10 Best Engineering Jobs for your Future 2025: Most Demanding Fields

Engineering was, is, and will continue to be one of the world’s most pivotal occupations. And why do I say this? 

It is because, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the field of engineering is projected to offer 188,000 job openings each year (between 2022 and 2032).

If you’re an engineering aspirant, you must be keen on finding the most in-demand engineering fields in the future.

This article will take you through comprehensive details of ten engineering fields that will be in great demand by 2025 and beyond.
 

Isaac Asimov (the sci-fi writer who coined the word ‘robotics’) rightly stated, ‘Science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world.’

Let’s now explore the ten most demanding engineering jobs for the future.

Why is Demand for Engineers High Globally

Engineers are needed everywhere to create, develop, and improve products that people depend on. The innumerable buildings, systems, and technology that actively enhance the lives of countless people worldwide are designed and improved by engineers. 

The need for engineers is increasing due to the quick development of technology and the dynamic needs of society.

Did you know the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports engineering has an anticipated job growth of 5.2% between 2022 and 2032? 

Several engineering specialties are anticipated to grow quicker than this growth figure, including civil engineering (8.4%) and environmental engineering (12.4%).

Criteria to Choose Most Demanding Engineering Courses in Future

Here are a few things you must consider before choosing the most demanding engineering branch in the near future:

• Look for Your Interest: Most people take an engineering branch out of parent or peer pressure. However, you must consider your interests while choosing the most in-demand engineering field to give complete justice.  
• Future Plans: You should focus on your plans after completing the four-year engineering course. It could be higher education or starting with a job, and depending on this, select your engineering branch.
• Career Opportunities: If you plan to begin a job right after your engineering course, you must look for the branch with the most job opportunities. Consider evaluating your options in both government and private organizations before deciding.
• Ground Visits: Ground visits help clear doubts and give clarity on whether or not the chosen field of interest is right. When you see the real-life application, you will be better able to acknowledge if you can do justice to that opportunity. 

List of 10 Most Demanding Engineering Fields in Future

Let’s dive into the most demanded engineering branches that have a bright future scope. 

1. Civil Engineering 
2. Cartography 
3. Aerospace Engineering
4. Industrial Engineering
5. Agricultural Engineering
6. Mechanical Engineering
7. Marine Engineering 
8. Chemical Engineering
9. Environmental Engineering 
10. Civil Engineering Technology 

Read More:

Top Engineering Courses After 12th

In-Depth Analysis of Each Job Role

Here are the in-depth details on the highest-growing engineering fields mentioned above, with their average salaries and other crucial details.

Civil engineer:

Civil engineering professionals oversee the design, maintenance, and development workflows of infrastructure and other projects across different categories. They play a crucial role in designing and creating infrastructure in residential, commercial, industrial, and other categories while assisting with city/town planning and infrastructure creation.

They have job growth forecasts of 7% and earn approximately $87,181 per year.

Salary Trend for Civil Engineer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Civil Engineer
2024	$103,975
2023	$101,160
2022	$97,380
2021	$95,490
2020	$95,440

Top Universities to Study Civil Engineering

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Duration
Texas A&M University	Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering	$54,000	Class rank, SAT/ACT scores, recommended high school coursework	4 semesters
Arizona State University	Civil Engineering, BSE	$61,333	3.00 GPA in ASU competency courses, SAT/ACT scores, three years of high school coursework	NA
Georgia Institute of Technology	Civil Engineering BS	$33,566 per year	High school transcripts along with grades AC or better in Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Statics, etc.	4 years
Columbia University	BS in Civil Engineering	$32,670 per term	Secondary school curricula, final national exam results	4 years
Temple University	Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering	$36,816 per year	Secondary school transcripts, test options	4 years

Source: university websites

Cartographer:

The forecasted annual job growth for cartographers is 3%. Their duties include measuring, researching, collecting, manipulating, storing, interpreting, and retrieving geographic data from multiple sources. These may include reports, surveys, and remote sensing technologies for aerial and satellite images.

