Is Engineering A Career Path You Should Take?

By Douglas J Shipway

You have just graduated from high school and you are confused on what line of education to pursue. Yes, it's really a pain in the head. Spending a number of years in college and getting that degree is quite a long wait, and it isn't that easy, therefore you should make sure that it's all worth it - no waste. You are presented a number of courses, a number of schools, and it's quite baffling which one should be it, especially when you are into a lot of things.

In choosing your course or planning the starting point of your career path, you should take into consideration most importantly why you are having this, why you are holding on to this. Before considering any of your options as your final say, take some time to contemplate and review what these courses has to offer you. And if you might think of taking up engineering, then this might help you finally decide on it.

Engineering is the concept of applying calculated scientific-based theory grounded in scientific, mathematical, economic, social and practical knowledge in order to conceptualize, design, plan, develop, and analyze technological solutions. It is an art, a discipline, a skill and a profession, and covers a variety of specific fields and specialties.

With a variety of majors and specialties, you have all the choices to choose from and end up working in specifications: Aerospace, Agricultural, Bioengineering, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer Hardware, Electrical, Electronics, Environmental, Health and Safety, Industrial, Marine and Naval, Materials, Mechanical, Mining, Nuclear, Petroleum, Software and so much more!

Aside from the swamp of fields to choose from and specialize, engineering is very much demanded in the global market. There is a bucketful of opportunities waiting for you as you graduate your engineering course. You are guaranteed of a well-compensating salary, too! Engineers are said to have the highest starting salaries and average salaries compared to any other degree.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mining or geological engineers get an average salary of over $75,000, computer hardware engineers earn over $95,000, and petroleum engineers end up with $108,000. The highest-paying engineering specialty is on petroleum engineering, and the lowest-paying is on agricultural engineering with $71,000 - well, does it sound low to you? It doesn't even sound to be low at all.

Being in the engineering profession even allows you to choose where you want to be - whether you want to work in an office, in the field or in a laboratory, be it industrial or in the field of teaching, you absolutely can!

And for someone who is in for some mind adventure, nothing beats the many things you can do and discover as an engineer. You formulate plans, you come up with designs, you invent something, you simply get a load of a lot of things that your amazing mind can do!

So if all those things, or maybe just some of the mentioned above, have enlightened you up on what course to settle with, if the potential job offers, salary grades and the fun rings like "this is it" to you, then maybe you can start preparing for it already. Good luck!

To find out more about the various specialties of engineering or search a full list of engineering degree programs you can do so at our free online engineering career guide.

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