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Employment of engineers is projected to grow 4.0 percent from 2014 to 2024, adding about 65,000 new jobs. Among engineering specialties, several are projected to grow even faster than the 4-percent growth for engineers or the 6.5-percent growth for all occupations: biomedical engineers (23.1 percent), environmental engineers (12.4 percent), and civil engineers (8.4 percent).
Occupation | Projected employment percent change, 2014–24 |
Median annual wage, 2015 | Projected employment in 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
Aerospace engineers |
-2.3% | $107,830 | 70,800 |
Agricultural engineers |
4.4 | 75,090 | 3,000 |
Biomedical engineers |
23.1 | 86,220 | 27,200 |
Chemical engineers |
1.8 | 97,360 | 34,900 |
Civil engineers |
8.4 | 82,220 | 305,000 |
Computer hardware engineers |
3.1 | 111,730 | 80,100 |
Electrical engineers |
1.0 | 93,010 | 180,200 |
Electronics engineers, except computer |
-1.4 | 98,270 | 135,500 |
Environmental engineers |
12.4 | 84,560 | 62,000 |
Health & safety engineers, except mining |
6.2 | 84,600 | 26,800 |
Industrial engineers |
0.9 | 83,470 | 243,200 |
Marine engineers and naval architects |
8.9 | 93,110 | 9,000 |
Materials engineers |
1.3 | 91,310 | 25,600 |
Mechanical engineers |
5.3 | 83,590 | 292,100 |
Mining & geological engineers |
6.4 | 94,040 | 8,800 |
Nuclear engineers |
-4.0 | 102,950 | 16,200 |
Petroleum engineers |
9.8 | 129,990 | 38,500 |
Engineers, all other |
4.0 | 95,900 | 142,300 |
Three engineering occupations are projected to lose jobs from 2014 to 2024. Electronics engineers, except computer, are projected to lose about 1,900 jobs or 1.4 percent. Aerospace engineers are projected to lose about 1,600 jobs or 2.3 percent. Nuclear engineers are projected to lose about 700 jobs or 4.0 percent.
The median annual wage for engineers in 2015 was $90,060. Petroleum engineers had the highest median wage, $129,990. Agricultural engineers had the lowest median wage, $75,090.
For all types of engineers, a bachelor’s degree is the typical education needed to enter the occupation.
These data are from the Employment Projections program and the Occupational Employment Statistics program.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Employment outlook for engineering occupations to 2024 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/employment-outlook-for-engineering-occupations-to-2024.htm (visited October 31, 2024).