Best paid engineering jobs in the US

It pays to be an engineer — literally. Depending on your role and industry, the best paying engineering jobs could help you enjoy an annual salary of 90,000 US dollars and up per annum.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ national occupational employment and wage estimates in the US, the annual mean wage for architecture and engineering roles is 90,300 US dollars.

It’s worth noting that what constitutes a good salary depends on various factors, including where one lives, their education levels as well as their work experience.

There are many engineering specialisations to go into, depending on your area of interest and personality. 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that some engineering jobs have good growth projections; apart from being in demand, some roles are also financially rewarding. 

If your interest is piqued, these are some of the best paying engineering jobs, based on data from the US Bureau:

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software. Some positions may require a graduate degree.

The median annual wage for bioengineers and biomedical engineers was US$92,620 in May 2020.

The job outlook is fairly promising — employment of bioengineers and biomedical engineers is projected to grow five percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. 

Increasing numbers of technologies and applications to medical equipment and devices, along with the medical needs of a growing and aging population, will require the services of these workers, said the US Bureau.

Chemical engineers

Be it playing a role in producing clean water to creating faster computer chips, the work of chemical engineers can be seen across many aspects of our life.

They apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the use of fuel, drugs, food, and many other products.

Chemical engineers may work in offices or laboratories or may spend time at industrial plants, refineries, among others.

The median annual wage for chemical engineers was US$108,540 in May 2020. The employment of chemical engineers is projected to grow four percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. 

Aerospace engineers

Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles. In addition, these individuals can find employment in industries whose workers design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defence, or spacecraft. 

The US Bureau notes that aerospace engineers are employed primarily in manufacturing, analysis and design, research and development, and the federal government. 

The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was US$118,610 in May 2020, while employment in the field is projected to grow three percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Computer hardware engineer

Do you love computers? Computer hardware engineers would be the ideal engineering job for those who would enjoy researching, designing, developing and testing computer systems and components.

These professionals typically work in research laboratories that build and test various types of computer models. Most work in computer systems design services and in manufacturing.

The median annual wage for computer hardware engineers was US$119,560 in May 2020. The employment of computer hardware engineers is projected to grow two percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average for all occupations.