What’s the Average Salary with a Master Of Engineering?

Engineering is an extremely diverse field, touching every aspect of out lives from home design to manufacturing to transportation. As an engineering, going back to school to earn your master’s degree in your specialty of choice can give a huge boost to your salary, as well as make it easier to find a job that you really enjoy. Let’s take a look at the salary you can expect if you decide to get a master’s degree instead of working with just a bachelor’s degree in this field.

Salary by Specialty

Graduates of master’s degree programs undoubtedly make more money than their counterparts who have only bachelor’s degree, but the exact salary you can expect depends on the engineering specialty you choose. According to reports, you can make anywhere from $68,730 to $108,020, on average, as an engineer, and many engineers make even more, since these figures factor in engineers at all levels of education. Petroleum engineers make the most money, on average, though the fastest-growing engineering specialty in the country is biomedical engineering and the most jobs are available to civil engineers.

Entry level Engineer Salary

Even if you have a master’s degree in the field, most companies hire engineers in entry-level positions until they gain real-life work experience as an engineer. On average, you can expect to make 6 to 10 percent more than someone in an entry-level position with just a bachelor’s degree, though this varies depending on the job and company. Entry-level engineers, on average, make $27,000 to $60,000 annually, with most falling in the $35,ooo to $45,000 range. If you earn an MBA along with a BS in engineering, rather than a master of engineering (or in addition to a master of engineering), you can earn even more.

Salary by School

If you attend a top school in your field, you can expect to make more money after you graduate with a master’s degree. For example, if you have an MBA from a top 20 school along with an engineering degree, you can expect a starting salary over over $70,000 annually. MIT, one of the top schools for engineers, publishes their graduates’ salaries in a report annually. In 2009, students with a master of engineering reported starting salaries of over $83,000 on average from this school – so going to a top engineering program really could pay off.

Top Online Masters in Engineering Degrees

Engineering is the science of applying mathematical, practical, and scientific knowledge and skill to the design and construction of building devices, machines, materials, and processes. There are several subsets of engineering, including biochemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and more. The following schools all offer accredited online degrees in one or more engineering subjects.

MS in Manufacturing Eng MS in Mechanical Eng M.Eng. in Biochem Engineering	Lehigh University. Lehigh University's MS in manufacturing systems engineering offers innovative courses that combine engineering and business with project work. The MS in Mechanical Engineering and M.Eng. in Biochemical Engineering programs bring together sciences, mathematics, and problem-solving to produce students who can create solutions to difficult problems.
MS in Electrical Engineering	DeVry University. The MS in Electrical Engineering from DeVry provides the skills required to analyze, design, and develop computer and electronic systems. This curriculum features computer systems design, embedded systems design, distributed systems design, network systems design, wireless systems design, multimedia systems design, and neural network design.
Master of Civil Engineering	Norwich University. Norwich University's online Master of Civil Engineering program is designed for working professionals and can be completed in under two years. Coursework teaches technical knowledge, project management skills, and specific subjects such as structural, geotechnical, construction management, and environmental engineering.
MS in Electrical Engineering MS in Engineering Mgmt MS in Engineering Technology MS in Software Engineering	Drexel University. Drexel University's MS in Electrical Engineering features specialties in Electrophysics, Robotics, Power Engineering, and Image Processing. Other options are the MS in Engineering Management, MS in Engineering Technology, and MS in Software Engineering. These programs are offered online for your convienence.
MS in Engineering Management MS in Civil Engineering	New Jersey Institute of Technology. NJIT is a leading school in the technology management world with 126 years of service to students and alumni. Two fully online (require no on-campus time) programs in engineering are available, MS in Engineering Management and MS in Civil Engineering. While these programs require an undergraduate degree related to science fields, the programs can be completed in one to two years. NJIT has accreditation with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
MS in Software Engineering	University of Liverpool. The curriculum at the University of Liverpool's MS in Software Engineering program covers computer structures, software engineering, systems analysis and design, all with a global perspective of the latest technologies from around the world. Programs can be personalized with elective modules in database analysis, communication and networks, and security engineering.
MS in Software Engineering MS in Systems Engineering	Colorado Technical University. The MS in Systems Engineering and MS/CS in Software Engineering programs at Colorado Technical University focus on the documentation and analysis of computer system designs. The curriculum teaches the technique of breaking down the budget, schedule and process involved in completing projects.
M.Eng. in Microelectronics Eng.	Rochester Institute of Technology. Rochester Institute of Technology's M.Eng. degree in microelectronics manufacturing engineering offers students a curriculum that provides a background in traditional engineering as well as specialized courses in the semiconductor industry. Students learn how to design, analyze, and experiment with products using cutting-edge technology.
MBA in Engineering Mgmt	Northcentral University. The MBA in Engineering Management from Northcentral University provides for specialization areas in Engineering Management. The curriculum focuses on productivity, systemic quality control, and using technology to improve productivity. Courses include technical classes like Emerging Technologies as well as managerial classes in Strategic Leadership and Industrial Management.
MS/IS in Software Engineering	Strayer University. Strayer's MS degree in Information Systems with a concentration in software engineering features courses that examine technical, managerial, and policy issues that arise from supporting organizational computer systems. Concentrations in Computer Security Management, Network Management, and Software Engineering Management allow for targeted study.
MS in Fire Engineering	Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Worcester Polytechnic Institute's MS in Fire Protection Engineering program combines modern technology with fire safety using the disciplines of building construction, architecture, electrical, mechanical, and civil and chemical engineering. The program includes major courses, non-major courses, thesis and project.
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