Engineering & Architecture salaries
Engineering and architecture careers design and build the physical and industrial world, from civil and mechanical to electrical and aerospace engineering.
Below are all 33 engineering & architecture occupations the BLS tracks, ranked by median annual pay for May 2025. The best paid, computer hardware engineers, earns a median of $161,740 a year.
| # | Job | Median annual | Hourly | Typical education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Hardware Engineers | $161,740 | $77.76 | Bachelor's degree | 76,660 |
| 2 | Petroleum Engineers | $144,910 | $69.67 | Bachelor's degree | 18,060 |
| 3 | Aerospace Engineers | $134,960 | $64.89 | Bachelor's degree | 67,710 |
| 4 | Nuclear Engineers | $133,970 | $64.41 | Bachelor's degree | 15,280 |
| 5 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 | Bachelor's degree | 96,900 |
| 6 | Chemical Engineers | $125,040 | $60.12 | Bachelor's degree | 21,070 |
| 7 | Electrical Engineers | $120,630 | $58.00 | Bachelor's degree | 198,750 |
| 8 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | $55.36 | Bachelor's degree | 21,450 |
| 9 | Materials Engineers | $112,860 | $54.26 | Bachelor's degree | 22,770 |
| 10 | Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $112,230 | $53.96 | Bachelor's degree | 8,250 |
| 11 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | $52.58 | Bachelor's degree | 23,480 |
| 12 | Environmental Engineers | $107,110 | $51.50 | Bachelor's degree | 38,340 |
| 13 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $106,220 | $51.07 | Bachelor's degree | 6,080 |
| 14 | Mechanical Engineers | $104,110 | $50.05 | Bachelor's degree | 296,810 |
| 15 | Industrial Engineers | $102,440 | $49.25 | Bachelor's degree | 365,740 |
| 16 | Civil Engineers | $100,840 | $48.48 | Bachelor's degree | 367,840 |
| 17 | Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,280 | $47.73 | Bachelor's degree | 106,770 |
| 18 | Agricultural Engineers | $98,590 | $47.40 | Bachelor's degree | 1,480 |
| 19 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | $39.85 | Associate's degree | 11,280 |
| 20 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $81,390 | $39.13 | Bachelor's degree | 14,260 |
| 21 | Landscape Architects | $79,870 | $38.40 | Bachelor's degree | 19,600 |
| 22 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 | Associate's degree | 95,130 |
| 23 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $76,870 | $36.96 | Associate's degree | 17,920 |
| 24 | Surveyors | $75,440 | $36.27 | Bachelor's degree | 50,830 |
| 25 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 | $35.82 | Associate's degree | 36,190 |
| 26 | Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $73,900 | $35.53 | Associate's degree | 15,520 |
| 27 | Mechanical Drafters | $71,550 | $34.40 | Associate's degree | 39,960 |
| 28 | Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $67,820 | $32.61 | Associate's degree | 16,540 |
| 29 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 | Associate's degree | 103,700 |
| 30 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 | Associate's degree | 75,570 |
| 31 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 | Associate's degree | 68,520 |
| 32 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 | Associate's degree | 12,190 |
| 33 | Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $54,240 | $26.08 | High school diploma or equivalent | 58,010 |
Ranked by median annual wage. National estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Engineering & Architecture salary FAQ
What is the highest paying engineering & architecture job?
Computer Hardware Engineers top the engineering & architecture field at a median of $161,740 a year, based on BLS data for May 2025.
How much do engineering & architecture jobs pay on average?
Pay varies widely across the 33 occupations in this field. The middle of the list, architects, except landscape and naval, sits at a median of $99,280 a year. The overall U.S. median across all jobs is $50,980.