The Most Common Types of Engineering Degrees
The world will always need engineers to help design and maintain infrastructure or create innovations. As society grows, so will the demand for engineers, resulting in a high average salary. In this article, we will discuss the best types of engineering degrees, the requirements to become the type of engineer, the pay, and what you can expect the job to be.
Below are the top three types of engineering degrees. This article focuses on what these three engineering jobs do, their salaries, and how to become them.
Electrical Engineer
To become an electrical engineer, you will need a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. For those looking to advance, master’s degrees are also an option. An electrical engineer with a few years of experience makes, on average, $160,000 per year.
An electrical engineer is one of the more diverse types of engineer out there. This is because an electrical engineer's knowledge is broad and not specialized. The electrical engineer's job is to design, test, and supervise the creation of electrical equipment and components. Electrical engineers also ensure the products' installation, testing, and manufacturing meet the required specifications. They also often work with other engineers on projects to ensure the project's electrical side keeps to budget and on schedule.
How to Become an Electrical Engineer
To become an electrical engineer, you need to get a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Also, internships while studying can help get you experience and knowledge in the field.
Salary Of An Electrical Engineer
The demand for engineers is always high. As such, the salary can be pretty high. The medium annual wage is $100,000 as of May 2021. The medium hourly salary of an electrical engineer is around $48 per hour. The top 10% of electrical engineers have an annual salary of about $162,920.
Most electrical engineers work full-time, with some jobs requiring more hours during a project.
Civil Engineer
A bachelor's degree in civil engineering is required to work in the field, although some opt to get a master’s degree as well. For those with work experience under their belt, the average salary is $130,000 per year for a civil engineer.
Civil engineering focuses on buildings and construction. They supervise construction sites, balancing work in the field and the office. The job sites can include tunnel work, infrastructure, sewage, and water supply.
Other civil jobs require the engineer to create cost breakdowns for supplies and equipment rentals for projects for the company, creating a tender for the job. Civil engineers need to work with building designers and architects to make sure designs can withstand the safety requirements in load-bearing supports and that the roofing design is up to code.
How to Become a Civil Engineer
Civil engineers usually need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field, such as construction. Programs for civil engineering include math, statistics, engineering mechanics and systems, and fluid dynamics; the courses can vary by the type of civil degree you may specialize in. The civil courses include a mix of classroom work and on-site learning. The on-site work can also give work experience to the students.
Civil engineers also need to have a good understanding of building design and how to create/alter plans.
Salary of a Civil Engineer
The average annual salary of a civil engineer in May 2021 is $88,000, with the top 10% of civil engineers earning a yearly salary of $133,320. The work hours for a typical civil engineer are around 40 hours a week. However, that can increase if the engineer works on a project requiring more supervision.
Mechanical Engineer
Many people who are interested in engineering get a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. After a few years of work experience, the average salary is roughly $95,000 annually.
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest subjects of engineering. These engineers supervise the manufacturing of automobiles and even medical equipment. Mechanical engineers design power-producing machinery from internal combustion engines, refrigerators, and air-conditioning systems.
Another known job for mechanical engineers is working with thermal sensors that help with simulations and analysis designs.
How to Become a Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical engineering requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. The mechanical courses prioritize studies in mathematics and physical science, plus technical design drawing, and mechanical engineers prioritize calculus, statistics, and creative drawing to help design and innovations.
Colleges often do a classroom theory course plus a practical side that can give students up to five years of experience once they get their degree.
Salary of a Mechanical Engineer
The salary of a mechanical engineer can vary depending on their skill level, experience, and type of job. The average annual salary is around $95,000 as of May 2021. The lower amount a mechanical engineer can earn per year is about $60,750 as of May 2021.
The average work week is around 40 hours a week, with some projects requiring more hours during the week.