The 5 Highest Paying Engineering Professions

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By 11 Academia Networks Team

28 April 2017

These universities produce some of the best engineering talent in the world. And engineers trained in the most sought-after fields can command among the highest salaries of all college graduates in the country. But with over 40 different types of engineering careers in 5 different sub disciplines, it can be daunting for fresh graduates to navigate the vast variety of career options. Today, we explore the 5 highest paid engineering professions with their respective salary ranges for each engineering career, to figure out which is best for you. For more helpful engineering related advice, news, conferences and career opportunities subscribe to NewEngineer.com here.

1. Petroleum Engineer - $70,000 to $200,000

The median starting salary for petroleum engineers is $74,240, peaking at $132,320 in their mid-career, and with experienced petroleum engineers making around $186,520. With many employees expected to retire in the next decade, and an increase in global demand for energy – the demand for petroleum engineers is expected to exceed the number of individuals trained to fill available positions, which will result in an increase in salaries as well.

2. Chemical Engineer - $55,000 to $155,000

Chemical engineers have many opportunities for growth and development inside the sector - from manufacturing plants to technical sales and company management. The market for chemical engineers is expected to remain stable over the next few years. Job growth in closely-related fields, such as biomedical engineering, is expected to be much faster than average job growth according to the US Department of Labor. The median starting for chemical engineers is approx. $94,000, growing to about $154,840 later in average.

3. Computer Engineer - $60,000 to $110,000

The technology sector has been hot for the past decade, particularly in the field of software engineering. The median starting salary for a computer hardware engineer these days is $63,970, growing to $101,000 by mid-career. This relatively new field of engineering means there are not enough computer engineers to keep up with demand.

4. Aerospace Engineer - $60,000 to $110,000

With the US, Russia and even Japan announcing new aeronautical missions and programs – billions of dollars in funding are scheduled to pour into the sector in the following years. Demand for volunteers for missions to Mars and simulations in outer space is growing, which means that aerospace engineers are looking at exciting career opportunities. A new graduate with a degree in aerospace engineering can expect a starting salary in the range of $65,450. The US Department of Labor expects that the need for aerospace engineers will grow at 5% over the next few years, and a mid-career salary for an aerospace engineer is fixed at $103,720.

5. Electrical Engineer - $50,000 to $90,000

Most newly-graduated electrical engineers start around the $57,330 mark and slowly climb their way to $89,180 in their mid-career. This field is relatively diverse in the possibilities for professionals, including designing, testing and supervising the manufacturing of electrical equipment. With an expected job growth of around 6%, a rate lower than average, there are many exciting opportunities both in the commercial and consumer sectors.

These are just some of the engineering jobs that pose a very lucrative career option for newly-graduated professionals. It is clear that the engineering field is expanding quickly and holds tremendous potential. Skilled engineers are always in high demand and find numerous opportunities for rewarding employment across different sectors.

However, competition for engineering jobs can be quite tough, and as with most careers, candidates who complete formal education, are expected to gain work experience and display skill to land a better-paid position. There are many ways to stay ahead of other professionals in your respective field and continuous education is one of them – a lot of stellar colleges offer short courses to refresh your engineering skills and give you an edge.