Methodology
The methodology used for gathering the list of careers in engineering was to utilize the US. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics data, combined with reports on salaries, unemployment, and career outlook from reputable sources, such as Universities, Forbes Magazine, US News & World Report, and reputable Engineering associations, such as the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. For the list of sources complete with their website, go here.
Here are the current six highest paid engineering careers available and how the future looks for each.
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
The median starting salary for petroleum engineers is $74,240 , with the mid-career salary of $132,320, and with experienced petroleum engineers making around the $186,520 mark. Industry groups anticipate many employees will retire in the next decade, just as the global demand for energy is increasing. The demand for petroleum engineers is expected to exceed the number of individuals trained to fill available positions increasing demand.
Internationally and domestically this demand will advance the careers and the salaries of petroleum engineers. There are a number of degrees available for those interested in pursuing petroleum engineering including training online.
- Starting salary: $74,240
- Mid-career salary: $132,320
- Experienced salary: $186,520
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Newly-graduated electrical engineers have a median starting salary of $57,330¹.
Many electrical engineering jobs are tied to designing, testing and supervising the manufacturing of electrical equipment, but some electrical engineering careers consist of designing electronics schematics for commercial and consumer use.
Job growth in these areas is expected to be around 6%, a rate lower than average, through the rest of the decade.
Mid-career salaries for electrical engineers are in the neighborhood of $89,180¹.
