When it comes to your life, there are many different things that you will aspire to have. For some people it is a great house, while others will look forward to the day that they can settle down with their family. However, one thing that is a common goal for a huge amount of people is having a career which they love. Within this, there are different goals and aspirations that people will have. For example, some will opt for a career path that will give them the most financial stability. Others, however, will want to follow their passions and interests and make a living that way. Then of course, there are some careers that are capable of doing both. No matter what influences your decision to pursue a career, it is important that you enjoy what you do.
One of the most popular industries when it comes to career aspirations is definitely engineering. This is largely due to the large amount of job opportunities it offers. This means that employment rates are especially high for people qualified in this sector and there is the possibility to choose a job you will enjoy. As well as this, engineering jobs usually pay quite an ideal annual salary. The average engineering job can offer around $91,000 per annum.
However, when you involve yourself in the world of engineering, you will have a lot of choices to make. There are dozens of different types of engineering that are used in different sectors. This means that although you might have a basic understanding of the fundamentals, you will have to specialize in an industry if you really want to land that great job.
If you have no preference over what industry you work in, or just want a general qualification that can help you oversee projects in several sectors, you might want to consider enrolling on an engineering management distance learning course and getting a qualification that way. This is a great option for someone looking to begin their career in engineering. It will give you a great insight to the different sectors and options available for you. As well as the many paths this qualification can open, it will also help to improve your general management skills. This can have massive benefits for you in many elements of your life.
When it comes to specializing in an engineering practice, there are many different options you can choose from. Depending on your personal preference, some might seem more viable or preferable to you. Your decision could be influenced by your own interests, job opportunities, or lifestyle benefits. No matter what your motives are, it is important you familiarize yourself with several different types of engineering. If you follow a career path on the first option you see, you are really limiting yourself in regard to your career. There can be massive differences in some of the following options. With that being said, here are the different types of engineering sectors you could potentially work in.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering might be one of the most popular options when it comes to choosing a specialty. To be successful in this sector, you must be able to have a very strong knowledge of math, chemistry, biology, and physics. Using this expertise and knowledge, members of this sector will overlook issues within food and chemical production. They will use both chemical and industrial processes to try and improve production quality as well as create certain products. Some of this work may take place in a laboratory, but chemical engineers also spend time working in an office using specialist software and working on plant sites.
This sector is popular due to the work involved, career opportunities, and the working salary. The average chemical engineer will make roughly $110,000 per annum.
Civil Engineering
The role of a civil engineer might be more appealing for those who want to be involved in the creation of larger structures. They will work on larger projects that will span large areas of land in both public and private sectors. Some examples of projects in which civil engineers work could be the likes of roads, tunnels, and bridges. These are all structures which can help improve a community or localities standard of living. This is why civil engineers can feel so rewarded in their work as they are really giving back to people. There are also many famous landmarks that can be credited to the work of civil engineers. For example, Brooklyn Bridge, The Empire State Building, and the first New York City subway were all possible thanks to the work of civil engineers.
The role of a civil engineer is quite a creative and rewarding one. It is also an extremely popular option for those who are looking to pursue a career in engineering. If you do work in this sector, you can usually expect to make somewhere around $95,000 per annum. In regards to work location, civil engineers can expect to see their time split between working on site and in the office.
Electrical Engineering
When you are working in the electrical engineering sector, you can expect to work on the design and manufacturing of different electrical components. This could see you overlook the production of the likes of power generation, aircraft and automobiles, and lighting and wiring systems. When it comes to the different engineering industries, this sector perhaps has the most variety and choice. For example, one day you could be working on a car navigation system while your next project could involve computer development. The future of electrical engineering seems to be very stable and reliable. The projected growth of the industry between 2020 and 2030 is roughly 7%. Making it an ideal career path for someone to follow. As well as this, the current average salary of an electrical engineer is $100,000.
Mechanical Engineering
As a mechanical engineer, you will be in charge of the development and designing of the likes of engines and machines. Again, this is a sector of engineering that will have a large amount of variety. For example, some of the common projects of people who work in this sector are the likes of elevators, air-conditioning systems, and gas turbines. This means that you will get a wealth of experience developing several types of products. A large element of this role will be to test and try machines and devices and figure out how to make them more optimal. You will also have a lot of work in regard to repairing and fixing.
