How Much Do Engineers Typically Make?
Have you always heard that a job in engineering can provide a lucrative income? Are you unsure of how much money engineers actually make? Read on to learn about the salaries that engineers typically earn, along with some career facts about them. Schools offering Computer Engineering degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Engineering Defined
If you become an engineer, you'll use advanced mathematics and science to meet the needs of citizens and consumers. Through computer layouts and sketches, you could come up with the design plans needed to create machines, structures, technological devices or other products. You can choose from numerous specialties, including aerospace, chemical, biomedical, electrical, civil and mechanical engineering.
Salary by Experience
Salary.com listed the median salaries for engineers based on their levels of experience. As of October 2011, the median salary for engineers with two years of experience or less was $56,061. Engineers who had 2-4 years of experience earned a median annual income of $66,714, while professionals with 4-6 years of experience made a median salary of $80,120 per year. The median annual income earned by engineers with 6-8 years of experience was $94,344. Finally, engineers in top-ranking positions with 8-10 years of work experience made a median salary of $108,339 annually.
Salary by Specialty
Your salary as an engineer can depend upon your chosen specialization. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), aerospace engineers earned one of the highest annual wages, taking in a median salary of $97,480 as of May 2010 (www.bls.gov). Chemical engineers made a slightly lower median yearly income of $90,300, while civil engineers earned a median annual income of $77,560.
Biomedical engineers earned a median yearly income of $81,540, while electrical engineers made a similar median salary of $84,540 annually. The median income for mechanical engineers was $78,160 per year, reported the BLS.
Job Outlook
The BLS reported that engineers are expected to experience an average job growth of 11% from 2008-2018. If you're looking for an expanding engineering field, you might want to consider environmental or biomedical engineering. Environmental engineering jobs are projected to increase by 31% from 2008-2018, while biomedical engineering positions are expected to undergo an even faster growth of 72% during the same decade.
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