7 engineering jobs with salaries over $100,000 annually in US

Engineering students at Pennsylvania State University, U.S. Photo courtesy of the university

U.S. News & World Report earlier this month highlighted seven high-paying jobs with fast advancement opportunities for individuals holding a master's or doctoral degree in engineering, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regarding median income and job potential for the period from 2023 to 2033.

Architectural and engineering managers top the list with a median salary of over $165,000 annually, earning approximately $63,000 more than comparable roles in other sectors. However, this role ranks last in job growth rate at 6%.

Next on the list are computer and information research scientists, with a median salary of $145,000, and job demand expected to grow by 26%.

Experts note that while a master's or doctoral degree is not required for most engineering positions, it can provide a competitive edge.

"Typically, students are building on classes they might not have taken as undergraduates," said Kara Peters, associate dean for graduate programs and postdoctoral affairs at North Carolina State University's College of Engineering.

"The graduate courses are more specialized, allowing them to dive deeper into topics. This prepares students better for a long-term career, providing not just one area of expertise, but a broader skill set for handling various engineering fields," she told U.S. News & World Report.

Here are the seven high-paying jobs for master's and PhD graduates in engineering, according to U.S. News:

Karen D'Souza, a postdoctoral associate and computational scientist at Idaho National Laboratory, added that pursuing a graduate degree opens opportunities to publish research, patent innovations, or build valuable professional networks.

According to BLS, the median salary in the engineering field surpassed $100,000 in 2023, more than double the median salary in other sectors. The industry is projected to grow by an average of 9% annually, adding around 195,000 new jobs per year, a rate much higher than the 4% average growth in other fields from 2023 to 2033.

U.S. universities currently offer two options for a master's degree in engineering: the master of engineering science (focused on research) and the master of engineering (emphasizing projects and practical skill development).