In this role, you can expect to make roughly $90,000 per year. Like all engineering jobs, this sector has a good projected growth with about 7% in the next 10 years.
Biomedical Engineering
Whilst working as a biomedical engineer, you will need to have an extensive knowledge on biology. Using this information and expertise, you must apply it to the design of medicine and for other healthcare purposes. Biomedical engineering is often referred to as medical engineering, as a large amount of this work will be focused on the development of medicines. Their work can also see them develop and design technology that can help improve human health. This medical equipment is then used by healthcare facilities to aid patients. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for qualified individuals in this field has improved. If you are working in this specialty, your average wage will be about $92,000.
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering is another great option for those who want to work on larger scale projects. Their primary role and responsibility will see them work on the design and development of both aircrafts and spacecrafts. You may also be involved in projects that are in relation to the likes of satellites and missiles. This is one of the higher paying engineering sectors. Those who are involved in aerospace engineering will expect to make roughly $120,000.
Agricultural Engineering
When working as an agricultural engineer, you will be designing machinery suited for the likes of farming and food production. Your other responsibilities will include the likes of solving problems that that the agricultural industry experience, such as pollution and environmental issues. Again, working in this sector will see your work split between the office and agricultural settings. This is a great option for someone who has a background in farming or lives in a rural area. The average wage of an agricultural engineer is $85,000.
Computer Hardware Engineering
If you enjoy working with computers, then this could be the specialty that speaks the most to you. This is a very focused part of engineering. Your responsibilities will see you exclusively work on the design and development of computers. You will work on the likes of memory devices, circuit boards, routers, and much more. For this role, it is important that you have good problem-solving skills as you will be dealing with a lot of repairs and design work. If this appeals to you, you can expect to make $120,000 per annum.
Environmental Engineering
If you want what is perhaps the most rewarding form of engineering, then you might want to consider specializing in the environmental sector. Their primary responsibility is to solve environmental problems using biology, chemistry, and soil science. They develop methods and products that will out the factors such as recycling, pollution, and public health. A lot of this work will be conducted in the office. However, there may be instances where you will be required on site when working on focused projects. Whilst working in this sector, your annual wage averages out at about $92,000.
Industrial Engineering
Another engineering specialty that has a lot of variety is industrial engineering. Whilst working this profession, you could see yourself involved in a number of different types of projects. From finances to computer simulations, there are a huge number of different things that industrial engineers can apply their skills to. They will apply math, science, and engineering methods to try and improve complex systems and operations. A major goal of their work is to eliminate the wastefulness of production processes. Working in this sector will see you make about $89,000.
Marine Engineering
Another engineering option that will see you work on larger projects is a marine specialty. When fulfilling this role, you will be responsible for projects such as designing and the development of ships and submarines. As well as being involved in the production and development of the structures themselves, you may also be responsible for some of the internal aspects of the vessel. This could involve the electrics on board as well as factors like refrigeration and steering systems. From the design of the ship to its functional qualities, there is a lot of responsibility in this role. The average marine engineer will make $95,000 per year.
Nuclear Engineering
When working as a nuclear engineer, you will be in charge of benefiting factors involved in nuclear energy and radiation. A major part of their work is finding use for radioactive material. This is mostly taken into consideration in regard to medical and industrial uses. The average wage for someone working in a nuclear engineering setting is $115,000.
Mining and Geological Engineering
If you are working as a mining and geological engineer, then you will be involved in ensuring that materials are safely removed and used in useful ways. This often involves designing mines so that they are appropriate for extraction. A lot of their work will be done on site, but there will also be a lot of instances where you are in office. While fulfilling this role, you can expect to make about $95,000.
Petroleum Engineering
For those who decide to specialize in petroleum engineering, their primary responsibilities will see them work on extracting oils and minerals. They must design and develop certain strategies which will allow them to access and extract materials beneath the earth’s surface. As well as this, they must work on new methods for extraction from old wells and access points. Again, this job is set to have good growth in the future, as well as offering an average salary of $135,000 per year.
