We have engineers to thank for the majority of the machines that make our lives easier, from self-driving cars to zippers. These talented minds continuously develop innovative ideas to make the world a better place. This makes it only natural to want to pursue a career in the engineering field, especially if you are creative and have a problem-solving mind.
As someone interested in an engineering career, you may want to learn about the daily activities of engineers, including their roles and responsibilities. Continuous learning and research are essential for aspiring engineers to stay current with industry advancements and emerging technologies. Knowing the average engineer’s salary will help you decide if an engineering career is right for you. This article will go into detail about the typical day in the life of an engineer, guide you through the average engineer salary, and offer paths and ways to become an engineer.
What Is an Engineer?
An engineer is a professional who uses knowledge of math and science to develop, design, and maintain machines, engines, or structures that solve problems for the world at large. Engineering is a broad field with many career opportunities, and engineers can work in various fields depending on their area of expertise, including agriculture, manufacturing, and construction.
What Does an Engineer Do On a Daily Basis?
What an engineer does on a daily basis differs based on their area of specialization, but general engineering roles and job duties may be similar. Engineers primarily create and design plans, test them, supervise a team of experts working on projects, report to clients, and work on financial budgets.
An engineer’s day often starts at their desk, organizing tasks, reviewing data, and planning out priorities for the day.
- Create and design plans. Engineers are professionals who design and develop machines and products to solve problems and make life easy. To achieve this, they have to continually design plans for these products, requiring them to start their day creating and reviewing plans.
- Create and monitor financial budget. These experts often have to create the financial budget to execute the plan. A civil engineer, for instance, would have to make a budget that would be used to start and complete a construction project. They would also have to monitor the finances to ensure they don’t exceed the proposed budget and help solve any budget issues that arise.
- Supervise the team of experts executing the plan. Engineers create the plan but get experts from different fields to bring the project to life. They have to supervise the project team to ensure that they deliver quality work and keep to the schedule.
- Meet with clients to deliver reports. These professionals also have to meet with their clients to keep them updated on the project’s progress. The clients will need to stay updated to ensure that the project is going as planned and know if any developments require their attention, so being an engineer will require good communication skills.
- Ensure products meet the requirements. Upon completing a project, the engineers have to hand over the project to the clients. Before this, they have to ensure that the product being delivered is up to the required standard and satisfies the client’s needs.
How Can I Become an Engineer?
You can become an engineer through various means, like earning a college degree, taking online courses, and earning certifications. While not all of these will help you start an engineering career, they are required for career advancement.
Engineering Degrees
Depending on what works for your schedule and what field you’re interested in, you can earn an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in engineering. An undergraduate engineering degree takes about four years to complete, depending on the area of study, while an associate’s degree typically takes two years.
Engineering Online Courses
Online courses are offered on massive open online course (MOOC) platforms, such as Coursera and Udacity, with courses covering various fields of study. While you are not guaranteed to start a career in engineering by taking online courses, they can help with your career growth. You can take them to stay updated on relevant trends and boost your resume.
For instance, you could take an online industrial engineering course to amp up your salary as an industrial engineer. Having online certificates on your resume will highlight your skills to your employer.
Engineering Certifications
There are various engineering certifications available for different skill levels. These certifications are evidence of your skills, and many of them are highly recognized by employers in the industry. To earn an industry-specific certification, you will have to take an exam and sometimes complete classes or courses to qualify.
How Can I Get a Job as an Engineer?
Engineering is a broad field with many job opportunities, job growth, and solid annual salaries.1 To start a career in this field, you’ll need to get an education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), without an associate’s degree, it may be challenging to become an engineer in most verticals—as they list entry-level education for architecture and engineering occupations.1 The level of education you earn will depend heavily on your career goals.
Next, it is advised that you get on-the-job experience. You will then be wise to obtain a certification as evidence of your skills, lean into professional networking, and take advantage of job boards.
Steps to Finding a Job as an Engineer
- Earn an education
The first step to becoming an engineer is getting an education or earning a degree. Engineering is a field that requires a certain level of expertise to practice, which cannot be done without schooling. You can attend a university, community college, or a vocational school for a program in your desired field of engineering. - Consider training opportunities
You may be lucky to land a good job soon after graduation. However, it is recommended that you apply for an engineering apprenticeship or internship with a company in your field. This will expose you to real-life projects and help you gain the necessary on-the-job experience. - Take an engineering exam
As a fresh graduate, you may not necessarily need a license to practice, but it is advised that you consider taking a professional exam. These engineering exams serve as evidence of your skills to show your potential employer that you can perform your role efficiently. This will give you a competitive advantage in the engineering job market. - Build a strong network
Building a solid network of professionals is an essential aspect of any career, and an engineering career is no different. Networking should be a priority while you find your footing in the industry. You can start by making good connections in college, joining industry forums and communities, and attending industry events. These will help you gain awareness of job openings and help you learn new skills. As the saying goes, it’s not what you know but who you know. - Take advantage of job boards
Job boards are online platforms that post job openings from various industries, companies, and locations. They are an excellent way to learn about the latest job openings in any field within your local area. Use job boards to your advantage as you find jobs as an engineer. Some options include Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn.
What Is the Average Salary of an Engineer in 2025?
According to the BLS, the median annual salary of architecture and engineering professionals is $97,310 as of May 2024.1 The yearly salary of each engineering occupation will differ, as some earn more than others. However, engineers can generally earn an impressive salary
Salary for an Entry-Level Engineer
According to ZipRecruiter, the annual average salary of an entry-level engineer is $69,362 as of September 2025.2 Your salary is heavily dependent on skill level, location, experience, and education.
Salary for a Mid-Level Engineer
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary of mid-level engineers is $101,752 as of September 2025.3 This amount may vary based on the mid-level engineer’s skill and experience level, industry, and location. While the lowest earners earn about $39,000, there are salaries as high as $137,500 for mid-level engineers.3
Salary for a Senior-Level Engineer
A senior-level engineer in September 2025 earns an annual average salary of $126,557, according to ZipRecruiter.4 While the highest earners make an average of $183,500, the majority earn between $116,000 and $127,499, while the lowest earners make about $59,500.4 A senior-level engineer’s salary varies based on their skill, experience, location, and industry.
Should I Become an Engineer?
You should become an engineer if you are creative, enjoy problem-solving, and have a strong mathematical background. Engineers have to work using math, science, and sometimes art to develop unique innovations that make life easier.
A Day in the Life of an Engineer FAQs
On a typical day, an engineer will go through design plans, communicate with clients, go to the site of a project to supervise workers, monitor a project’s finances, and work with other experts to solve problems and develop better ideas. This all depends on the engineer’s role and industry.
A day in the life of an engineer will consist of going through design plans, making corrections, coming up with new ideas, working with the engineering team, the design team, and other departments, monitoring the project’s progress, testing the quality of a product, and reporting to clients.
Depending on the role and industry, a full-time engineer may work 40 to 50 hours per week. When they have an ongoing project, they may spend more or less time on it. If they work for a large company that takes on large projects, their work hours may be longer
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