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Engineering Physics

Instructional content is defined in code 14.1201.

Types of Degrees Engineering Physics Majors Are Earning

Those studying Engineering Physics have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	21
Bachelor’s Degree	658
Master’s Degree	270
Doctor’s Degree	100

What Engineering Physics Majors Need to Know

Programs in Engineering Physics emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Engineering Physics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Engineering Physics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Design — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Engineering Physics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Engineering Physics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Engineering Physics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Engineering Physics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Engineering Physics graduates include:

• Radio Engineering Teacher
• Ceramic Engineering Professor
• Metallurgy Teacher
• Circuits and Robotics Instructor
• Metallurgical Engineering Teacher
• Robotics Instructor
• Engineering Instructor
• Agricultural Engineering Teacher
• Refrigeration Engineering Teacher
• Industrial Engineering Professor
• Machine Design Teacher
• Design Teacher
• Electronics Teacher
• Electronic Science Teacher
• Applied Mechanics Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Engineering Physics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	33.1%
Doctoral degree	26.5%
Master’s degree	11.5%
Post-doctoral training	8.5%
Post-master’s certificate	6.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.2%
Postsecondary certificate	3.0%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.8%
Some college courses	2.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	1.4%
First professional degree	1.2%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Engineering Physics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 75.8% of Engineering Physics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	254	24.2%
Men	795	75.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Engineering Physics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	522	49.8%
Asian	94	9.0%
Hispanic or Latino	111	10.6%
Black or African American	43	4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.1%
Two or More Races	51	4.9%
Race Unknown	65	6.2%
International Students	161	15.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Engineering Physics Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Engineering Physics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$65,109
4 years	$75,565
5 years	$91,340

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $91,340 — roughly 40% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Engineering Physics Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Engineering Physics graduates earn a median of $75,565 four years after completion — roughly 99% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Computer Engineering	19,986
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Systems Engineering	3,956
Engineering, Other	3,529

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.