Want to land a lucrative and fulfilling career? Try becoming an engineer. Engineers are in high demand in today’s world and there is always a shortage of qualified individuals. From aerospace engineers and bioengineers to industrial engineers and civil engineers, this blog offers insight on the top paying engineering jobs worth pursuing. Find out more about the engineering degree you need for each job and how much you can expect to earn when starting.
Finding a high-paying engineering job can be hard. However, it is possible. With the help of this article and our tips, you might find that you’re in luck. The first thing you need to do is prepare for your interview by doing some research on the company and the type of work they are looking for. In addition to preparing for interviews, you also should be networking with other engineers and keeping up with new technologies. You should always have your resume updated too since employers will often take a look at that before they invite you in for an interview. Finally, don’t forget to ask questions when interviewing! Every question counts because it shows your interest in the position and prompts interesting conversation between you and employer during the interview process. Once you’ve done all these things, there’s no telling what opportunities might come your way!
18 jobs similar to mechanical engineering
When deciding which career path to take with your mechanical engineering degree, consider the following:
1. Construction engineer
National average salary: $40,406 per year
Primary duties: Construction engineers plan, design and create infrastructure projects such as airports, bridges, tunnels, roads, railroads, utility facilities and more. They oversee the construction to implement safety protocols, and they help maintain the infrastructure once complete.
2. HVAC engineer
National average salary: $46,715 per year
Primary duties: HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) engineers assess the needs of customers in homes, offices and other buildings to create ideal climate conditions using HVAC equipment and infrastructure.
3. CAD technician
National average salary: $47,917 per year
Primary duties: CAD technicians, or computer-aided design technicians, create digital 2D and 3D designs of products, buildings and other structures using advanced computer design software. They work closely with architects, engineers and other designers to create digital blueprints to a client’s exact specifications.
4. Water engineer
National average salary: $49,641 per year
Primary duties: Water engineers develop methods of collecting, retaining, purifying and distributing water. They also work on the disposal of sewage and other wastewater. Water engineers help design and construct the buildings and infrastructure to complete these tasks, and they also identify ways to prevent flooding and other water damage.
5. Maintenance engineer
National average salary: $59,242 per year
Primary duties: Maintenance engineers install and repair equipment, often for industrial use. They diagnose equipment failures and determine best methods for repair or replacement.
6. Control and instrumentation engineer
National average salary: $60,736 per year
Primary duties: Controls engineers work in processing plants to analyze and improve mechanical processes. Their work often focuses on meeting safety standards, increasing productivity and finding opportunities for streamlining.
7. Land-based engineer
National average salary: $65,524 per year
Primary duties: Land-based engineers design and create machinery for use in agricultural, forestry or horticultural sectors. They perform maintenance on this machinery and equipment and inspect them for safety.
8. Industrial engineer
National average salary: $75,575 per year
Primary duties: Industrial engineers enhance the industrial processes that produce different types of products. They create systems of machines, controls and materials with the goal of developing the most efficient methods possible.
9. Marine engineer
National average salary: $80,400 per year
Primary duties: Marine engineers design the systems and equipment that run and maintain ships, boats, submarines and other seafaring vessels. They often work closely with naval architects, who design and build the vessels, to ensure both of their designs fit together and operate effectively.
10. Technical sales engineer
National average salary: $86,123 per year
Primary duties: Technical sales engineers assess the needs of businesses to identify the technical products most helpful to them. They then use their knowledge of those products to recommend and sell them to the businesses. Technical sales engineers also attend exhibitions and conferences to remain up to date on the products available and their technical specifications.
11. Civil engineer
National average salary: $87,193 per year
Primary duties: Civil engineers design and construct buildings, bridges, roads and other structures in both the private and public sectors. They study neighborhoods and their surroundings to ensure their designs fit into the area, and they work with clients and businesses to ensure the structures have the desired functionality.
12. Biomedical engineers
National average salary: $89,733 per year
Primary duties: Biomedical engineers develop medical equipment and other devices for the diagnosing and treating of medical issues. They also train doctors and other health professionals in the use of this equipment.
13. Nuclear engineer
National average salary: $92,424 per year
Primary duties: Nuclear engineers design and build nuclear reactors and the instruments that run and monitor them. They also build shielding to protect humans and equipment from radiation. Additionally, nuclear engineers oversee the maintenance and usage of these products to ensure safety.
14. Mechanical engineer
National average salary: $93,626 per year
Primary duties: Mechanical engineers design machines that produce power, such as engines, generators and turbines. They also design machines that use that power, such as refrigeration units and elevators. A mechanical engineer may study different issues and develop machines or mechanically-based solutions to address those issues.
15. Electrical engineer
National average salary: $94,932 per year
Primary duties: Electrical engineers design and build electrical equipment such as communication systems, navigation systems, electric motors, radar, household appliances and other electrical devices. They often also evaluate and maintain these products and systems.
16. Materials engineer
National average salary: $95,398 per year
Primary duties: Materials engineers study and test materials such as metals, plastics and ceramics to develop new materials for use in products like microchips, biomedical devices and more. Their main goal is to alter materials to create new options that are safer, stronger and more useful.
17. Mining engineer
National average salary: $97,815 per year
Primary duties: Mining engineers specialize in creating machinery that helps dig, extract and transport minerals, diamonds, gold, oil and other materials from mines. They also help identify locations for digs and plan and oversee the building of quarries for mining.
18. Aerospace engineer
National average salary: $104,008 per year
Primary duties: Aerospace engineers design and build spacecrafts and their accompanying instruments. They create and conduct tests on these crafts and instruments to determine suitably for use in space exploration. Aerospace engineers also document their processes during these duties and may write guides and handbooks for other engineers to use.
