Engineers are in high demand across many industries, and with that comes a wide range of salaries. Let’s take a look at how much different types of engineers make on average and in their 5 top paying states.
Software Engineer Salary
Engineer salaries in the software industry can vary greatly depending on your experience and the company you work for. The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track them, but “software and web developers, programmers, and testers” are collectively listed with an annual wage of $113,720 in 2021. The median was $103,000.
Computer programmers earned $96,650 on average ($93,000 median), while software developers made around $121,000. Software quality assurance analysts and testers earned $97,710 on average ($98,220 median).
So, depending on what tasks your software engineering job entails, you could be making anywhere from $95,000 to $130,000.
Software Engineer Salaries by State
Since software engineering jobs can vary a lot, let’s take a look at just two occupations listed by the BLS. Here’s a list of the 5 highest-paying states for software developers.
- California – $146,770;
- Washington – $145,150;
- Maryland – $131,240;
- New York – $129,950;
- Rhode Island – $128,790.
Software quality assurance analysts and testers, on the other hand, earned the most in:
- New York – $116,440;
- California – $115,420;
- Maryland – $110,950;
- New Mexico – $110,370;
- Massachusetts – $108,320.
What Do Software Engineers Do?
A software engineer’s role can vary greatly depending on the company they work for. They may be in charge of developing and coding software, or they may be responsible for testing and debugging software. They may also be involved in design, requirements gathering, project management, or customer support.
Electrical Engineer Salary
The mean annual wage for electrical engineers was $107,890 in 2021. The middle 50% earned between $78,500 and $128,560, so the expected electrical engineer salary was about $100,420. The lowest-paid 10% made less than $62,360, while the highest-paid made more than $162,930.
Electrical Engineer Salaries by State
Just like software engineering, electrical engineering jobs can vary, but we’re looking at the averages. Here are the top five paying states for electrical engineers according to the BLS.
- California – $126,640;
- District of Columbia – $123,280;
- Washington – $118,890;
- Massachusetts – $118,100;
- Maryland – $117,950.
What Do Electrical Engineers Do?
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, systems, and components. They may also be involved in installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical equipment.
Mechanical Engineer Salary
The mean annual wage for mechanical engineers was $97,000 in 2021. The middle 50% earned between $76,050 and $120,180. So, the median salary was $95,300. The lowest-paid made less than $60,750 while the highest-paid earned more than $136,210.
Mechanical Engineer Salaries by State
Just like the other disciplines, engineer salaries in the mechanics industry can vary greatly depending on the state. Here are the five highest-paying states for mechanical engineers according to BLS.
- New Mexico – $120,040;
- Louisiana – $119,380;
- District of Columbia – $113,840;
- California – $113,130;
- Alaska – $111,850.
What Do Mechanical Engineers Do?
Mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of mechanical equipment, systems, and components. They may also be involved in installation, operation, and maintenance of mechanical equipment.
Aerospace Engineer Salary
Aerospace engineers earned a mean annual wage of $122,970 in 2021. The middle 50% of earners made between $96,130 and $152,950, with the middle falling at $122,270. The lowest-paid 10% of aerospace engineers earned less than $77,440, while the highest-paid earned more than $168,370.
Aerospace Engineer Salaries by State
Just like with electrical and software engineering, aerospace engineer salaries can vary greatly depending on the state. The five highest-paying states for this profession are:
- Nebraska – $149,860;
- Colorado – $140,690;
- Arizona – $140,430;
- District of Columbia – $137,390;
- California – $134,120.
What Do Aerospace Engineers Do?
Aerospace engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and satellites. They may also be involved in the design of aviation equipment.
Nuclear Engineer Salary
The average engineer salary in nuclear science was $121,760 in 2021. The lowest-paid tenth of nuclear engineers earned less than $75,460, while the highest-paid tenth earned more than $169,000. The middle salary was $120,380.
Nuclear Engineer Salaries by State
Like with other jobs, nuclear engineer salaries vary depending on location. The five states with the highest average salaries for nuclear engineers are:
- Kentucky – $198,900;
- California – $147,060;
- Idaho – $146,580;
- District of Columbia – $146,190;
- Oregon – $134,040.
What Do Nuclear Engineers Do?
Nuclear engineers design, develop, build, and operate nuclear power plants. They also work on the development of nuclear weapons.
Which of the Engineering Jobs Is Most Appealing to You?
So there you have it: a breakdown of what different engineering jobs pay across the country. As you can see, engineer salaries vary greatly depending on your specialization and where you live; and of course, how many years of experience you have. No matter which type of engineer you decide to become, though, you can be sure that you will have a lucrative and exciting career ahead of you – with great benefits in addition to your base salary.
Which of the engineering jobs discussed in this article is most appealing to you? Let us know in the comments below!
