by our College Data Analytics TeamMost people are familiar with some of the main engineering majors including civil, architecture, computer, and mechanical engineering. However, if you don't feel like you'd fit nicely into one of these areas, you may consider going to school for a more specific engineering-related field. A number of opportunities exist outside of the traditional engineering field - this can include positions in engineering and industrial management, engineering design and packaging science.
Each of these areas of study typically requires a base degree in an engineering major or business administration. Engineering and industrial management deals with the management and optimization of an engineering or industrial company. These managers look for ways to streamline operations and make the business more efficient.
Engineering design deals with creating designs that solve a particular world problem. These engineers are typically involved with other teams of engineers who help design and construct tests and prototypes to verify whether the solution solves the issue they are tasked with.
Ever wonder who invents some of the crazy packaging you see when buying expensive tech products? Packaging engineers typically go into this specialized program bringing along experience and education from other engineering or design backgrounds. Packaging engineers help design packaging for anything from food to tech or industrial products. They look at how to safely ship products while utilizing new construction methods.
A degree in Engineering-Related Fields covers Engineering-Related Fields. Read on to learn the key facts every engineering-related fields major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering engineering-related fields programs.
Across the country, engineering-related fields is a widely-pursued major, with 8,633 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools ranking analyzes these 194 schools to determine the best overall colleges for engineering-related fields students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of engineering-related fields programs later in this article.
Coursework for Engineering-Related Fields build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations engineering-related fields graduates commonly enter.
Each engineering-related field will have different sets of required skills, but most will require a base bachelor's degree in a related engineering field. For example, if you want to get your MBA in engineering management, you may be required to have a bachelor's degree in one of the main engineering fields like civil, computer or mechanical engineering.
Engineers need to be detail oriented and observant. Since these fields are very technical, a strong background and interest in mathematics and the physical sciences are necessary.
Skills built by a engineering-related fields program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a engineering-related fields major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several engineering-related fields degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 37 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,834 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,640 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 122 |
People currently working in careers related to engineering-related fields tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.5% |
| Master’s degree | 11.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| Some college courses | 6.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 4.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in engineering-related fields careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in engineering-related fields opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to engineering-related fields.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to engineering-related fields.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | 395,031 | 12.1% |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | 387,029 | 12.4% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of engineering-related fields graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $86,644 |
| 4 years | $91,137 |
| 5 years | $104,461 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for engineering-related fields graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers engineering-related fields grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | $128,495 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $126,666 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
With 194 different engineering-related fields programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased engineering-related fields school rankings to help you.
Those considering engineering-related fields, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Engineering/Industrial Management | 7,766 |
| Packaging Science | 391 |
| Engineering Design | 267 |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Other | 209 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
