An engineer uses science, mathematics and technical judgment to design, build, test or improve products, structures, systems and processes. The work varies widely by specialty: one engineer might test aircraft, another develop medical devices, and another improve machinery or energy systems. A Professional Engineer (PE) license is required for some regulated work in the United States, but it is not a blanket requirement for every engineering job.
What engineers do
Engineering turns technical knowledge into practical solutions to human needs. The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) describes engineers as people who apply science and mathematics to design products. In practice, an engineer’s work may include identifying a problem, evaluating constraints, developing a design, testing it, and refining it for safety, performance, cost or environmental impact.
The exact tasks depend on the field and employer. Engineers may work in offices, laboratories, manufacturing facilities, construction sites or other settings, and often collaborate with people in different technical and business roles.
Engineering specialties
Engineering is a collection of specialties, not one uniform occupation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes fields including aerospace, agricultural, biomedical, materials, mechanical, mining, nuclear and petroleum engineering. These examples show how different the problems and tools can be:
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- Aerospace engineers design and test aircraft and spacecraft.
- Agricultural engineers address problems involving machinery, facilities, power and the environment.
- Biomedical engineers combine engineering with biological and medical sciences to develop devices and systems.
- Mechanical engineers design and test mechanical and thermal devices.
- Nuclear engineers work on problems involving nuclear energy and radioactive waste.
This is not an exhaustive list. The BLS’s architecture and engineering occupational group also includes roles with distinct responsibilities and educational paths.
Engineering degree versus engineering job
A person with an engineering degree does not necessarily work in an engineering occupation. According to the BLS’s profile of engineering degree holders, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data, 29% of employed people with an engineering degree worked in architecture and engineering occupations. Others worked in management, computer and mathematical occupations, business, sales and other fields.
The same BLS profile counted 5,568,160 employed people with an engineering degree in 2023 and reported a median wage of $100,000 for that population. These figures describe employed degree holders, not only people working as engineers, and should not be read as a typical salary for every specialty or experience level.
Education and entry into the profession
Education requirements depend on the role. BLS occupation descriptions identify role-specific education categories; many engineering jobs require a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate engineering field, while some positions and specialties may have different requirements. Employers also set their own qualifications, so check the requirements for the particular occupation and jurisdiction you are considering.
For a U.S. job, distinguish between being employed in an engineering role and being licensed as a PE. BLS states that a PE license is not required for entry-level mechanical engineering jobs. Other engineering roles may have different legal or employer requirements.
What a PE license means in the United States
Professional engineering licensure is governed by state jurisdictions and is tied to regulated professional practice and public protection. Depending on the jurisdiction and work, a PE license can allow an engineer to oversee others’ work, sign off on projects or offer engineering services directly to the public. It is not a universal condition of employment for everyone with an engineering title.
NSPE describes a commonly followed route to licensure:
- Earn an engineering degree from an accredited program.
- Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
- Gain roughly four years of relevant professional experience.
- Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.
- Apply for and obtain a license from the relevant state jurisdiction.
This is a general pathway, not a guarantee that every state, specialty or applicant follows identical requirements. NSPE’s position statement, revised in March 2024, supports accredited engineering or engineering-technology education, FE and PE exams, and at least four years of professional experience as general qualification elements. That statement represents NSPE’s position; state rules determine the requirements that apply in a particular jurisdiction.
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U.S. employment and wage figures
BLS figures offer useful context, but their populations and dates matter:
| Measure | Figure | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Annual openings, projected 2025–2035 | About 174,800 per year on average | BLS projection for the architecture and engineering occupational group, not engineers alone. |
| Median annual wage, May 2025 | $99,520 | BLS figure for the architecture and engineering occupational group, not every engineer or specialty. |
These are U.S. occupational-group statistics. They are different from the 2023 figures for people with an engineering degree: the groups are not interchangeable, and the dates differ.
How to assess an engineering career path
Start with the problems you want to work on, then check the practical requirements of the specific role. A useful comparison includes:
- Work: What systems, products or problems does the specialty address?
- Preparation: What degree or other education do employers expect for entry?
- Licensure: Does the intended work require a PE license in the jurisdiction where you plan to practice?
- Work setting: Which employers and industries hire for the specialty, and where is the work performed?
BLS occupation descriptions can help clarify duties and education categories; state licensing authorities determine local PE requirements. The right route depends on the work you want to do, not simply on the word “engineer” in a job title.
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