Top Careers Spotlight: Engineering

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median 2012 income for engineers at $89,887, with careers ranging everywhere from Agricultural to Software, Biomedical, Civil, Chemical and Electrical Engineers.  And according to the Bureau, these careers only require a Bachelor’s Degree for entry level work, unlike many other careers with similar salaries which require graduate or advanced degrees. US News & Word Reports lists top Engineering schools across the country by both those that offer graduate programs and those that do not. Although, it should also be noted that high-paying jobs for those with Associate’s Degrees in these related fields are also abundant!   Perhaps even more exciting (or comforting) than income is the high rate of job placement. According to this article from US News last year, those with Engineering degrees had better job opportunities after graduation, and experienced lower rates of unemployment throughout the country (about 2% vs 3.9% for other degreed professionals at the time).   So if your child is interested in pursuing an Engineering degree, be sure to give them lots of exposure to math and science in middle and high school. The Try Engineering site is a great site with suggested courses of study in middle and high school for your budding engineers, as well as preparation tips for entering a career in engineering, access to engineering groups, and more! You can also cultivate your child’s love of engineering with visits to museums, summer camps dedicated to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), or consider hiring a one-on-one tutor to help provide enrichment in these important fields.