| The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines engineers as | | | | engineers are currently enduring an unemployment rate |
| the personnel who apply the principles of science and | | | | in the 8% area. At the same time, Microsoft's Bill Gates |
| mathematics to develop economical solutions to | | | | has gone on record that the computer industry is |
| technical problems. Their work is the link between | | | | suffering a severe shortage of experienced electrical |
| scientific discoveries and the commercial applications | | | | and computer engineers. |
| that meet societal and consumer needs. In other | | | | The overall job opportunities in engineering are |
| words, a crew of engineers was the bridge between | | | | expected to be good. Prospects are considered |
| what used to be a gimmick on Star Trek, like the | | | | excellent in certain specialties, such as computer and |
| communicator, and is now called the cell phone. A | | | | petroleum engineering. In addition to job growth, many |
| science degree is a step toward embracing an | | | | openings will be created by the need to replace |
| exciting future. | | | | current engineers who retire; transfer to management, |
| Still, engineers are one of the four STEM fields that the | | | | sales, or other occupations; or leave engineering for |
| nation is going through a severe shortage of. As such, | | | | other reasons. |
| there are now all manner of government and private | | | | What's also important is that those in the engineering |
| financial aid, grants, and scholarships being offered. This | | | | profession stay current with their specialty. Innovations |
| influx is an attempt to fill what was once called the | | | | come at a rate that can cause future shock. An |
| "brain drain" and now, or at least in a state of the union | | | | engineer who isn't constantly taking online college |
| address by former President George W. Bush, is | | | | courses and seminars soon finds themselves falling |
| bordering on a crisis. | | | | behind the pack. Quite simply, a Bachelor degree isn't |
| In 2005, the Bureau states there are 1.6 million | | | | enough anymore. A good engineer usually can find a |
| engineers in the U.S. The largest chunk, 278,000, is civil | | | | way to work-study with an online college towards a |
| engineers, followed by mechanical (238,000) and | | | | Masters and even a PhD. |
| electrical (214,000). In all, the BLS lists 18 different types, | | | | The rewards are certainly worth it. The bottom level |
| including a catch-all "other" group. Overall engineering | | | | agricultural and marine engineer earns a minimum of |
| employment is expected to grow by 11 percent over | | | | $43,000 while the top end engineers, such as |
| the 2008-18 decade, about as fast as the average for | | | | petroleum, move towards $150,000. The median salary |
| all occupations. | | | | for all engineers is about $81,000. Their employment |
| Admittedly, the job market can seem boom or bust, | | | | packages also include educational financial aid, medical |
| but it's all dependent on the industry the engineer is | | | | health insurance, and all manner of financial incentives. |
| working in. For instance, manufacturing and mechanical | | | | |