Engineering careers are some of the most innovative paths out there (not to mention some of the more lucrative ones!). If you’re interested in a STEM career where you use math and science to solve the world’s problems, engineering might be a great fit for you. But exactly what types of engineering careers should you pursue?
While engineering careers all apply math, science, and problem-solving skills, types of engineering vary by what kinds of technology, products, or equipment you’re developing — and, fundamentally, what kinds of problems you’re trying to solve.
Here’s a breakdown of the main types of engineering careers, what roles you may find in each type, and a fun, quick quiz to figure out which one is right for you.
Types of Engineering Careers
The main types of engineering vary most in the types of math and science they use and what products, technology, or equipment they make. For example, while all engineers will have some technical skills, some may have programming skills to build software, while others may have advanced math skills to build mechanical systems.
>>MORE: Top 10 Jobs for Engineering Majors (of All Kinds)
Computer and Software Engineering
Computer and software engineering focuses on designing, developing, and maintaining computer systems, software applications, and networks. This field drives innovation in everything from mobile apps to cybersecurity systems.
Computer engineers often work on the hardware side of technology, while software engineers focus on writing and improving the software that runs on these devices. For example, a software engineer might develop a mobile app or create algorithms for artificial intelligence, while a cybersecurity specialist ensures that a company’s data is protected.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), software developers, which includes software engineers, have a mean annual wage of $138,110 and a 17% projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than average. Computer hardware engineers have a mean annual wage of $147,770 and a 7% projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than average.
Types of jobs in computer/software engineering include:
- Data engineer
- Machine learning engineer
- Security engineer
- Software engineer
- Systems engineer
Software Engineering
Learn what it's like to be a junior software engineer as you develop a new feature for the Sims 4 game.
Avg. Time: 5-6 hours
Skills you’ll build: Feature design, object-oriented design, code analysis, data structures, game engine technology
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering involves designing, building, and maintaining machines and mechanical systems. This field focuses on everything from engines and turbines to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and robotics.
Mechanical engineers solve problems by designing mechanical devices that can generate power, improve efficiency, or move materials. For example, an automotive engineer may focus on improving vehicle performance, while a robotics engineer might design robots that can perform repetitive tasks with precision.
According to the BLS, mechanical engineers have a mean annual wage of $105,220 and an 11% projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than average.
Types of jobs in mechanical engineering include:
- Aerospace engineer
- Automotive engineer
- HVAC engineer
- Manufacturing engineer
- R&D engineer
- Robotics engineer
- Thermal engineer
Explore Aerospace Engineering
Learn what it's like to be an aerospace engineer and help guide the design of a next-generation propulsion system.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Data analysis, decision making, engineering judgment, communication
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering focuses on designing and building the infrastructure that shapes our world — roads, bridges, buildings, and water systems. These engineers are responsible for ensuring that these structures are safe, efficient, and sustainable.
Civil engineers plan, design, and oversee construction projects, often working closely with urban planners, architects, and contractors. For example, a structural engineer might ensure that a bridge can withstand extreme weather conditions, while an environmental engineer designs solutions to reduce pollution or manage water resources.
According to the BLS, civil engineers have a mean annual wage of $101,160 and a 6% projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than average.
Types of jobs in civil engineering include:
- Environmental engineer
- Geotechnical engineer
- Highway engineer
- Planning engineer
- Structural engineer
- Transportation engineer
Civil Engineering
Experience a day-in-life working as a civil engineer on infrastructure, building, and rail businesses projects.
Avg. Time: 4-5 hours
Skills you’ll build: Reading structural drawings, calculating structural material, critical thinking, design
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is concerned with transforming raw materials into valuable products through chemical processes. This field is critical to the pharmaceuticals, energy, and materials science industries.
Chemical engineers design processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing, focusing on optimizing efficiency, safety, and sustainability. For instance, a process engineer might work on refining crude oil into gasoline, while another might focus on scaling up the production of a new pharmaceutical.
According to the BLS, electrical engineers have a mean annual wage of $122,910 and a 10% projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than average.
