Top 10 Fastest Growing Engineer Jobs in the USA until 2020

USACE Civil Engineer monitors emergency levee construction in Fargo, North Dakota

Source: US Army Corps of Engineers

Engineers apply theoretical knowledge of math and the physical sciences to create practical solutions for everyday problems. For example, they can plan roads and bridges, create new technology, design aircraft or develop more efficient methods for extracting oil.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor data released February 1, the total number of engineers in the USA will increase by 160,000 to from 1.51 million to 1.67 million from 2010 to 2020. This represents a change of 10.6%. The growth rate for all jobs will be 14.3% for the same period, which is an increase of 20.4 million jobs from 143 million to 163.53 million,

The following list shows the top 10 engineering disciplines that will add the most jobs, arranged in descending order. The figure in parentheses after the job title is the projected number of new jobs. Employment figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

1. Civil Engineers (51,100)

Civil engineers plan and oversee the development of infrastructure projects such as airports, freeways, bridges, sewer systems, government centers and dams.

They will add the most number of jobs at 51,100, for an increase of 19.4% from 262,800 to 313,900.
Architectural, engineering and related services will provide most of the opportunities with about 43,400 positions, an increase of 34.2%.
Construction will offer 6,200 new jobs for an increase of 25.2%.

2. Mechanical Engineers (21,300)

Mechanical engineers design mechanical devices such as car engines, power plants, machine tools and ventilation equipment.

Jobs will grow by 21,300, or from 243,200 to 264,600, which is an increase of 8.8%.
Architectural, engineering and related services will provide about 17,500 new jobs for an increase of 34.6%,
This is followed by research in development in the physical, engineering and life sciences with 3,300 jobs or 21.9%, and testing labs with 1,400 jobs or 20.2%.

3. Electronics and Electrical Engineers (17,600)

Electrical engineers develop electrical equipment such as power systems, aircraft control systems and building wiring. Electronics engineer manage electronic devices such as media players, communications systems and TV sets. This category does not include computer hardware engineers.

They will grow from 294,000 to 311,600, which is equal to 17,600 new positions or 6%.
Architectural, engineering and related services will provide 14,300 new jobs for an increase of 31.8 percent.
Computer systems design and related service will add 3,800 jobs or 43.1 percent.

4. Industrial/Health and Safety Engineers (16,200)

Industrial engineers develop systems to make industrial processes more efficient and profitable. These include management control systems, distribution services and job evaluation programs. Health and safety engineers ensure the safety of workers and machinery by developing injury prevention procedures and loss prevention controls.

They will provide 16,200 new jobs for an increase from 227.600 to 243,800 or 7.1%.
Architectural, engineering and related services will add 5,700 new jobs for an increase of 39.6%.
This is followed by management, scientific and technical consulting services with 2,800 jobs or 64.9%. Companies that take over the management of other

5. Environmental Engineers (11,300)

Environmental engineers use chemistry and biology to manage environmental issues such as water and air pollution, land resources, recycling, public health and sustainability.

Positions will grow from 51,400 to 62,700, an increase of 11,300 or 11.3%.
Management, scientific and technical consulting service will see an increase of 5,800 jobs or 57.7%. This is followed by architectural, engineering and related services with 4,500 jobs of 31.8%.
State and local government, not including education and hospitals, will add 700 positions or 5.8%.

6. Biomedical Engineers (9,700)

Biomedical engineers develop medical products such as artificial organs, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic instruments and implants.

Jobs will increase by 9,700 or 61.7 percent from 15,700 to 25,400.
Research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences will show increases of 2,000 jobs or 68.8 percent.
Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing will grow by 1,900 jobs or 51.2%.

7. Computer Hardware Engineers (6,300)

Computer hardware engineers research and develop the physical components of computer systems including circuit boards, computer chips, keyboards and controllers.

They will add 6,300 jobs to grow by 9% from 70,000 to 76,300.
Computer systems design and related services will add 7,800 jobs or 57.4%.
Architectural, engineering and related services will grow by 1,300 jobs or 29.8%.

8. Petroleum Engineers (5,100)

Petroleum engineers create systems and equipment for extracting oil and gas from under the earth. They also develop methods for increasing recovery and reducing the costs of production.

Their positions will increase by 17 percent or 5,100 jobs, which is from 30,200 to 35,300.
Oil and gas extraction will provide the greatest increast at 3,500 jobs or 25.6%.
Architectural, engineering and related services follow with an increase of 700 jobs or 32.4%.

9. Aerospace Engineers (4,000)

Aerospace engineers design vehicles and devices that travel through air and space such as airplanes, helicopters, rockets and missiles.

Jobs will grow by 4,000 or 4.9% from 81,000 to 85,000.

Architectural, engineering and related services will add 4,100 jobs, which represents 33.4%.
Scientific research and development services will grow by 2,600 or 23.4%.

10. Nuclear Engineers (2,000)

Nuclear engineers apply the principles of nuclear science to control nuclear energy, control nuclear materials and dispose of nuclear waste.

Their numbers will increase by 19,100 to 21,100, which is an additional 2,000 jobs or 10.2%.
Management, scientific and technical consulting services will add 2,100 jobs, an increase of 81.9%
Architectural, engineering and related services will add 600 jobs or 28.8%.