Cartographers also use these data points to develop and periodically update all thematic maps and charts for diverse purposes. These objectives include education and learning, regional development and planning by the authorities, and more.  

Salary Trend for Cartographer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Cartographer
2024	$84,488
2023	$78,810
2022	$86,670
2021	$82,880
2020	$82,030

Top Universities to Study Cartography

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Fees	Eligibility	Duration
University of Southampton	Environmental Science BSc	$34,238	A-levels, International Baccalaureate Diploma, BTec	3 years
University of Glasgow	Masters in Geoinformation Technology & Cartography	$35,312	Honors degree in the relevant field, mathematical competence	1 year
University of Wisconsin - Madison	Cartography and Geographic Information Systems, B.S.	$61,106	NA	4 year
Unity Environmental University	Environmental Geographic Information Science, MS	$10,850	30 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA	1 year
Arizona State University	Geographic Information Science, BS	$61,333	3.00 GPA, SAT/ACT scores, three years of high school coursework	Not mentioned

Source: university websites

Aerospace Engineering Technician:

Aerospace engineering technicians have diverse responsibilities, including developing and maintaining testing facilities for aircraft, analyzing all components for testing equipment, and installing various crucial systems for these purposes.

They record data from tests, calibrate and run computer infrastructure, and present valuable reports whenever required. Installing instruments on aircraft along with helping in tracking aircraft systems is also one of their responsibilities. They assist aeronautical engineers with the maintenance and functioning of aerospace equipment and the development, testing, and other processes vital for aircraft or spacecraft.

The job role of an aerospace engineering technician has a projected job growth of 6% in ten years, with a potential of earning up to $73,580 per year on average.

Salary Trend for Aerospace Engineering Technician

Year	Average Annual Salary for Aerospace Engineering Technician
2024	$84,964
2023	$81,280
2022	$77,060
2021	$73,510
2020	$70,680

Top Universities to Study Aerospace Engineering Technology

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Fees	Eligibility	Duration
Confederation College	Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering Technician	$18,328 per year	High school with grade 12 math credit	2 years
UPC	Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Technology Engineering	$2,743 per year	NA	4 years
Purdue University	Aeronautical Engineering Technology, BS	$45,954	120 credits	4 years
Centennial College	Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering Technician	$18,848	Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, grade 12 English, Grade 11 Mathematics	2 years
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology	$36,954 - $47,210	NA	Flexible

Source: university websites

Industrial Engineer:

Industrial engineers have a forecast job growth of a whopping 10. They are tasked with creating innovative systems that combine equipment, employees, data, and crucial materials for developing any necessary product or enabling the provision of a service.

They analyze the production process while also eliminating waste, creating more agile frameworks for operations, and so on. They also manage workflows throughout procedures, engineering specs, production schedules, building management control measures, and more. 

Salary Trend for Industrial Engineer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Industrial Engineer
2024	$114,875
2023	$103,150
2022	$98,880
2021	$95,520
2020	$93,890

Top Universities to Study Industrial Engineering

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Fees	Eligibility	Duration
Northeastern University	Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering	$86,821	128 total semester hours, minimum 2.00 GPA	4-5 years
NYU Tandon School of Engineering	Industrial Engineering, MS	$74,055	Bachelor’s degree in a related field	12 courses total of 30 credits
UMASS Lowell	Industrial Engineering Major	$56,048	SAT/ACT scores, official school transcript	NA
University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign	Industrial Engineering Bachelor of Science	$56,270 - $66,358	Minimum GPA - 2.00,	128 hours
New Jersey Institute of Technology	BS Industrial Engineering	$17,967	GPA 3.0 or more	4 years

Source: university websites

Agricultural engineer:

These professionals take care of problem-solving aspects like working agricultural equipment/machinery, supply of power, usage of various structures and resources, environmental and pollution concerns, processing and storage, etc. They also test and develop diverse machinery & other agricultural equipment, and may design various components while supervising their operations, if required.

