What is an engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Robert Saunders P.E.,
Brian Denton Ph.D.
introduction image

An engineer applies scientific and mathematical principles to design, develop, and improve products, processes, and systems. They use problem-solving skills to create solutions that meet the needs of people and society. Engineers work in a variety of fields, including civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and aerospace engineering. They may be involved in research, design, testing, manufacturing, maintenance, or management. Engineers must have strong analytical skills, attention to detail, creativity, and communication.

What general advice would you give to an Engineer?

R

Robert Saunders P.E.Robert Saunders P.E. LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Department Head, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

The job market for an electrical engineering student coming out of college is challenging right now. Many companies are still hiring electrical engineering students but, the students can't be as finicky about what jobs they are accepting. More than half of the students are starting their new jobs working remotely, which is a large shift from normal but the companies seem to be using this time to bring the new hires up to speed on policy, procedures, and industry regulations.
ScoreEngineerUS Average
Salary
7.2

Avg. Salary $92,077

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.4

Growth Rate 2%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 15.01%

Black or African American 3.34%

Hispanic or Latino 9.05%

Unknown 4.58%

White 67.91%

Gender

female 13.73%

male 86.27%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress Level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.6

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.1

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Engineer?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Opportunities for advancement

  • Job security

  • Opportunity to make a difference in society

  • Possibility of working remotely

Cons

  • Can be mentally and emotionally taxing

  • Limited creativity in some fields

  • Can involve repetitive tasks

  • May require extensive travel or relocation

  • Risk of job becoming outsourced or automated

Engineer career paths

Key steps to become an engineer

  1. Explore engineer education requirements

    Most common engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    65.2 %

    Master's

    12.7 %

    Associate

    11.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific engineer skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Python8.22%
    Cloud5.76%
    C++5.19%
    C #5.19%
    AWS5.07%
  3. Complete relevant engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real engineer resumes.
  4. Research engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage startup, trouble shooting and testing of PLC control equipment.
    • Lead project team to design and FDA validate 10-up extreme accuracy vial dosing system and CIP/SIP automate cleaning equipment.
    • Automate the creation of a WebLogic Admin and manage server deployment scheme within an installer for secure application deployment.
    • Install and test PLC in client own equipment on site - solve some logical and hardware issues to accomplish goal
  5. Prepare your engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Engineer Resume templates

    Build a professional Engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Engineer resume.
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  6. Apply for engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Engineer Job

Zippi

Are you an Engineer?

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Average engineer salary

The average Engineer salary in the United States is $92,077 per year or $44 per hour. Engineer salaries range between $65,000 and $130,000 per year.

Average Engineer Salary
$92,077 Yearly
$44.27 hourly

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How do engineers rate their job?

4.33/5

Based On 3 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Engineer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2024
Cons

Physical work not something you want to be doing later in life


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022
Pros

Very challenging work because we work for physically ill person's and I think it is not a job it's a service for society from us.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020
Cons

Can be stressful at times


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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