Job Horizon
by Derek Reveron
EVEN IN DOWN TIMES, ENGINEERS HAVE CHOICES
Even in economic downturns, companies need engineers Manufacturing industries will account for about 37 percent
to streamline manufacturing processes, ramp up productivity, of engineering jobs. Professional, scientifi c, and technical ser-
improve product design, and cut costs. vices areas will provide 28 percent of engineering positions.
Collectively, the civil, mechanical, industrial, and electrical The best job-hunting areas for engineers include Houston,
specialties total 846,000 or 56 percent of the nation’s 1.5-mil- Los Angeles, New York, San Jose, Boston, and the Washington,
lion engineering jobs. Additional growth will likely come from D.C.–Virginia-Maryland region. Houston is the center of the
President-elect Obama’s economic stimulus plan. The incom- oil industry with Exxon-Mobil, Conoco-Phillips, Shell Oil, and
ing administration hopes that it will fuel a 28.8 percent growth Chevron. Los Angeles has Northrop Grumman Corp., Boeing
spurt in scientifi c and technical service jobs. Co., AT&T, and Amgen Inc. The San Jose region is the capital
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2016,
of the nation’s high-tech industry. The tri-state area of Washing-
the overall number of engineering jobs is expected to rise 11
ton, D.C., mentioned above, is home to the federal government
percent, the civil positions are to increase 18 percent, mechani-
and many defense contractors.
cal specialty jobs are expected to grow 4 percent, industrial Engineers will continue to be among the best-paid profes-
engineering will soar 20 percent, and electrical engineering sionals in the nation, although salaries vary by region. Califor-
rise 6 percent. nia’s average high-tech pay is $95,294. Massachusetts comes in
Other high-growth engineering specialties include environ-
second ($89,659), followed by Washington State ($83,655),
mental (25 percent), biomedical (21 percent), marine engineers
Virginia ($83,639), Maryland ($77,036), and Texas ($75,430).
and naval architects (11 percent), health and safety (10 per- Pay can vary signifi cantly according to specialty. In 2006,
cent), and agriculture (9 percent). the median salary for all engineers ranged from $66,030 for
Some IT jobs appear to be recession-resistant. In October,
agricultural engineers to $98,380 for petroleum engineers.
as overall unemployment increased to 6.5 percent, the informa- Despite the pay differences, it’s expected that all engineer-
tion technology sector added 5,500 jobs in computer systems ing specialties will continue to increase salaries. For example,
design and related services. Computer software engineers may the median pay for civil engineers is $78,000 a year, up from
enjoy a job-growth spike of 45 percent through 2016. $77,000 in 2007, according to the American Society of Ci-
If BLS projections pan out, many key industries will em-
vil Engineers. Syracuse, NY, offers the highest median civil
ploy more engineers in the coming years.
engineering salary ($121,950), followed by Brazoria, Texas
($113,440), Houston ($108,500), San Jose ($105,000), and
Santa Fe, N.M. ($105,000).
The bottom line: top job-hunting engineers and other
PROJECTED ENGINEERING JOB
STEM professionals may have an array of job choice in 2009.
GROWTH BY CATEGORY
THROUGH 2016
Mechanical 4%
Electrical
6%
9%
Agricultural
10%
Health and Safety
11%
All Engineering Sectors
11%
Marine
18%
Civil
20%
Industrial
21%
25%
Biomedical
Environmental
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.blackengineer.com
USBE & Information Technology I WINTER 2008 51
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