The agricultural engineering job roles are projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the average of all occupations. 

Salary Trend for Agricultural Engineer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Agricultural Engineer
2024	$97,007
2023	$93,490
2022	$90,710
2021	$87,350
2020	$101,620

Top Universities to Study Agricultural Engineering

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Fees	Eligibility	Duration
Purdue University	Agricultural Engineering, BSAGE	$45,954	128 credits, GPA - 2.0	4 years
Illinois State University	Major - Agriculture - Horticulture and Landscape Management	$46,668	Unofficial academic records	4 years
The Ohio State University	Agricultural System Management	$41,293	Academic performance, ACT/SAT scores	4 years
University of Nebraska - Lincoln	Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering	$52,286	Final secondary school transcript, secondary school certificate/diploma	4 years
University of Georgia	BS Agricultural Engineering	NA	A minimum grade of “C” (2.0) or better in academics align with a minimum GPA of 2.75 for the three major specific courses for the student’s major.	4 years

Source: university websites

Mechanical engineer:

Jobs for mechanical engineers are projected to grow 10% between 2022 and 2032, which is much faster than the average of all occupations. But what do mechanical engineers do? Let’s find out.

Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing operating machines. This includes power-producing machines, such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, thermal sensors, and gas turbines, as well as power-using machines, such as refrigerators and air-conditioners. They are usually required to leverage and implement several core mechanical principles/concepts to achieve multiple objectives.

Salary Trend for Mechanical Engineer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Mechanical Engineer
2024	$135,981
2023	$105,220
2022	$100,820
2021	$97,000
2020	$95,560

Top Universities to Study Mechanical Engineering

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Duration
Michigan Technological University	Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering	$57,706 - $62,516	Official secondary high school transcripts	8 semesters
Georgia Institute of Technology	BS in Mechanical Engineering	$16,783 per semester	High school transcripts	Flexible
Temple University	BS in Mechanical Engineering	$36,816 per year	Official secondary school transcripts	128 credit hour
Illinois Tech	Mechanical Engineering BS	$50,636	Official or certified copies of marks	8 semesters
New York Institute of Technology	Mechanical Engineering BS	$47,060	High school transcripts, mid and final-year grades, proof of high school graduation	127-129 credits

Source: university websites

Marine engineer :

They design, build, and maintain marine vessels, including several kinds of ships and other watercraft, like tankers, aircraft carriers, submarines, and even sailboats. That's not all; they also internally maintain, design, and produce several systems for these vehicles. They also design and maintain steering, heating, cooling, power, ventilation, and hydraulics systems for these water vessels. 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the marine engineering job roles are expected to grow faster than the average for all careers through 2028.

Salary Trend for Marine Engineer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Marine Engineer
2024	$142,077
2023	$108,110
2022	$105,560
2021	$97,820
2020	$99,590

Top Universities to Study Marine Engineering

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Fees	Eligibility	Duration
Georgian College	Marine Engineering Technology Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Co-op Program	$9,263	Grade 12 English, mathematics with minimum 70% in grade 12	3 years
University of Strathclyde Glasgow	Msc Marine Engineering	$34,371	First or second-class honors degree	1 year
Munster Technological University	BE in Marine Engineering	$14,494 per year	Class XII school certificate with a 75%	3 years
University of Tasmania	Bachelor of Applied Science - Marine Engineering	$77,183	Qualification equivalent to 12th year of Australian education	4-9 years
Stevens Institute of Technology	Bachelors in Naval Engineering Concentration	$84,906	Official high school transcript, test scores	8 semesters

Chemical engineer:

Jobs in chemical engineering are expected to grow by a great margin of 14% by 2032. Chemical engineers are responsible for researching, testing, and evaluating chemical manufacturing processes for the production of chemicals, fuels, foods, pharmaceuticals, and biologicals. 

