Engineer Earnings

Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in a number of specialties is especially significant. Table 1 shows wage distributions in May 2008 for engineers in specialties covered in this statement.

Table 1. Earnings distribution by engineering specialty, May 2008

Specialty	Lowest 10%	Lowest 25%	Median	Highest 25%	Highest 10%
Aerospace engineers	$58,130	$72,390	$92,520	$114,530	$134,570
Agricultural engineers	43,150	55,430	68,730	86,400	108,470
Biomedical engineers	47,640	59,420	77,400	98,830	121,970
Chemical engineers	53,730	67,420	84,680	105,000	130,240
Civil engineers	48,140	58,960	74,600	94,470	115,630
Computer hardware engineers	59,170	76,250	97,400	122,750	148,590
Electrical engineers	52,990	64,910	82,160	102,520	125,810
Electronics engineers, except computer	55,330	68,400	86,370	106,870	129,920
Environmental engineers	45,310	56,980	74,020	94,280	115,430
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors	43,540	56,190	72,490	90,740	106,220
Industrial engineers	47,720	59,120	73,820	91,020	107,270
Marine engineers and naval architects	43,070	57,060	74,140	94,840	118,630
Materials engineers	51,420	63,830	81,820	102,040	124,470
Mechanical engineers	47,900	59,230	74,920	94,400	114,740
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers	45,020	57,970	75,960	96,030	122,750
Nuclear engineers	68,300	82,540	97,080	115,170	136,880
Petroleum engineers	57,820	80,040	108,020	148,700	166,400
Engineers, all other	49,270	67,360	88,570	110,310	132,070

In the Federal Government, mean annual salaries for engineers ranged from $81,085 in agricultural engineering to $126,788 in ceramic engineering in March 2009.

As a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries among those holding bachelor's degrees. Average starting salary offers for graduates of bachelor’s degree programs in engineering, according to a July 2009 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, were as follows: