The 9 Most Sought-After Engineering Degrees

Engineering is methodology embedded in science and technology that will never be outdated or outpaced. The reason is simple – the world needs engineers to progress. This is why students all over the world flock over to engineering colleges in hopes of graduating as an Engineer. But Engineering is a field that is under constant evolution. A prime example of this can be seen when you look at how this field was 25 years ago. At that time, engineering degrees were classified into four categories: Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical engineering. But today, we have about 40 types of engineering degrees in the world.

This puts the aspiring students under confusion on which degree to choose for their bright future. Here’s a list of engineering degrees that have great potential not just for today but for many more years in the future.

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering gives the highest pay in all engineering jobs. Skeptics may argue that the field is highly sensitive and on the brink of extinction. But the truth is that this unconventional source of energy will remain crucial for many more decades. The growth in the energy demands all over the world is a clear sign that this black gold is not going down anytime soon. Petroleum Engineering is only taught in some select universities. So if you try hard enough to get in, there is a substantial chance that you will be placed even before you complete your studies.

There is a common misconception that petroleum engineers will only find jobs at rigs or only in petroleum-related industries, but their job spans across quality checking to designing advanced equipment as well.

The median pay of Petrochemical Engineers in generously surpassing $100K annually in the US.

Aeronautical/Aerospace engineering

The sky’s the limit! Well, it certainly is for aeronautical engineers as the marvels of engineering that you see fly over your head is designed by aeronautical engineers. The aerospace division handles the vehicles that go above the atmosphere and into space. The cut-off levels for getting past the entrance exams to get a seat at a college that provides the course is high. But, if you have a genuine interest in it, then a bit of hard work is all that is needed!

Aerospace engineers take home approximately $83K annually along with handsome cash allowances and bonuses.

Computer Engineering (Software Engineering and AI Engineering)

Computer engineering is a domain of engineering that has many subdomains. One of that subdomain is a stream that has vast future applications – AI or Artificial Intelligence, that need no introduction today. The chances are that your smartphone might have an AI assistant already helping you with your day to day tasks. Almost every industry needs a computer engineer be it on the hardware or software side.

Pursuing computer engineering also helps you to prove your worth in other prominent fields like robotics, programming, banking software development, etc. If you are into computers and programming; computer engineering holds many treasures for you to explore.

Computer programmers in US earn as high as $99K per year, and a majority of them claim a high level of job satisfaction.

Chemical engineering

If you find chemistry interesting and love to experiment with new ideas, this might be the one for you. Chemical engineering is now being a target by many aspiring students as the possibilities and scope are widening with every passing day. Chemical engineers contribute across differebt industry verticals including medical, oil and gas sector, battery development and environmental science.

Chemical engineers make up to $119K annually with an average salary of $73K per year.

Electrical and Electronics Engineering

We have talked about how the software is going to revolutionize the world, but every software needs a platform to work. This is where the harmony of hardware and software happens. With the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) and smart devices, electronics will continue to play a dominant role in our lives. The possibilities are actually endless! Mobiles, computers, servers, structural electrical, and the list goes on and on.

The average salary of an Electronics Engineer in US is $77K.

Biomedical engineering

Biomedical engineering field grants more than just a hefty paycheck to the engineers, they provide increased job satisfaction. This is because biomedical engineers are researching and working on various medicines that would make the human race one step closer to leading a healthy life. This is why 75% of the biomedical engineers have reported that their job makes them feel better about themselves.

Having a higher meaning to the job that you are doing makes it easy to love what you are doing. If you want to be an engineering graduate who wants to help the world become a better place specifically through the work you are doing, Biomedical Engineering is the trade you should opt for!

Biomedical engineers have the opportunity to become medical scientists. Then again paths like neuromodulation services, biomaterials, and stem cell engineering are a few of the highest paying jobs out there.

Biomedical engineers earn $63K on an average annually in US.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineering gets a lot of praise due to its never-ending scope. With the current civil engineering advancements like self-healing concrete, photovoltaic glazing, and many others, civil engineering is a platform where you can truly shine. Besides, the concept of smart connected cities is what makes pursuing this degree promising to dive deeper into knowing the requirements of high-performance urban living and use of non-conventional materials in building future cities.

The average pay of Civil engineers is approximately $63K in US and it only grows with more experience in the industry.

Automobile Engineering

Mobility will remain an important part of our lives. The field of Automotive Engineering is full of opportunities as the demand for vehicles continues to rise. McKinsey predicts that the overall growth of automobile OEMs is projected to rise 50% by 2020. Technology is another factor which is creating a strong influence in this sector as automakers emphasize more on autonomous and connected cars for our future.

Automotive engineers pull down approximately $74K per year in the US.

Blockchain Engineering

Despite the skeptical future of Bitcoin, the underlying blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt many conventional industrial setups and banking sector in particular.

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Blockchain technology is gradually being adopted in healthcare, finance, and other professional institutions. The technology is already used by governments in Georgia and Estonia to speed up the government affairs and documentation.

Since blockchain is essentially a record keeping software, it can be put as a subdomain of software engineering. But with the latest developments, blockchain engineering has become a standalone course that is being eyed by millennials.

Blockchain jobs saw an increase of 631 percent from 2015 to 2017. This is a clear indication that tells us the future is bright for Blockchain engineers.

To the naysayers who tell you that engineering has turned to a barren land with no opportunities, they couldn’t be any more wrong! Every single technology on the planet needs to be imagined, designed and made, and the guys who do it are engineers. So as long as there is progress in the world, engineering will be at the helm of it!