Req 9 — Exploring Engineering Careers
9.
Explore careers related to this merit badge. Research one career to learn about the training and education needed, costs, job prospects, salary, job duties, and career advancement. Your research methods may include—with your parent or guardian’s permission—an internet or library search, an interview with a professional in the field, or a visit to a location where people in this career work. Discuss with your counselor both your findings and what about this profession might make it an interesting career.
Engineering is consistently ranked among the most rewarding career paths in the country — combining strong salaries, job security, and the satisfaction of building things that matter. But “engineer” is not one career; it is dozens of specialties, each with its own education path, work environment, and career trajectory. This requirement asks you to research one specific engineering career in depth.
Choosing a Career to Research
In Req 3, you learned about different types of engineers. Now pick one to research in detail. Consider which activities you enjoyed most in this badge:
- Loved taking things apart? → Mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering
- Fascinated by electricity experiments? → Electrical engineering or computer engineering
- Enjoyed the traffic study? → Civil engineering or transportation engineering
- Interested in the materials experiments? → Materials science engineering or chemical engineering
- Drawn to the ethics discussion? → Biomedical engineering or environmental engineering (fields where ethical decisions are especially consequential)
What to Research
The requirement lists six specific areas. Here is how to find reliable information for each:
Training and Education
Most engineering careers require a bachelor’s degree in engineering (four years at a college or university). Key details to research:
- What specific degree is needed? (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, B.S. in Electrical Engineering, etc.)
- Must the program be ABET-accredited? (For P.E. licensure, yes — as you learned in Req 7)
- Is a master’s degree common or required? (Some specialties, like structural engineering, strongly favor graduate degrees)
- What prerequisite courses are important in high school? (Math through calculus, physics, chemistry, computer science)
Costs
Research the cost of an engineering education:
- Public university tuition — Typically $10,000–$20,000 per year for in-state students
- Private university tuition — Can range from $40,000–$60,000+ per year
- Scholarships — Many engineering scholarships are available, including from professional societies like NSPE, ASME, and IEEE
- Return on investment — Engineering graduates typically have among the highest starting salaries of any bachelor’s degree, which helps offset education costs
Job Prospects
Look up employment outlook data:
- Is this field growing? How fast?
- How many job openings are projected in the coming decade?
- Are certain geographic regions stronger for this field?
- Is the field affected by automation or outsourcing?
Salary
Research typical compensation:
- Entry-level salary — What do new graduates earn?
- Median salary — What does a mid-career engineer in this field earn?
- Senior/leadership salary — What can experienced engineers or engineering managers earn?
Job Duties
Describe what a typical workday looks like:
- Where do they work? (Office, lab, factory floor, construction site, outdoors)
- What tools and software do they use?
- How much teamwork versus independent work?
- How much time is spent at a desk versus hands-on?
Career Advancement
How does a career in this field progress?
- Junior engineer → Senior engineer → Lead engineer → Engineering manager or Technical specialist
- Does P.E. licensure help advance? (In civil and structural engineering, absolutely)
- What about specialization versus management tracks?
Research Methods
Use at least two of these approaches:
Internet or Library Research
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov/ooh) — Authoritative career data
- Professional society websites — ASME (mechanical), IEEE (electrical), ASCE (civil), AIChE (chemical)
- University engineering department websites — Curriculum details and career placement data
- Library databases — Ask a librarian about career research databases
Interview with a Professional
If you met an engineer during Req 4, ask follow-up questions about their career path. You might also reach out to:
- Engineers in your community
- University professors
- Professionals through LinkedIn (with parent/guardian supervision)
Workplace Visit
- Manufacturing plants and factories
- Construction sites (observation only, with permission)
- Engineering consulting offices
- Research laboratories
Example Career Profile: Civil Engineer
Here is an example to show the depth your counselor will expect:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | B.S. in Civil Engineering (4 years, ABET-accredited) |
| Cost | ~$40,000–$100,000+ total (varies by school; many scholarships available) |
| Median Salary | ~$89,940 per year (2023 BLS data) |
| Entry-Level Salary | ~$62,000 per year |
| Job Outlook | 5% growth (2022–2032), about average for all occupations |
| Key Duties | Design infrastructure, analyze survey data, manage construction projects, ensure code compliance |
| Advancement | EIT → P.E. → Senior Engineer → Project Manager → Principal/Partner |
Career Research Checklist
Make sure you cover everything
- Choose one specific engineering career to research.
- Research training and education requirements.
- Find out education costs and available scholarships.
- Look up job prospects and employment outlook.
- Research salary ranges (entry-level, median, senior).
- Describe typical job duties and work environment.
- Understand the career advancement path.
- Use at least two research methods (internet, interview, visit).
- Prepare to discuss what makes this career interesting to you.
