- Top 5 Paying Engineering Jobs in 2021
- How Much Money Can You Make as an Engineer in 2021? 5 Top Paying Engineering jobs.
- Can You Make Money as an Engineer?
Meta Description: How much money do engineers earn? Do some types of engineers make more money than others? What are the top-paying engineering careers? All this and much more in this article.
When choosing a career path, you would want to know if there will be a job for you after completing your education. The good news is that after all the hard work and money spent on engineering college tuitions, you will make a decent salary as an engineer. Year after year, engineers make more money than most other people. No matter what industry you join as an engineer, you can expect a good salary, although some jobs and industries pay more than others. There was a time when the highest paying engineers were involved in construction, but now with science and technology advancements, other types of engineers are making more money. Here’s a look at the top paying engineering jobs in the United States.
- Big data scientists
With software engineering continuing to grow in leaps and bounds, big data engineers will continue to be in demand. According to Glassdoor, on average, data engineers make $137,776 per year. They can earn anywhere between $110,000 and $155,000 depending on their skills, experience, and where they work. Senior data engineers can, on average, make $172,000 annually.
Big data engineers work with real-time data processing, data analysis, and implementing large-scale machine learning. They also develop, construct, test, and maintain architectures like databases and large-scale data processing systems.
Computer hardware engineers start with an average mean entry-level salary of $73,110. The top 10% of computer engineers make an average of $185,240 annually.
- Construction management
According to payscale.com, the mean annual salary of a construction manager is $105,000. The United States Labor Department puts the mean entry-level salary of construction managers at $57,060, with the top 10% making $164,790.
Construction managers oversee an entire construction project from start to finish by using their specialized project management skills. That includes planning, scheduling, coordinating, supervising, and budgeting various projects. Construction managers also oversee the quality and safety of projects. The projects include all types of buildings – public, residential, commercial, industrial facilities, and structures like bridges, public roads, and memorials.
Construction managers work with architects, general contractors, the owners, and other stakeholders. As well as overseeing quality, cost, and safety management, construction managers also ensure that all the involved parties meet a contract.
- Chemical engineers
According to payscale.com, the mean entry-level salary of a chemical engineer is $67,527 per year. The United States Department of Labor put the mean annual wage of chemical engineers at $117,090, with the top 10 percent earning an average of $176,090 per year.
Chemical engineers use the principles of physics, chemistry, biology, and math to design and develop chemical manufacturing processes and solve problems related to the production or the use of chemicals, foods, drugs, fuel, and several other products.
Chemical engineers most often work out of laboratories or on location (refineries, industrial plants, and other sites) where they are directly involved with operations and solving onsite problems.
- Electrical Engineers
While an entry-level electrical engineer can start their career with a mean annual salary of 66,925 (according to payscale.com), the United States Department of Labor says that the top 10% earn an average of $155,880 per year. The mean annual salary of all electrical engineers is $103,480 per year.
Electrical engineers are involved with the research, development, testing, designing, and supervising of the manufacture and installation of all electrical components, systems, and equipment for commercial, military, scientific, and industrial use.
- Biomedical Engineers
According to ziprecruiter.com, a biomedical engineer’s average annual salary as of February 2021 is $90,618. Payscale.com puts its mean entry-level wage at $61,920. The United States Department of Labor believes the top 10% of biomedical engineers make an annual average of $148,210.
Biomedical engineers or bioengineers use technological advancements, engineering skills, science, and medicine to design and develop new equipment, computer systems, software, and devices to improve human health.
Other top-paying engineering careers
Here are five mid-career salary figures of some more of the top-paying engineering careers
| Engineer | Annual Average Base Salary (Glassdoor) | Annual Median Salary (United States Department of Labor) |
| Petroleum Engineer | $05,000 | $132,280 |
| Aeronautical Engineer | $79,714 | $113,030 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $77,122 | $105,810 |
| Environmental Engineer | $68,566 | $86,800 |
| Materials Engineer | $68,327 | $94,610 |
Conclusion
There is good news for engineers – they have one of the most substantial long-term earning potentials in the United States job market. Multiple sources have reported that engineering careers pay more than the national average. The average entry-level engineering jobs begin at $69,000, making this one of the most lucrative professions. An engineer’s salary also depends on their qualification, the company they work for, their expertise, and the state they work out of. Consider all these factors when choosing a career in engineering. While engineering careers carry their own risk, relevant business insurance for engineers can protect engineers from costly litigations. Visit this website for more information on architects & engineers insurance.