They must ensure these products are in line with official regulations, safety aspects, and compliance requirements. Chemical engineers often use principles of physics, mathematics, engineering, and chemistry for their work.

Salary Trend for Chemical Engineer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Chemical Engineer
2024	$1,30,637
2023	$122,910
2022	$117,820
2021	$121,840
2020	$114,820

Top Universities to Study Chemical Engineering

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Fees	Eligibility	Duration
University of Bath	Chemical Engineering BEng (Hons)	$35,928	Strong record in Chemistry and Math, higher secondary school certificate with a min of 85%	4 years
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering	$29,875 per term	Core chemical engineering subjects with a focus on Chemistry	4 years
Stanford University	Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering	$6,308	GPA 3.00 or above	135 units of graduate work
University of California - Berkeley	BS Chemistry	$26,358	3.0 GPA in 10th and 11th grade years	4 years
University of Cincinnati	Chemical Engineering BSCHE	$34,474 - $50,458	Official school transcripts, official test scores	5 years

Source: university websites

Environmental engineer:

The jobs for environmental engineers are expected to grow by 6% by 2032. Their job duties include researching and developing mechanisms to protect the natural environment. They devise solutions for environmental issues we face today while ensuring that projects and overall development comply with environmental regulations and laws.

Some of their areas of operation include wastewater management, soil science, ozone depletion, climate change, sustainability, renewable energy, tackling pollution, and much more.

Salary Trend for Environmental Engineer

Year	Average Annual Salary for Environmental Engineer
2024	$115,766
2023	$105,840
2022	$101,670
2021	$100,220
2020	$96,890

Top Universities to Study Environmental Engineering

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Fees	Eligibility	Duration
University of Washington	Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering	$39,906 annually	Official transcripts	4 years
Northeastern University	Master of Science in Environmental Engineering	$1,864 cost per credit hour	Transcripts of all courses and grades	16 semester-hour
University of Strathclyde Glasgow	MEng Civil and Environmental Engineering	$33,301	First or second-class honors degree	5 years
Ohio University	Online MS in Civil Engineering	$27,872	Bachelors in civil engineering with a GPA of 3.0 or higher	5 semesters
Deakin University	Bachelors of Engineering (Honors)	$26,846	Based on academic work experience, the likelihood of success, and other factors	4 years

Source: university websites

Civil Engineering Technician

Their duties include assisting civil engineers with developing, planning, and designing projects across various categories, along with proper infrastructure creation for industrial, commercial, and residential spaces.

These professionals take care of tasks like testing conditions on fields before construction, layouts and drawings of projects, supervising work at the construction site, collaborating with contractors, testing all construction materials, testing soil samples, and estimating project costs per requirements. 

Salary Trend for Civil Engineering Technician

Year	Average Annual Salary for Civil Engineering Technician
2024	$71,576
2023	$63,770
2022	$61,480
2021	$58,000
2020	$56,590

Top Universities to Study Civil Engineering Technology

University Name	Degree Offered	Average Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Duration
Loyalist College	Civil Engineering Technician	$15,000 for one year	OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, grade 12 English level	2-3 years
Durham College	Civil Engineering Technician	$33,103 - total fees	OSSD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, grade 12 English level	4 semesters
Sault College	Civil Engineering Technician	$15,757 yearly	OSSD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, grade 12 English level	2 years
Canadore College	Civil Engineering Technician	$34,818 - total fees	OSSD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, grade 12 English level	2-3 years
Cambrian College	Civil Engineering Technician	$17,608 - first year	OSSD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, grade 12 English level	4 semesters

Source: university websites

Top 10 Universities in World for Engineering

Here are the top 10 universities worldwide (according to QS Subject Rankings 2024) you can look forward to if you wish to make a career in the most in-demand engineering fields:

