Engineering Degrees

Engineers are employed in every major industry. They apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems, using commercial applications to fulfill social needs. In 2004, engineers held 1.4 million jobs.

There are a variety of areas in engineering, ranging from aerospace and agricultural to nuclear and electrical. Engineers can work in design and development of, say, a new product, specifying the functional requirements, building and testing the components, and giving a final analysis of the overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. Many engineers work in production and maintenance, working with factories and project managers to fulfill long-term goals.

With an engineering background, you can move into many industries. A sales engineer, for example, uses their knowledge of the technical aspects of the product to assist in product planning, installation, and use.

Available at all levels – Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate – a degree in engineering truly pays off. Starting salaries are higher than those of college graduates in other fields, with 50% of workers throughout all specialties earning between $56,520 and $88,500 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2006).