The field of “engineering” is large, diverse, and extremely varied. In actuality, the phrase itself is too wide to encompass all the various engineering disciplines. Engineers specialize in a particular field, science, or objective. Additionally, although engineers are employed in almost every industry, the highest paying engineering jobs are only available in a select few fields.
In general, average salaries for engineers are higher than those of many other occupations. This is partly because engineering positions involve a lot of technical expertise, which is in high demand as our sectors become more and more dependent on technology.
Let’s look at the Top 10 Highest Paying Engineering Jobs.
- Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum engineers develop methods for extracting petroleum and natural gas, which are then used to generate energy in an efficient and sustainable way. Petroleum engineers will have one of the highest median salaries of any engineering profession in 2021 at $137,300.
- Computer Engineer
This highly skilled position requires developing and building computer systems and components like processors, circuit boards, and memory devices, with a typical annual income of $119,560.
Computer hardware engineering is a fantastic field to study for those who are analytical thinkers with a love of math or physics.
- Aerospace Engineer
For many organizations, electrical engineers develop electrical and electronic parts including electric motors, radar, and navigation systems. They might also work on developing broadcasting or communication systems. The reported annual median wage for 2019 was $97,970.
You might truly say that “it’s rocket science” in this field of work. It is crucial to have strong analytical skills, problem-sensitivity, and design talents. $118,610 was the reported median annual wage for 2021.
- Nuclear Engineer
Nuclear engineers develop, design, and conduct research on the tools and equipment needed to use nuclear energy. Because they are in charge of securely managing the operations of nuclear energy sites, they must feel comfortable handling a high level of complexity. With a median pay of $116,140, nuclear engineers were among the top five highest paid engineers in 2021.
- Big Data Engineer
Big data has created a wealth of business prospects, but if complex data sets aren’t organized logically, they are worthless. The hardware and system architecture that enable others to understand and utilize data are developed by the big data engineer. With a median annual salary of $114,561, big data offers engineers a wealth of opportunities.
- Chemical Engineer
Chemical engineers, who earn a median salary of $108,540, use rigorous science to create the substances that are used on a daily basis in pharmaceuticals, food, fuel, and other products. For engineers with a background in biology, chemistry, or physics who appreciate working in a team to solve challenging challenges, a career in chemical engineering is an excellent choice.
- Electrical Engineer
For many organizations, electrical engineers develop electrical and electronic parts including electric motors, radar, and navigation systems. They might also work on developing broadcasting or communication systems. The reported median yearly wage for 2021 was $103,390.
- Systems Engineer
Systems engineers keep up with all the gear and software required to maintain a business’s technical infrastructure and ensure seamless operations. If you have exceptional communication skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts to teams made up of non-technical people, you might want to consider this career path. This career is expected to pay an average yearly wage of $97,902.
- Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers use engineering principles to advance medical knowledge by developing tools that improve doctors’ ability to diagnose and treat patients. They often do their duties in a hospital or clinic. Biomedical engineers get an average pay of $92,620.
- Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers typically work in the construction industry and use their technical proficiency, understanding of the earth sciences, biology, and chemistry to solve environmental issues. Due to the nature of the work, which may demand them to spend time on job sites, this is a great career route for folks who don’t want to be restricted to a desk job. The median wage as of now is $87,620.
CONCLUSION
Impressively, 89% of professional engineers say they are “content to be very satisfied” with their work, and 90% advise young people to pursue engineering as a vocation. However, those are not the only two factors to consider while choosing an engineering job. While there are numerous factors to take into account when selecting a specialization, pay is undoubtedly a crucial aspect of future planning.
