Today we'll take a look at the career outlooks and descriptions for various engineering jobs. The field of engineering is in high demand currently and now is an excellent time to choose it as a career for those willing to put in the time.
Civil Engineering
Average Starting Pay: $50,800
Median Salary: $77,560
Projected Job Growth: 19% between 2012 and 2020
Civil engineers are problem solvers with a high attention to detail. They are often the ones receiving and sending out submittals as they are the liason between drafters and other engineers. For this reason it is critical that anyone who wants to get into this field has a "measure twice, cut once" mentality. Like all engineers, you must pass the FE (Fundamental of Engineering) in order to get a job, and from there, you will need a five year apprenticeship under a certified engineer before you can get the official title of Professional Engineer.
Mechanical Engineering
Average Starting Pay: $53,700
Median Salary: $78,160
Projected Job Growth: 9% between 2010 and 2020
Mechanical Engineers (combined here with electrical engineering) love to know how things work. They design and analyze objects and systems that must be powered and in motion. Mechanical engineers are often the type of people that take things apart and put them back together for fun. This field is often times very competitive, and an undergraduate degree is often times not enough to guarantee a job in the field. It is advised the prospective mechanical engineers take part in internships and part-time jobs in order to improve their likelihood of getting hired out of college.
Environmental Engineering
Average Starting Pay: $48,900
Median Salary: $78,740
Projected Job Growth: 22% between 2010 and 2020
Environment engineering is about more than just designing and building structures, as it is also closely tied to evaluating man's impact on nature. Environmental engineers will often find themselves on site, surveying the damage from ecological disasters or figuring out ways to incorporate nature into concrete jungles. People in this field should therefore be about more outdoorsy and not afraid to get their hands dirty. Some of their duties will include drafting construction documents for streams and wetlands, studying the topography of an area, and designing various stream channels and other environmental fixtures.
Biomedical Engineering
Average Starting Pay: $47,800
Median Salary: $81,540
Projected Job Growth: 62% between 2010 and 2020
Biomedical engineers take commonly understood engineering principles and apply them to biology and medicine. This field is currently a small one, but is expecting huge amounts of growth due to an aging baby boomer population that will require increasing amounts of medical care. The engineers work with doctors and other professionals in the medical field to create devices that will improve the lives of patients. This is a relatively young field and therefore requires the ability to work hard and learn on the go. Much of your time early on will be spent studying your superior's plans in your off-time, and so a true passion for biomedical research is a must.
