My Occupational Reseach on Engineering - Essay Example

The field of engineering applies the principles of mathematics and science to develop economical solutions to technical problems (Bls). Engineers areoften involved in the development process of new products in corporations. There are different branches of engineering in which a person can specialize. Some of the different types of engineers include aerospace engineers, agricultural engineers, biomedical engineers, chemical engineers, civil engineering, computer engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, industrial engineers, environmental engineers, marine engineers, and mining engineers.

The expected growth of manufacturing in the United States will positively impact the occupation. The demand for engineers will grow as new technology comes out into the marketplace. To become an engineer one must complete a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited university. The three engineering specialties with the highest demand are civil, electronics, and mechanical engineering. The growth in civil engineering jobs is directly correlated to the growth in construction in the United States.

In 2008 there were 1.6 million engineers working in the United States. The specialty with the most jobs was civil engineers with 278,400 jobs. Nearly 36% of the engineers working in the U.S. were employed in manufacturing settings, while 30% were employed in professional, scientific, and technical service industries (Bls). The job outlook for the profession in the near future is positive. Engineering jobs are growing at about the same rate as other professions. The state of the U.S. economy will determine the job growth opportunities for engineers in the near future.

The median salary for engineers varies by specialty, but the lowest median salary in 2008 was agriculture engineering at $68,730 (Bls). Work Cited PageBls.gov. 2011. “Engineers.” 4 November 2011. Bureau of Labor Statistics.