How Much Does an Engineer Career Path Pay?
The median annual salary for engineers was $100,640 in May 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $56,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $162,190.
The BLS projects that employment of engineers will grow 4 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The need to replace aging infrastructure and the increasing demand for high-tech products and services will contribute to the growth in demand for engineers.
Factors that Affect Salary
The following factors can affect an engineer’s salary:
- Education: Engineers with a master’s degree or doctorate generally earn more than those with only a bachelor’s degree.
- Experience: Engineers with more experience generally earn more than those with less experience.
- Industry: Engineers working in certain industries, such as software development and aerospace, generally earn more than those working in other industries.
- Location: Engineers working in certain geographic areas, such as large metropolitan areas, generally earn more than those working in other areas.
Salary by Industry
The following table shows the median annual salary for engineers by industry in May 2020, according to the BLS:
| Industry | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Software development | $120,940 |
| Aerospace | $115,860 |
| Computer hardware manufacturing | $114,710 |
| Electrical equipment manufacturing | $113,920 |
| Automotive manufacturing | $113,340 |
Salary by Location
The following table shows the median annual salary for engineers by geographic area in May 2020, according to the BLS:
| Geographic Area | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $129,700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $129,520 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $128,900 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,220 |
Job Outlook
The BLS projects that employment of engineers will grow 4 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The need to replace aging infrastructure and the increasing demand for high-tech products and services will contribute to the growth in demand for engineers.
Conclusion
The salary for an engineer can vary depending on a number of factors, including education, experience, industry, and location. However, the median annual salary for engineers was $100,640 in May 2020, and the BLS projects that employment of engineers will grow 4 percent from 2020 to 2030.
