In today’s job market, engineering is one of the best fields to pursue if you are looking for a high-paying career with plenty of opportunities and strong job security. In fact, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities in engineering are expected to grow at least 20 percent over the next 10 years.
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But within the engineering field, there are dozens of different career paths to consider. The path you choose will largely depend on your own interests and strengths.
Read on to learn more about the top five careers to consider within engineering.
Biomedical engineer
This job was recently rated the top career in the United States for 2013. Biomedical engineers, who make an average of $87,000 per year, work on ideas and designs for new medical equipment and new technologies in the healthcare field.
Some good examples are bio-compatible prostheses, X-ray and other imaging equipment, micro-implants and even some pharmaceutical drugs.
Software engineer
If you are computer savvy, this high-paying career is for you. Software engineers, who research, design, and test new computer programs, can expect to make at least $97,000 per year. It’s also one of the fastest growing careers in the United States.
The placement for this particular career is very high, so most people in this field don’t have a problem finding good jobs after getting out of school.
Another nice thing about this field is that unless you’re going to an Ivy League school, your tuition is not through the roof normally. So you’re getting out of school, getting right into a great job, and not having that much debt as far as student loans go, if you went that route.
Reservoir engineering
For those who are interested in the outdoors and the environment, a degree in chemical engineering can lead to this unique, highly compensated career.
Reservoir engineers help determine how much oil or gas is under the surface of the Earth in a given locale, and develop computer models to figure out the best way to retrieve these natural resources.
Telecom network engineer
These professionals, who have a degree in network engineering, manage all of the communications equipment for a business or organization. That includes the phones, the Internet, and countless other technologies that make it easier for people to do their jobs each day.
User interface engineer
While this job is similar to a software engineer, a user interface (UI) engineer focuses on the consumer experience when using a website or app. That means that they are constantly piloting and testing new interfaces to make sure that software does the job it needs to do in the best possible way.
If you’re mechanically inclined and creating giant reservoirs as a career seems fun to you, being an engineer may be for you. Consider shadowing someone in the field you’re interested in to get a true sense of what the work entails.
Find a company that hires engineers in the specialty you’re interested in, and find out if you can visit them to learn more about the work.
About the Author:
Chaleigh Glass is a freelance writer that lives in NYC. She enjoys writing and lifestyle photography. She writes about anything from careers in engineering fields that involve ADS Laser Cutting to how to properly pave your driveway. In her spare time she likes to take pictures, snowboard, golf, and play ice hockey.
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