Types of jobs in chemical engineering include:
- Biochemical engineer
- Energy engineer
- Materials engineer
- Pharmaceutical engineer
- Process engineer
Engineering for New Energy
Assist with the integration of a large renewable energy source into a pre-existing system to help push towards net-zero targets.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Concept development, layout design, basics of design, technical reviewing, reporting, troubleshooting, safety awareness
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering focuses on designing, testing, and managing systems that power everything from household appliances to power grids.
These engineers work on developing electronic devices, circuits, and power generation systems, with the specific products varying depending on what industry you’re in. For example, an electrical engineer in telecommunications might develop better mobile network infrastructure, while an engineer working in renewable energy could design solar or wind power systems.
According to the BLS, electrical engineers have a mean annual wage of $117,680 and a 9% projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than average.
Types of jobs in electrical engineering include:
- Control systems engineer
- Design engineer
- Electronics engineer
- Instrumentation engineer
- Power systems engineer
- Telecommunications engineer
Explore Electrical Engineering
Assist in designing and troubleshooting avionics systems with GE Aerospace's electrical engineering team.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Electrical system design, critical thinking, technical documentation, systematic problem solving
What Engineering Careers Are Right for Me? Quiz
Ready to figure out what engineering careers are right for you? Take the quiz! You’ll need to sign up for your results, but it’s 100% free.
How to Land a Career in Engineering
Now that you know what career in engineering is right for you, how do you go about landing a role in the field?
Build Your Technical Skills …
The practical foundation of any engineering career is the mathematical or scientific technical skills you use in your career path.
While you can build those hard skills in a traditional classroom setting — taking college courses like calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science — there are also tons of ways outside of college to build or improve your skills:
- Take free online courses from places like Khan Academy
- Apply your engineering skills in free virtual job simulations on Forage
- Experiment with free coding platforms like Codecademy, FreeCodeCamp, or CS50
- Build simple projects that interest you, like a calculator or a Tic Tac Toe game
- Join school or local clubs that pursue engineering projects, like a robotics club
… and Your Curiosity
While technical skills are the foundation of engineering, engineers are also natural problem solvers. To succeed in the field, it’s crucial to be curious about everything around you — whether that’s how efficient the pathways are on your college campus or how a learning platform works.
“One of the biggest skills an engineer could have is not taking for granted how things work,” says Daniel Gorlovetsky, CEO at TLVTech. “Take ChatGPT for example. It’s one of the biggest revolutions I ever got to witness. How many people actually went and studied how LLMs work? How many people tried tweaking it to uncover how the models are designed?”
Building curiosity can sound abstract, but you can build this skill daily. Start by asking questions — open-ended ones, like “Why?” or “How?” — and be more open-minded about the world around you. Don’t be afraid to seek new perspectives and get answers from people with different viewpoints and backgrounds.
Get Practical Exposure to the Field
Great engineers have a mix of technical and soft skills, but neither of these types of skills have as much of an impact if you don’t know how to apply them. Instead, focus on how you can get experience with engineering before applying to full-time roles, whether that’s through internships, externships, volunteering, academic projects, or independent work.
“One of the most impactful things a student can do is to get involved in extracurricular engineering projects or internships,” says Samson Olanrewaju, technical application engineer at Fictiv. “This hands-on experience, combined with networking, will set you apart from others. Whether it’s a student-led project like designing a race car or an internship in a related field, gaining practical exposure early helps bridge the gap between academics and real-world application, making you more attractive to potential employers.”
Engineering Careers: The Bottom Line
Engineering careers are inventive career paths that focus on using math and science to innovate and solve the world’s problems. Different types of engineering vary based on what kinds of math and science skills you use and what technology, product, or equipment you develop.
The best type of engineering careers for you utilize your natural problem-solving strengths, whether that’s a preference for breaking things down to see how they work or how to make processes more efficient. Yet, as the engineering career path continues to grow — each type has a strong job outlook! — the best engineers often cross boundaries between disciplines. Your results might point to one area, but that doesn’t have to limit you. Modern engineering projects often require collaboration across multiple fields, and your combination of interests and strengths can be valuable to hybrid roles and innovative new specialties.
Remember, the most successful engineers aren’t just technically skilled — they’re creative problem-solvers who see possibilities where others see obstacles.
Image credit: Canva
