5 best engineering jobs in high demand with high salaries
5 best engineering jobs in high demand with high salaries
Engineering careers are in-demand, high-paying and intellectually stimulating. If you’re interested in becoming an engineer, you probably know there are a variety of types of engineering you could pursue. Choosing the path that’s best for you depends on where you see yourself working, what you’re passionate about and what your career goals are. Not sure what route you’d like to take? Keep reading to find out about some of the best engineering jobs you can work toward and the top engineering undergraduate programs that will prepare you for them!
Mechanical engineer
Many students interested in engineering first think of becoming a mechanical engineer when considering job opportunities. That’s because the field of mechanical engineering is often considered one of the widest and most versatile types of engineering. Mechanical engineers design, build, and maintain machines and mechanical systems. For example, a mechanical engineer might design a wind turbine, considering various factors such as material strength and mechanical efficiency. Then, working with a manufacturing team, a mechanical engineer helps assemble the wind turbine, ensuring structural integrity and the proper integration of electrical systems.
Currently, mechanical engineering is growing rapidly in the United States. So if you choose this engineering route, you likely won’t have difficulty finding a job! Based on data from Payscale, the average base salary for a mechanical engineer is more than $80,000. Their work spans industries from automotive to robotics.
Like with most types of engineering, mechanical engineers need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Mechanical engineering technology and manufacturing engineering technology are two possible program options. Further advancement as a mechanical engineer — or any type of engineer, really — may require a master’s degree in engineering or business administration.
Manufacturing engineer
As you might have guessed, a manufacturing engineer works with manufacturing systems, which are the ways different products are made. These engineers play a critical role in designing and optimizing manufacturing processes. They may develop processes to optimize productivity across an assembly line, work with 3D printing to prototype new products or utilize flexible manufacturing with robots and machines to produce cutting-edge technology. Manufacturing engineers ensure production runs smoothly and efficiently with minimal waste. Manufacturing engineers are highly sought after in the automotive, aerospace and consumer goods industries, as well as others. They may spend their days working in an office or a manufacturing plant or factory. Sometimes they will also split their time between numerous settings.
The demand for these skilled professionals who enhance productivity and integrate innovative technologies will only continue to grow. Currently, the average base salary for a manufacturing engineer is nearly $78,000! Some possible areas of study to become a manufacturing engineer include:
Industrial engineer
Industrial engineers focus on improving systems and processes to make businesses operate more efficiently. They might design better assembly lines for automobiles, help reduce wait times in hospitals or determine how factories can use less energy and reduce waste. This versatile role is essential in nearly every industry, from health care to manufacturing, and it is often at the forefront of innovation and process improvement.
With this type of engineering, you will need skills in areas like quality control and strategic planning in addition to the skills you might typically associate with engineering such as design and development. This is because industrial engineers are heavily focused on meeting their organization’s performance and productivity objectives.
Currently, these are some of the best engineering jobs, as the career is growing much faster than average in the United States. They also bring in high salaries that average out to nearly $77,000. Some top engineering undergraduate programs for industrial engineers include manufacturing engineering technology, automation engineering technology and mechanical engineering technology.
Electrical engineer
If you’re fascinated with electronic devices, you should look into becoming an electrical engineer. Electrical engineers design, test and maintain electrical systems and equipment. It’s electrical engineers who design smart phones and create virtual reality headsets. With the rise of renewable energy, smart technology and advanced manufacturing, electrical engineers are in high demand, currently on track to grow much faster than the average career. They play a pivotal role in creating and maintaining essential technologies and work in a variety of industries from aerospace to health care.
Earning a bachelor’s degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology, will set you up for success as an electrical engineer. With an average base salary of more than $85,000, they are the highest-paying career opportunity on our list, easily making them one of the best engineering jobs
Quality control engineer
Quality control engineers ensure that a product meets high quality standards before reaching a customer. They test products, looking for defects and making sure a product is safe, reliable, durable and functional. Without quality control engineers, companies would be more likely to sell products that are poorly made or even unsafe for consumer use. You can find this type of engineer in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food production and other industries. If you’re a bit of a perfectionist, you might be especially drawn to becoming a quality control engineer.
The average base salary for a quality control or quality assurance engineer is nearly $77,000, making this profession yet another excellent choice for an aspiring engineer. A wide variety of engineering degrees will set you up for becoming a quality control engineer, including:
Engineering at UNI is your gateway to the best engineering jobs!
All of these engineering careers and more can be accomplished with an engineering degree from the University of Northern Iowa. As a student in the Department of Applied Engineering at UNI, you’ll get hands-on experience in the newly-renovated Applied Engineering Building, setting you up for a successful career right after graduation. Smaller class sizes will help you form close connections with faculty members, and UNI’s industry partnerships will open doors for you.
Learn more about UNI’s engineering programs by visiting chas.uni.edu/aetm.
