Best Engineering Field?

Frightcrawler

Senior member
Oct 15, 2003
603
0
0
Hey, could some of you guys tell me about the best overall engineering fields? Some factors are salary (obviously ), working conditions, rate of growth in salary, etc.

Some people tell me electric engineering, others tell me chemical engineering. I think it'd be best for you guys to help me with this question.
 

bigdog1218

Golden Member
Mar 7, 2001
1,674
2
0
I thinks its best you figure out what you like, not how much money is involved.
 

amoeba

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2003
3,162
1
0
yes in terms of engineering, its about what you like and what you are good at.
 

amoeba

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2003
3,162
1
0
CE is highly vague....it could be civil, chemical, or computer.

in this case its computer.
 

ErmanC

Senior member
Oct 25, 2001
439
0
0
Follow your interests. Either way if you're an engineer, you're gonna work your butt off (during school and after) so you better find something you really like to keep from being a real burn-out. If you like your job and are good at it, you'll make a decent living regardless. Besides money isn't everything.
 

Frightcrawler

Senior member
Oct 15, 2003
603
0
0
hmm, thanks for the input. i guess ill have to play this out myself.
i guess ill see which is the most interesting field.
 

ErmanC

Senior member
Oct 25, 2001
439
0
0
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
According to CNN.com, CE makes the most straight out of college.

SHENANIGANS!!!!!!

I don't know how the heck you spell that, but they're full of it. I'm a Civil and if anything, we make less than the others. (Still decent though.) Check Salary.com...
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Both electrical and chemical are looking good. From all the different comparitive sources I've seen over the years, it's got to be a statistical dead-heat as far as salaries, etc. go.

You'll be taking a broad range of sciences for the first two years. Figure out what type of science courses interest you the most and decide from there (nearly everybody switches majors halfway through, so that's no big deal). You will do best at what you both enjoy, and are good at.

 

Stealth1024

Platinum Member
Aug 9, 2000
2,266
0
0
CE is not Civil Engineering its Computer Engineering!!! lol. Yes another vote for CE... no wait I want less people in the field = more money for me. Go major in Bioinformatics
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Originally posted by: Stealth1024
CE is not Civil Engineering its Computer Engineering!!! lol. Yes another vote for CE... no wait I want less people in the field = more money for me. Go major in Bioinformatics

In the context of this thread, it's Chemical.
 

rgwalt

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2000
7,393
0
0
Part of it depends on what you are good at. Me, I was never good with eletricity or circuits. I was best in physics, math, and chemistry. I went into chemical engineering (#2 starting salary for a BS behind computer engineering Link) and I'm quite happy. You will have to endure a lot of math and chemistry, though the basic concepts are quite easy.

It also depends on what you plan on doing. Chemical engineers hold jobs in a very wide set of areas. Most BS chemical engineers become process engineers in a chemical plant or other manufacturing facility. They are responsible for taking care of a processing unit or a set of units, and if something happens to a piece of equipment, they have to diagnose and recommend a fix for the problem. Some BS engineers end up in HR, and some end up working for small (or large) firms that do plant design or consulting. Typically you can expect to work in a plant environment for around 5 years before you go into management. As far as types of jobs go... refineries and other chemical plants are the typical location for chemical engineers. These plants include making anything from laundry detergent to paint to ammonia. Some ChemE's end up in the semiconductor business, too. Not designing semiconductors, but in managing and developing processing techniques. EE's can design and build semiconductors, but ChemE's are much better at scale up as a lot of the processes are chemical in nature.

Now, this is information that I've gathered from various sources over the years. I've never worked in industry, and I'm working towards my PhD in chemical engineering. My recommendation to you would be to look at a few schools that have strong programs across the board in engineering. If a school lets you select your engineering preferrence in your second year, say after taking a broad intro course your first year, then that is even better. If in doubt, talk to profs in the department. See if they are taking any classes on a plant trip, and if so, see if you can go along to find out if ChemE is really what you want to do with your life.

In my opinion, the best part about a ChemE degree is the versatility it offers. When you are done, you can go into a wide range of fields. You've proven that you have the ability to learn and master some of the most difficult material in an undergrad program. If you want to get away from the chemical industry when you are done, you can easily transition into materials engineering, the semiconductor industry, etc.

Good luck with your decision. Remember, don't be afraid to change majors. However, I do not recommend dropping a major in the middle of a semester. The middle to end of any semester, when you are neck deep in difficult classes, is not easy, and it isn't going to be any easier in any other program. Tough it out (unless you are in danger of failing), and think about switching between semesters if it is that important.

If you want to know more, please drop me a PM.

Ryan
 

CanOWorms

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
12,404
2
0
I would recommend EE. It's extremely broad, with many fields. You can have a bit of physics, materials, programming, signal processing, control systems, computer engineering (it's a subset of EE), etc. If you hate certain fields, then don't concentrate in that field!
 

Stealth1024

Platinum Member
Aug 9, 2000
2,266
0
0
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I would recommend EE. It's extremely broad, with many fields. You can have a bit of physics, materials, programming, signal processing, control systems, computer engineering (it's a subset of EE), etc. If you hate certain fields, then don't concentrate in that field!

CE is built upon EE and CS.
 

CanOWorms

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
12,404
2
0
Originally posted by: Stealth1024
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I would recommend EE. It's extremely broad, with many fields. You can have a bit of physics, materials, programming, signal processing, control systems, computer engineering (it's a subset of EE), etc. If you hate certain fields, then don't concentrate in that field!

CE is built upon EE and CS.

If CE = Computer Engineering, then of course. It's a "subset" of EE.
 

