Engineering
Overview
Engineering consistently ranks among the highest-paying fields for new graduates, but even within the discipline, there is significant variation in entry-level salaries. Starting pay can differ widely based on factors such as industry demand, technical specialization, and career pathway. Some fields offer salaries well above the overall average, while others provide more modest earnings despite similar educational requirements. This variation highlights how the specific direction of an engineering degree can dramatically influence early-career income — a key consideration when evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of different educational choices.
ROI
Engineering degrees consistently deliver one of the strongest returns on investment of any field of study. According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and PayScale, the average starting salary for engineering graduates is around $72,000, significantly higher than the overall average for bachelor’s degree holders, which sits near $59,000. Mid-career salaries often exceed $110,000, and the top 10% of earners in many engineering fields make more than $160,000 annually. Over a 30-year career, this translates to lifetime earnings that are $1 million to $2 million higher than those of graduates in lower-paying fields. Combined with a relatively short break-even period — often 5 to 7 years after graduation — these figures show that the financial return of an engineering degree typically far outweighs the upfront cost of tuition, making it one of the most financially rewarding educational investments available.
Schooling
While the quality of engineering education is strong across most accredited programs, the school you attend can still shape your early career. Graduating from a highly ranked or well-connected university can offer advantages such as easier access to internships, stronger recruiting pipelines, and potentially higher starting salaries. However, these benefits often diminish over time as skills, experience, and job performance outweigh the name on your diploma. Because engineering salaries are already high across the field, paying significantly more in tuition for a prestigious school doesn’t always result in a proportionally higher return on investment. In many cases, attending a more affordable program and graduating with less debt can lead to a stronger long-term financial outcome — especially if you take advantage of opportunities like internships, research, and networking along the way.