overall is expected to grow by 11% over the 2006-16 decade. That's about as fast as most other occupations. But growth will vary by specialty. Environmental engineers, fueled by a need for earth-friendly "green" technology, should experience the fastest growth. Civil engineers – those responsible for building our country's roads, bridges and dams – should see the largest employment increase.
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry and education. Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in various specialties is especially significant. Below are some median salaries by specialty, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2006:
- Aerospace Engineers - $87,610
- Agricultural Engineers - $66,030
- Biomedical Engineers - $73,930
- Chemical Engineers - $78,860
- Civil Engineers - $68,600
- Computer Hardware Engineers - $88,470
- Electrical Engineers - $75,930
- Electronics Engineers, except computer - $81,050
- Environmental Engineers - $69,940
- Health and Safety Engineers - $66,290
- Industrial Engineers - $68,620
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects - $72,990
- Materials Engineers - $73,990
- Mechanical Engineers - $69,850
- Mining and Geological Engineers - $72,160
- Nuclear Engineers - $90,220
- Petroleum Engineers - $98,380
- All other Engineers - $81,660
In the Federal Government, mean annual salaries for engineers ranged from $75,144 in agricultural engineering to $107,546 in ceramic engineering in 2007. As a group, engineers can earn some of the highest average starting salaries for those holding Bachelor's degrees.