Selecting which college you attend can be a difficult decision. An even more difficult decision is selecting your major. Some people are fortunate enough to know their passion early on and are able to use this to influence their decision. Others are often unsure and end up changing their majors multiple times throughout their college careers. In many cases there are several reasons that point to engineering being the best possible major. Below is a list of these reasons followed by more explanation.
1. Employment
2. Salary
Employment
Employment is something most college students don’t start to consider until senior year. There are certain majors that are in high demand, and certain majors that are very difficult to find a job with. Engineering majors are typically a safe bet concerning job security. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of engineers is expected to grow 7% from 2019 to 2029. This is higher than the average of other occupations. This means that engineering jobs will be more common in coming years than other occupations.
Salary
Engineers typically have a high earning potential right out of college. Typical entry level engineer salaries in the United States range from around $49,000 to $80,000. Typical mid-level engineering jobs have salaries closer to $130,000. This is more than most other 4-year degrees. Engineers learn technical skills which are in high demand. This level of knowledge comes with the benefits of a high salary.
Skills and Knowledge
Taking college courses for several years has led me to the conclusion that education can be summarized into three main elements; knowledge, experience, and a piece of paper. The knowledge comes from the material in the courses, and knowledge passed down from professors and mentors. The experience is learned through hands on labs, and internships set up through your school. The final element is the piece of paper. This is your actual degree you get at graduation. This tells employers you had enough drive and motivation to work towards your goal for 4 years and learned enough to earn a degree. These elements are especially useful in an engineering degree. The problem-solving skills you learn as an engineer will carry you through any field you choose to work in, not just engineering.
Job Diversity
Getting an engineering degree does not limit you to a single engineering job. There are many different fields of engineering that you could work in with an engineering degree. Other fields also look to hire engineers for non-engineering specific jobs. Engineers have the technical knowledge to help businesses in many different areas such as operations or sales. It is easier to teach an engineer management than it is to teach a manager how to be an engineer.
