5 Best-Paying Jobs in Engineering Fields

There will be an 11 percent growth rate in the U.S. engineering labor market from now through 2023, according to Kelly Services' latest Engineering Employment Outlook, which forecasts work conditions in the coming decade. High-growth sectors and industries such as oil and gas, aerospace and renewable energy will make up more than a third of new engineering jobs available in metropolitan areas such as Houston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Here are five of the best paying engineering jobs and the skills and companies that pay upwards $65K.

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Project Manager | Median Annual Salary: $83,890

Salary outlook: In addition to leading a team of engineers and producing product development plans, engineering project managers are responsible for ensuring conformity with safety regulations, promoting best practices, preparing cost proposals and maintaining financial records. The particular firm, experience level and geography, respectively are the factors weighing most on salary. 

Schlumberger is one of the highest-paying companies for this role, paying $133,000, followed by Jacobs Engineering Group ($128,000), Chevron Corporation ($127,000) and Lockheed Martin at $119,000. Those with 10 to 20 years of experience average $95,000 annually. Skills that correlate with greater pay include systems engineering, budget management, product development and contractor management. Job satisfaction is reported to be very high. Houston pays engineering project managers 25 percent above the national average of $86,592, followed by Los Angeles at 13 percent.

Process Engineer | Median Annual Salary: $78,186

Salary outlook: Process engineers with five to 10 years of experience generally see the greatest salary increases. Los Angeles pays 27 percent above the national average of $71,797, followed by Houston and Austin, tied at 18 percent. These roles specialize in evaluating the efficiency, quality and safety of the product process within the context of chemical engineering. Process engineers are responsible for implementing process improvements to reduct cost and increase efficiency and for performing troubleshooting on plant equipment and systems. The Chevron Corporation pays an average $100,000 for this position. 

Electrical Engineer | Median Annual Salary: $71,567

Salary outlook: Electrical engineers with more than 10 years of experience can make anywhere from $90K to $100K. Best-paying locations for this role start with San Jose, which pays 16 percent above the national average of $70,363, followed by Washington, which pays 12 percent more than the rest of the country. Job satisfaction is very high for electrical engineers and they can make more than 80K at companies like IBM and L-3 Communications. This job's responsibilities include designing, maintaining, implementing and improving electrical equipment and instruments. Applying principles of electrical theory to engineering projects and inspecting completed projects to ensure conformance with design standards are crucial.

Also Read: best engineering jobs for the future

Project Engineer | Median Annual Salary: $68,362

Salary outlook: If you're looking to make top dollar in this field, you want to work with The Boeing Company and/or Skanska, which both pay more than $100K salaries. Project engineers plan and organize technical projects from conception to completion and utilize engineering knowledge for project management, estimating timelines and schedules and they anticipate risks and costs related to technical aspects of projects. Project engineers with more than 10 years of experience can make upwards $80K in general and top-paying skills include AutoCAD, engineering design and project management. This role can make 22 percent above the national average of $67,138 in Houston.

Mechanical Engineer | Median Annual Salary: $66,492

Salary outlook: Mechanical engineers work in the planning and manufacturing of new products by developing, designing and testing mechanical devices. This job requires a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering or a related degree. Responsibilities include writing technical reports, estimating project completion timelines and researching designs and making recommendations based on appearance, safety, budget and function. Companies like Schlumberger and General Dynamics Electric Boat may pay $80K or more. Your best start may be in Houston, which pays 15 percent more than the national average of $65,595.