Stealth1024

Platinum Member
Aug 9, 2000
2,266
0
0
Originally posted by: silverpig
I've always been interested in aeronautical engineering... </RANDOM thought>

now there's a good paying field that is usually in high demand, unless NASA suddenly goes under or something...
 

CanOWorms

Lifer
Jul 3, 2001
12,404
2
0
Originally posted by: Stealth1024
Originally posted by: silverpig
I've always been interested in aeronautical engineering... </RANDOM thought>

now there's a good paying field that is usually in high demand, unless NASA suddenly goes under or something...

Sometimes it's bad to go into such a narrow field like aerospace.. The aerospace field was pretty bad in the 90s... I know a lot of aerospace engineers that went through tough times there that eventually (and luckily) were able to transition into other fields like oil, but some weren't as fortunate
 

dr150

Diamond Member
Sep 18, 2003
6,570
24
81
Waste Disposal Enigineer (i.e. Plumber)

They make a HELL of a lot!
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
11
81
Originally posted by: Stealth1024
Originally posted by: silverpig
I've always been interested in aeronautical engineering... </RANDOM thought>

now there's a good paying field that is usually in high demand, unless NASA suddenly goes under or something...

I'm doing astrophysics so I've also had an interest in aeronautics. I might end up working for NASA some day anyways
 

Crappopotamus

Golden Member
Oct 1, 2002
1,920
0
0
im gonna be doing systems design engineering next year hopefully (at waterloo). also known as industrial engineering at uoftoronto. from what i understand, its the arts/sci/business part of engineering. you work a lot with people, and a lot of systems eng people become project managers and such.

i went to the industrial eng presentation at ut last year, and starting salary, they make the most out of any engineer. plus highest girl %. i personally like it because it seems very dynamic.


Originally posted by: silverpig
Originally posted by: Stealth1024
Originally posted by: silverpig
I've always been interested in aeronautical engineering... </RANDOM thought>

now there's a good paying field that is usually in high demand, unless NASA suddenly goes under or something...

I'm doing astrophysics so I've also had an interest in aeronautics. I might end up working for NASA some day anyways

my dad used to work in aeronautics. he said it was horrible. a team of engineers will build a button, and another team will check over those plans. then a team will build a failsafe to that button. and just incase the failsafe breaks, there is another override failsafe. that kinda thing.
 

Armitage

Banned
Feb 23, 2001
8,086
0
0
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Originally posted by: Stealth1024
Originally posted by: silverpig
I've always been interested in aeronautical engineering... </RANDOM thought>

now there's a good paying field that is usually in high demand, unless NASA suddenly goes under or something...

Sometimes it's bad to go into such a narrow field like aerospace.. The aerospace field was pretty bad in the 90s... I know a lot of aerospace engineers that went through tough times there that eventually (and luckily) were able to transition into other fields like oil, but some weren't as fortunate

Aerospace tends to be very cyclical, although having a clearance can help level out the rough spots. And "Aerospace engineering" tends to be an exceptionally broad field with very diverse specializations. From high temperature combustion aerodynamics in designing jet engines to structures, control systems, and leaving the atmosphere entirely, astrodynamics, satellite design, etc. All of that tends to fall under the umbrella of aerospace.

But in general, as others in this thread have suggested, what kind of engineering you pursue has alot more to do with what interests/excites you then what you think will be a good paying job. Getting an engineering degree is trough enough in something you love ... I couldn't see myself getting through it in something I wasn't interested in.
 
sale-70-410-exam    | Exam-200-125-pdf    | we-sale-70-410-exam    | hot-sale-70-410-exam    | Latest-exam-700-603-Dumps    | Dumps-98-363-exams-date    | Certs-200-125-date    | Dumps-300-075-exams-date    | hot-sale-book-C8010-726-book    | Hot-Sale-200-310-Exam    | Exam-Description-200-310-dumps?    | hot-sale-book-200-125-book    | Latest-Updated-300-209-Exam    | Dumps-210-260-exams-date    | Download-200-125-Exam-PDF    | Exam-Description-300-101-dumps    | Certs-300-101-date    | Hot-Sale-300-075-Exam    | Latest-exam-200-125-Dumps    | Exam-Description-200-125-dumps    | Latest-Updated-300-075-Exam    | hot-sale-book-210-260-book    | Dumps-200-901-exams-date    | Certs-200-901-date    | Latest-exam-1Z0-062-Dumps    | Hot-Sale-1Z0-062-Exam    | Certs-CSSLP-date    | 100%-Pass-70-383-Exams    | Latest-JN0-360-real-exam-questions    | 100%-Pass-4A0-100-Real-Exam-Questions    | Dumps-300-135-exams-date    | Passed-200-105-Tech-Exams    | Latest-Updated-200-310-Exam    | Download-300-070-Exam-PDF    | Hot-Sale-JN0-360-Exam    | 100%-Pass-JN0-360-Exams    | 100%-Pass-JN0-360-Real-Exam-Questions    | Dumps-JN0-360-exams-date    | Exam-Description-1Z0-876-dumps    | Latest-exam-1Z0-876-Dumps    | Dumps-HPE0-Y53-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-HPE0-Y53-Exam    | 100%-Pass-HPE0-Y53-Real-Exam-Questions    | Pass-4A0-100-Exam    | Latest-4A0-100-Questions    | Dumps-98-365-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-98-365-Exam    | 100%-Pass-VCS-254-Exams    | 2017-Latest-VCS-273-Exam    | Dumps-200-355-exams-date    | 2017-Latest-300-320-Exam    | Pass-300-101-Exam    | 100%-Pass-300-115-Exams    |
http://www.portvapes.co.uk/    | http://www.portvapes.co.uk/    |