Salary Range for Engineers

Engineers use the principles of science and mathematics combined with experience to design, build and maintain the complex technology and infrastructure of our world. The salary range for engineers varies by specialty but places them among the best-paid professionals. Engineering requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. This salary information below comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for 2007 (see link below).

Starting Salaries

As of 2007 the lowest average starting salary for engineers with bachelor's degrees was $47,960 for environmental engineers. Petroleum engineers averaged the highest starting salaries at $60,718.

Median Salaries

The BLS survey found petroleum engineers also had the highest median salary at $99,380. The lowest median salary was for agricultural engineers ($66,030).

Highest Paid

The highest paid 10 percent of petroleum engineers earned the best salaries at an average of over $145,000 a year. Top earners in the lowest paying specialty, agriculture, averaged over $99,000.

Federal Employment

The federal government employs many engineers. The top-paid federal government engineers in 2007 were ceramic engineers, who averaged $107,546. Agricultural engineers again ranked lowest, earning an average of $75,144.

Advanced Degrees

Engineers with advanced degrees earn significantly more. For example, the BLS data showed the average starting salary for computer engineers with PhDs was $92,500, while the average starting salary for those with PhDs in industrial/manufacturing engineering was $77,364.

References

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Engineers