Duties

• The job duties of a professional engineer can vary widely depending on her field of expertise and employer. Engineers can specialize in a wide range of industries, such as biomedical, aeronautics, chemical, civil, mechanical, petroleum and nuclear. For example, a civil engineer is one who designs, plans and supervised the construction of bridges, highways and buildings. They work closely with architects and construction workers to ensure that building projects are completed safely and correctly. Biomedical engineers develop new tools or medical devices to help those with injuries or illnesses. They can work closely with physicians or healthcare scientists to create these new devices and solutions.
  
  

Education and Training

• Most engineers begin their careers with at least a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty. Some positions, especially those in research and development areas, may require a master's degree. Many areas require engineers from diverse backgrounds. For example, a biomedical engineering firm may need the skills of mechanical engineers, software engineers and even nuclear engineers. Licensing requirements vary by state, but generally require about 4 years of work experience and taking and passing an engineering licensing exam.
  
  

Skills

• Professional engineers need to be highly detail oriented, disciplined, and be able to evaluate complicated projects in an attempt to find flaws or opportunities. Engineers must be creative to be able to solve problems and create new products. They must also be able to communicate with other workers and engineers to communicate engineering concepts to those who may not be knowledgeable.
  
  

Daily Life

• Engineers can work a typical 40-hour work week, though some jobs requires extended and nontraditional hours. They can work in an office environment, a laboratory or industrial plants. Some engineers can spend time at building or research sites and can travel extensively to evaluate or supervise construction projects around the world.
  
  

Jobs and Salary

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were about 1.6 million engineering jobs in 2008, a small fraction of which were professional engineers. Job growth between 2008 and 2018 is expected to be about as fast as the average, though significant differences can be expected depending on the specific engineering field. Salaries similarly vary broadly. For example, the median salary for an aerospace engineer in 2008 was about $92,500, while a mechanical engineer earned about $74,900.