13% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
Highest-Paying Jobs in Engineering (2026)
Computer Hardware Engineer tops this list at $161,740 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +7.3% projected employment change over 2024–2034. Below are 30 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
Every occupation in the SOC architecture and engineering group, engineers, architects, surveyors, drafters and engineering technicians, ranked by national median wage.
- Careers on this list
- 30
- Median pay on the list
- $103,275
- Projected to grow
- 26 of 30
- Openings a year
- 154,600
From 923 in the bank
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Combined, BLS EP
How we built this list
- Included when the occupation sits in the "architecture and engineering" SOC major group (17-0000), which covers engineers, architects, surveyors, drafters and engineering technicians.
- Ranked by national median annual wage from BLS OEWS. Nothing here is a judgement about which engineering discipline is the best one to enter.
- BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The top 30 highest-paying jobs in engineering
1. Computer Hardware Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $161,740
- Growth
- +7.3%
- Openings/yr
- 4,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
2. Petroleum Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $144,910
- Growth
- +1.3%
- Openings/yr
- 1,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
3. Aerospace Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $134,960
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings/yr
- 4,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
4. Nuclear Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $133,970
- Growth
- -1.1%
- Openings/yr
- 800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
5. Electronics Engineer, Except Computer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $130,220
- Growth
- +6.2%
- Openings/yr
- 5,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use employing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
6. Chemical Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $125,040
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings/yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology o…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
7. Energy Engineer, Except Wind and Solar
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Growth
- +2.1%
- Openings/yr
- 9,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
8. Electrical Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $120,630
- Growth
- +7.2%
- Openings/yr
- 11,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Electrical Engineer salary & outlook →9. Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $115,160
- Growth
- +4.4%
- Openings/yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
10. Materials Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $112,860
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings/yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
11. Marine Engineer and Naval Architect
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $112,230
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings/yr
- 600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
12. Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $109,370
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings/yr
- 1,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artif…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
13. Environmental Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $107,110
- Growth
- +3.9%
- Openings/yr
- 3,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
14. Mining and Geological Engineer, Including Mining Safety Engineers
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $106,220
- Growth
- +0.7%
- Openings/yr
- 400
- Education
- Bachelor's
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
15. Mechanical Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $104,110
- Growth
- +9.1%
- Openings/yr
- 18,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment.
Mechanical Engineer salary & outlook →16. Industrial Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $102,440
- Growth
- +11.0%
- Openings/yr
- 25,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and pr…
Industrial Engineer salary & outlook →17. Civil Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $100,840
- Growth
- +5.0%
- Openings/yr
- 23,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation pr…
Civil Engineer salary & outlook →18. Architect
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $99,280
- Growth
- +3.9%
- Openings/yr
- 7,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
19. Agricultural Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $98,590
- Growth
- +5.9%
- Openings/yr
- 100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural pr…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
20. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $82,890
- Growth
- +8.1%
- Openings/yr
- 900
- Education
- Associate's
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, po…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
21. Cartographer and Photogrammetrist
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $81,390
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings/yr
- 1,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
22. Landscape Architect
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $79,870
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings/yr
- 1,700
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
23. Non-Destructive Testing Specialist
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $78,350
- Growth
- +1.5%
- Openings/yr
- 5,700
- Education
- Associate's
Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
24. Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $78,190
- Growth
- +0.6%
- Openings/yr
- 8,400
- Education
- Associate's
Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery fo…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
25. Electrical and Electronics Drafter
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $76,870
- Growth
- -5.6%
- Openings/yr
- 1,700
- Education
- Associate's
Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
26. Surveyor
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $75,440
- Growth
- +4.4%
- Openings/yr
- 3,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Make exact measurements and determine property boundaries.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
27. Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $74,510
- Growth
- 0.0%
- Openings/yr
- 3,200
- Education
- Associate's
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
28. Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $73,900
- Growth
- +1.1%
- Openings/yr
- 1,300
- Education
- Associate's
Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
29. Mechanical Drafter
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $71,550
- Growth
- -6.5%
- Openings/yr
- 3,300
- Education
- Associate's
Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
30. Calibration Technologist and Technician
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $67,820
- Growth
- +4.7%
- Openings/yr
- 1,400
- Education
- Associate's
Execute or adapt procedures and techniques for calibrating measurement devices, by applying knowledge of measurement science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and electronics, sometimes under the direction of engineer…
Full page coming in the next tranche. Data shown here is from the same bank.
Highest-Paying Jobs in Engineering: FAQ
What is the top career on the highest-paying jobs in engineering list?
Computer Hardware Engineer leads the list with a median wage of $161,740 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +7.3% over 2024–2034. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.
How was this list put together?
Every occupation in the SOC architecture and engineering group, engineers, architects, surveyors, drafters and engineering technicians, ranked by national median wage. Included when the occupation sits in the "architecture and engineering" SOC major group (17-0000), which covers engineers, architects, surveyors, drafters and engineering technicians. Ranked by national median annual wage from BLS OEWS. Nothing here is a judgement about which engineering discipline is the best one to enter. BLS publishes one wage per occupation code, and several O*NET job titles can share a code. Only one title per code is listed, so the same wage does not appear over and over. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET 30.3 Database.
How much do highest-paying jobs in engineering pay?
Across the 30 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $103,275 a year, from $67,820 at the bottom to $161,740 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
None. BLS lists an associate's degree or higher as the typical entry requirement for all 30 careers on this list.