General Engineering
Types of Degrees General Engineering Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many general engineering graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 2,939 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 430 |
| Graduate Certificate | 80 |
Featured schools near , edit
What General Engineering Majors Need to Know
In an O*NET survey, engineering majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.
Knowledge Areas for Engineering Majors
This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Skills for Engineering Majors
engineering majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Abilities for Engineering Majors
Engineering majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
What Can You Do With a General Engineering Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with engineering:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 5.5% | $140,760 |
| Energy Engineers | 6.4% | $96,980 |
| Engineering Professors | 14.7% | $101,720 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in General Engineering?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of engineering majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 244 |
| Black or African American | 153 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 128 |
| White | 1,055 |
| International Students | 1,220 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 139 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Engineering, too. About 41.5% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Iran
How Much Do General Engineering Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The median starting salary of students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a master’s degree in engineering was $87,600 per year. These stats come from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $76,750 (25th percentile) and $93,850 (75th percentile).
It’s important to note that just because the people reporting these salaries have a degree in engineering, it does not mean that they are working in a job related to their degree.
Salaries According to BLS
Average salaries range from $99,410 to $148,970 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to engineering. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to General Engineering
Some careers associated with engineering require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to engineering have obtained the following education levels.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 2.5% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.1% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 43.9% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 8.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 3.5% |
| First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 1.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 13.0% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 3.5% |
Online General Engineering Programs
In 2018-2019, 687 schools offered a engineering program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
| Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 25 | 1 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 26 | 0 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 7 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 389 | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 13 | 4 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 25 | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 114 | 29 |
| Post-Master’s | 2 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 46 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 1 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in General Engineering Worth It?
The median salary for a engineering grad is $113,680 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 185% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,475,600 after 20 years!
Majors Related to General Engineering
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to engineering.
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Rémi Kaupp under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.