Ten years into an economic expansion, we’re seeing engineering jobs and salaries continuing to grow in most cases, says the new Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
This year – as we look at new Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for engineering salaries – we’re comparing salaries to last year’s numbers. We’re also passing along the number of projected engineering jobs for each discipline.
Most engineering disciplines saw year-over-year growth in average salaries except for Materials Engineers and Mining Engineers who saw slight decreases in average salaries.
The BLS projects growth in all engineering jobs through the middle of the next decade. For the engineering profession as a whole, BLS projects 194,300 new jobs during the coming 10 years. The total number of current engineering jobs is 1,681,000.
The average salary for an engineer is $91,010. The average across all engineering disciplines may not be particularly meaningful. The following slides who the average salaries for individual engineering disciplines.
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Aerospace Engineers
2018 median pay: $115,220
2017 median pay: $113,030
Number of jobs
Current number of jobs: 69,600
Job growth in coming decade: 4,200
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Agricultural Engineers
2018 median pay: $77,110
2017 median pay: $74,780
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 2,700
Job growth in coming decade: 200
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Biomedical Engineers
2018 median pay: $88,550
2017 median pay: $88,840
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 21,300
Job growth in coming decade: 1,500
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Chemical Engineers
2018 median pay: $104,910
2017 median pay: $102,160
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 32,700
Job growth in coming decade: 2,500
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Civil Engineers
2018 median pay: $86,640
2017 median pay: $84,770
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 303,500
Job growth in coming decade: 32,200
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Computer Hardware Engineers
2018 median pay: $115,120
2017 median pay: $114,600
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 73,600
Job growth in coming decade: 4,000
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Electrical and Electronics Engineers
2018 median pay: $99,070
2017 median pay: $97,970
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 324,600
Job growth in coming decade: 21,300
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Environmental Engineers
2018 median pay: $87,620
2017 median pay: $86,800
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 53,800
Job growth in coming decade: 4,500
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Health and Safety Engineers
2018 median pay: $89,130
2017 median pay: $88,510
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 25,900
Job growth in coming decade: 2,200
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Industrial Engineers
2018 median pay: $87,040
2017 median pay: $85,880
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 257,900
Job growth in coming decade: 25,100
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Materials Engineers
2018 median pay: $92,390
2017 median pay: $94,610
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 27,000
Job growth in coming decade: 400
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Mechanical Engineers
2018 median pay: $87,370
2017 median pay: $85,880
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 288,800
Job growth in coming decade: 25,300
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Mining and Geological Engineers
2018 median pay: $92,250
2017 median pay: $94,240
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 7,300
Job growth in coming decade: 600
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Nuclear Engineers
2018 median pay: $107,600
2017 median pay: $105,810
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 17,700
Job growth in coming decade: 700
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Petroleum Engineers
2018 median pay: $137, 170
2017 median pay: $132,280
Number of Jobs
Current number of jobs: 33,700
Job growth in coming decade: 5,100
(Image source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Rob Spiegel has covered automation and control for 17 years, 15 of them for Design News . Other topics he has covered include supply chain technology, alternative energy, and cyber security. For 10 years, he was owner and publisher of the food magazine Chile Pepper.

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