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Engineering Salary

Many engineering specialties show excellent job growth, and engineering is also an industry where earnings are high.

By Sarah Stevenson

Even if you don't plan to pursue a 4-year degree, you can still earn a competitive engineering salary.

For the vast majority of engineering technician jobs, regardless of specialty, a 2-year associate's degree in engineering technology is sufficient.

Engineering Technology Salaries

Here are median annual salary figures for different engineering technology specialties:

Engineering Technology Specialty	Median Annual Salary*
Aerospace Engineer	$102,420
Chemical Engineer	$92,930
Civil Engineer	$77,990
Computer Software Engineer	$93,470
Electrical/Electronic Engineer	$85,920
Biomedical Engineer	$84,670
Industrial Engineer	$77,240
Mechanical Engineer	$79,230
Petroleum Engineer	$122,280

_{Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data published March 27, 2012;}_{Aerospace Engineers}_;_{Chemical Engineers}_;_{Civil Engineers}_;_{Computer Software Engineers}_;_{Electrical Engineers}_;_{Biomedical Engineers}_;_{Industrial Engineers}_;_{Mechanical Engineers}_;_{Petroleum Engineers}_{.

*The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.}

A handy chart doesn't tell the whole story when it comes to engineering salaries. There are a number of other factors that affect your earnings:

Industry: whether you work for the federal government, state government or the private sector can have an effect on your engineering salary.
Location: your earnings may be greater if you live in an area with a higher cost of living.
Certification: besides a mandatory Professional Engineer (PE) license, there are a number of optional certifications in specialty areas that may increase your earning potential and managerial prospects.