Engineering: 10 Highest Paying Specializations


10 May 2021

There are many types of engineering degrees you can choose from, and all of them ensure graduates a successful career. However, do you want to know which are the highest paying engineering degrees? Find it out here!



Engineering is a broad discipline that includes many specialized subfields. With so many types of engineering to choose from, it can be very difficult to narrow down which one is right for you. 

When it comes to choosing what to study, it is a very long process that involves making a hard decision. Even if you have already decided to pursue a degree in Engineering, there are so many subfields in engineering that you still have a hard decision to make. 

How to decide which engineering to pursue
There are many aspects you should bear in mind when making this decision, including what you are passionate about, what you are interested in, the skills you have and the ones you intend to gain, what you expect your future to be, among other things.

You also need to consider the earning potential and the career prospects of the degree you choose, but since it is engineering we are talking about, in general you don’t need to worry about that. However, there are some types of engineering that are higher paid than others. Let’s dig deeper into this.

Highest paying engineering specializations


10. Civil Engineering


Civil engineers are demanded professionals, since every city, no matter how small or big, needs roads, bridges and transportation facilities. Civil engineers are in charge of the design and building of all sorts of infrastructures. This can be a great career that involves having a positive impact both on society and the environment and having a high salary, since the average salary is $66,500.

9. Biomedical Engineering


Biomedical engineering or bioengineering involves applying engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes. Biomedical engineers are also in charge of managing medical equipment within hospitals, imaging equipment, regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceutical drugs and therapeutic biologicals. Their average salary is  $66,600.

8. Mechanical Engineering


What does a mechanical engineer do? They are necessary for most industries and can be in charge of performing tasks in all aspects of a project: from research and development to manufacturing, management and production. Their average salary is $70,800.

7. Computer Engineering


Computer engineers are highly demanded professionals and are generously paid for their important work. Computer engineers are becoming increasingly crucial in the technological world we currently live in. Their average salary is $74,300.

6. Chemical Engineering


Chemical engineers generally work for chemical companies, doing research, designing, developing and manufacturing electronics, clothing, paper, drinks, oils, medicine, among many other necessary products. Their average salary is $74,700.

5. Marine Engineering


This is a rare discipline within engineering, which makes it an even higher paid one because graduates have more chances of standing out from the crowd since there is less competition.

What do marine engineers do? They are responsible for the engineering of ships, boats, oil rigs and many other marine structures or vessels. Their average salary is $79,900.

4. Aerospace Engineering


What do aerospace engineers do? They work with multidisciplinary teams in the design, development, testing of spaceships, aircraft and missiles. As space exploration advances and commercial space travel becomes a reality, this is a promising sector. Their average salary is $83,700.

3. Electrical Power Engineering


Electrical power engineers’ main job is to generate electricity and transfer it to the various distribution networks. After that, they need to make sure that it is properly delivered to the millions of businesses and homes that need it. Their average salary is $85,100.

2. Nuclear Engineering


Nuclear engineers are responsible for deriving benefits from radiation, performing research and developing systems, equipment, and tools that are aimed to transfer nuclear energy for many different purposes. Their average salary is $86,700.

1. Petroleum Engineering


Without a doubt, the highest paying of all engineering careers is petroleum engineering and the demand for this type of engineers is never fulfilled because there’s never enough of them to fill all the positions that are available. Their average salary is $101,500.




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