Name of the University	Country	Top Course	QS Ranking (Subject 2024)	Average Fees*
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	United States	Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering	1	$29,875 per term
Stanford University	United States	Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering	2	$6,308 quarterly
University of Oxford	United Kingdom	Engineering Science	3	£48,620 (approx $62,600)
University of Cambridge	United Kingdom	Engineering BA (Hons) and MEng	4	£39,162 (approx $50,369)
University of California - Berkeley	United States	BS Chemistry	5	$26,358
ETH Zurich	Switzerland	MS Biomedical Engineering	6	CHF 730 (Approx $802) per semester
Imperial College London	United Kingdom	MEng Chemical Engineering	7	£40,940 (approx $52,656)
Harvard University	United States	AB in Engineering Sciences	8	$63,624
California Institute of Technology	United States	Graduate degree in Aeronautics	9	$63,063
EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne	Switzerland	Chemistry and Chemical Engineering	10	$802 per semester

*Source: university websites. Conversion into dollars as of July 2024.

Top 15 Recruiters for Engineering Students 

Some of the leading recruiters for engineering students ( per the recent reports by Universum- which is the largest Employer Branding Agency surveying over 1 million students and professionals worldwide since 1988) include the following:

• Lockheed Martin
• SpaceX
• Boeing
• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
• Tesla
• Raytheon Technologies
• Northrop Grumman
• Apple
• Google
• Microsoft
• Amazon
• General Electric
• ExxonMobil
• Intel
• BMW Group
• Siemens
• IBM

Median Pay for Engineers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics figures, the median annual salary for careers in engineering, as of May 2023, was $91,420. This was higher than the median annual salaries of all workers, which was $48,060.
 

Median Pay for Engineers

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics figures, the median annual salary for careers in architecture and engineering, as of May 2021, was $79,840. This was higher than the median annual salaries of all workers, which was $45,760. 

10 Essential Skills Required for Engineering Students 

Engineering students require several critical skills to succeed in fast-evolving occupational areas. Some of them include the following: 

• Problem-solving
• Attention to detail
• Critical reasoning
• Creativity 
• Teamwork 
• Communication 
• Research and data collection 
• Presentation and leadership 
• Computer science and programming
• Software capabilities, including CAM, CAD, and others 

Eligibility Criteria for Best Engineering Courses

The eligibility criteria vary across engineering disciplines; the specific requirements may depend on the required skill sets. Some of the standard requirements include the following:

• Class XII with Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics as core subjects from an affiliated educational board with the minimum aggregate, depending on the institution, is required for undergraduate programs. 
• Postgraduate programs require a bachelor's degree in engineering with the minimum aggregate, depending on the institution. 
• Students with biology as a subject in high school can also apply for streams such as biomedical engineering. 
• Most universities require students to take the GRE for a master's degree in engineering.
• Institutions often require test scores for English language proficiency exams (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE and others). 
• SOPs, LORs, and admission essays may also be required. 

The requirements may vary from university to university; hence, you must check the official website of your preferred university before starting the application process.

Conclusion

The engineering industry is expected to witness a boom over the next few years, and one can expect persistent job growth by 2025 for engineering students. Not just 2025; the outlook looks good till 2032, too.

By evaluating the salary trends and projected job growth for various engineering jobs, we can conclude that engineering shall remain one of the most fulfilling and lucrative global professions. 

Assessing the most in-demand engineering jobs for the future across innumerable branches, you can choose the most suitable engineering field according to your aptitude and interests.

Disclaimer: All costs and salaries are indicative and subject to change at any time. 

Sources for Salary Trend: 2024: Glassdoor, July 2024 data; for all other years: U.S. BLS reports (2020,2021,2022,2023)

Top Countries to Study Engineering:

• Masters in Engineering in UK
• Masters in Engineering in USA
• Universities in Germany For Engineering
• Masters of Engineering, General in France