Considered one of the most in demand and lucrative of career choices, engineering is a coveted field to be in. Boasting some of the highest paying jobs in the world, engineers typically earn well above the nation’s average salary. Engineering opportunities exist in the areas of robotics, project management, construction, biomechanics and architecture, as well as many others. Below are some of today’s highest paying engineering jobs.
Earning a median salary of $179,000, petroleum engineers top the list of top paid jobs in the field. Petroleum Engineers help locate new sources of natural gas and oil, determine the most efficient and effective extraction methods, and often manage the process on site. A bachelor’s degree in engineering, specifically petroleum engineering, is the minimum schooling necessary to hold this type of job. Masters degrees are usually not necessary in the oil field. Universities with programs in geotechnical and petroleum-related engineering are the perfect fit for someone interested in this branch of engineering. Other careers in the petroleum engineering field are reservoir engineer, drilling engineer and production engineer.
Oil and gas companies such as Exxon Mobil, Shell, Conoco Phillips, and Occidental all offer positions for people with these degrees. They typically offer intensive training programs, as well as the opportunity to work with senior engineers. With the price of Hydrocarbons at an all time high, these companies have expanded their operations and begun exploring areas that were deemed too expensive or dangerous to access in the past. This growth has led to a dramatic increase in the demand for employees in this field.
Responsible for the research and development of the instruments, systems, and processes used to derive benefits from nuclear energy, these engineers earn an average of $104,000 a year. There are a diverse number of jobs in this area of engineering. Many of these engineers develop nuclear power sources for ships and spacecraft. Others monitor nuclear facility operations or perform experiments to test the reliability of nuclear waste disposal methods. As in petroleum engineering, a bachelor’s degree in engineering is needed to enter the field. Some higher level jobs may require a master’s degree or Ph.D. Excellent analytic, math, logical thinking, and communication skills are important qualities for nuclear engineers to possess.
Companies like General Electric, Westinghouse, The Shaw Group, and URS are all in some phase of building nuclear power plants in the United States. French nuclear power conglomerate Areva has job opportunities for nuclear engineers in its California, Texas, South Carolina, Washington and North Carolina branches. As the nuclear power industry grows, jobs in this field will continue to become more plentiful.
Professionals in this division of engineering are charged with the design, construction, and testing of missiles, aircraft, and spacecraft for the commercial or military sector. With a starting salary of $60,000, employees can expect to earn approximately $110,000 after 10 to 15 years in the field. Aerospace engineers are employed primarily in manufacturing, research and development, analysis and design, and the federal government. A bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a science related to aerospace systems is needed to get a job in this field. Students earning a degree in aerospace engineering will typically focus on either aeronautical, or aircraft, engineering or astronautical, or spacecraft, engineering. Those employees working on projects related to national defense may require security clearance.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, United Space Alliance, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems are all top employers of aerospace engineers. These companies are some of the largest and most profitable businesses, organizations and vendors in the world. As the world’s fleet of aircraft is upgraded and maintained, jobs in this area remain in high demand. National defense related projects require a steady stream of engineers to design, develop and build state-of-the-art military systems.
With its roots in chemistry, math, biology, and physics, the field of chemical engineering has been called the liberal arts of engineering. Typically employed in areas of research and manufacturing, the median salary for a chemical engineer is $156,000. By bridging the gap between science and manufacturing, employees in this field apply engineering and science principles to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals. Jobs for graduates with degrees in chemical engineering can be found in health care, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental health, and food processing.
Some highly recognized pharmaceutical, electronics, food production, and automotive companies, including Merck, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AT&T, Hewlett Packard, IBM, General Mills, Nestle, Craft, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors all employ chemical engineers. Big businesses are constantly looking for innovative ways to improve their products. Chemical companies rely on engineers to develop new chemicals and increase the output of existing ones. Additionally, the up and coming fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology will provide ground-breaking opportunities for chemical engineers.
Engineers are always in high demand. Careers in these fields require specialized education and determination. For those considering a path in engineering, the high salary, job stability and diverse career opportunities may be enticement enough to make the decision for you.
