| Engineering is a great career choice for many. With | | | | engineering tasks often involve work outside the |
| 1.4 million engineering jobs in the U.S. alone, it's no | | | | desk space including lab research, field work, |
| wonder this career field is a popular one. Let's take a | | | | exploration and construction sites, monitoring stations |
| look at a few reasons why engineering is such a hot | | | | and more. |
| and rewarding career. | | | | - Engineers need to continue their educations to keep |
| Challenging Work | | | | on top of the latest research and technological |
| Engineers get to combine their creativity, | | | | changes. Some companies offer funding for this. Not |
| mathematics and science background with technology | | | | staying on top of the changes can mean the |
| in order to help solve everyday problems. They get | | | | difference between maintaining employment and |
| to work on the design and development of new | | | | being laid off. |
| products, help with their production, monitoring, | | | | - The Internet has opened the doors for |
| maintenance and testing. | | | | telecommuters (who may often come aboard for |
| In alphabetical order, the main engineering | | | | less money via long-distance arrangements), but local |
| specializations are: aerospace, agricultural, biomedical, | | | | engineers are still in demand. Engineers often work |
| chemical, civil, computer, electrical, electronics, | | | | on-site teaming up with others and their support |
| environmental, health and safety, industrial, marine, | | | | staff. |
| materials, mechanical, mining and geological, nuclear | | | | - In 2004, engineers with higher degrees (Master's |
| and petroleum. | | | | and PhD's) earned more. And for specialty engineers, |
| Career Tidbits | | | | workers earned well into the 6-figure ranges. |
| The following list includes some interesting information | | | | - Rapid growth in the technology sector means |
| about this career field according to the U.S. | | | | companies must seek the means to stay ahead of |
| Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics | | | | competitors with product and technology |
| Occupational Outlook Handbook: | | | | development, testing, and monitoring. Therefore, |
| - Engineers generally work 40 hours per week, but | | | | engineers are in demand and will be for some time to |
| the workload may increase under tight deadlines. Daily | | | | come. |