As an engineering graduate, you can choose from a variety of specialties, with numerous job opportunities in the USA. Whether you're interested in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Electrical Engineering, you'll be able to discover a career that matches your qualifications and interests. Engineering graduates in the United States earn an average of USD 91,700 per year i.e 69.64 lakhs.

Those interested in starting a career in engineering will be pleased to learn that not only is there a high demand for engineering graduates, but there's also a chance that you could earn a good salary. Masters degrees from USA make roughly 20% more than those without, according to Forbes, and this is true across all disciplines. In the United States, STEM courses provide more alternatives than other subjects. International students can stay in the United States after completing their education through Optional Practical Training (OPT). If a student has the relevant skill sets and the desire to work hard, jobs after a master's degree are available in the United States.

Also Check: Best Engineering Colleges in USA

Top Universities For Jobs After Engineering In the USA

The United States is one of the top countries in the world for top colleges. The United States has five of the top ten colleges in the world for Graduate Employability Factor in 2022. The following are some of the top colleges with good ROI for engineering that rank high on the graduate employability scale:

University College ROI Rank Graduate Employability Rate Annual Average Salary (in INR)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology #1 #1 87.26 lakhs
Stanford University - #2 67.53 lakhs
University of California – Berkeley #24 - 69.81 lakhs
Harvard University #19 #5 72.09 lakhs
Georgia Institute of Technology #13 #40 74.43 lakhs
California Institute of Technology #12 #63 88.78 lakhs
Carnegie Mellon University #32 #38 77.40 lakhs
University of California – Los Angeles #92 #3 64.50 lakhs
University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign #68 #47 59.19 lakhs
The University of Texas at Austin #100 #57 59.94 lakhs

Popular Jobs After Engineering in the USA

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 4% increase in engineering job growth between 2018 and 2028, which is approximately on pace with the national average job growth rate of 5% for all occupations. Engineering occupations have a median annual wage of $80,170, which is more than double the national median annual earnings of USD 38,640, according to BLS data from May 2018.

Due to the high return on investment and longer stay period on the F1 visa, STEM programmes have also been reported to attract more international students.

Field National Average Salary Job Growth Outlook Popular Roles
Civil Engineering 47.46 lakhs 5% Construction Engineers, Geotechnical Engineers, Structural Engineers, Transportation Engineers
Aerospace Engineering 47.48 lakhs 4% Aeronautical Engineers, Quality Engineers, Design Engineers, System Engineers, Planning Engineers.
Biomedical Engineering 56.46 lakhs 4% Clinical Engineer, Bioprocess Engineer, Pharmaceutical Engineer,
Marine Engineering 59.84 lakhs 9% Port Engineer, Quality Engineer, Marine and Technical Operator, Marine Project Engineer, Cad Designer/Engineer.
Environmental Engineer 61.28 lakhs 5% Life Scientist, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Scientist
Agricultural Engineer 62.04 lakhs 5% Agricultural Application Engineer, Agricultural Engineer, Product Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Geospatial Engineer, R&D Process Engineer.
Mechanical Engineer 66.21 lakhs 4% Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer-hardware Developer.

Comparison of Engineering Jobs For Undergraduates and Postgraduates

Engineering salaries are generally extremely good, despite the wide range of pay rates. According to Forbes, those with graduate degrees earn around 20% more than those without, and this is true across all disciplines. An undergraduate's median pay is USD 85,000, while a graduate's is USD 115,000.

Course Salary after Bachelors (in INR) Salary after Masters (in INR)
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering 59.05 lakhs 12.90 lakhs
Biomedical Engineering 62.47 lakhs 55.99 lakhs
Chemical Engineering 55.18 lakhs 65.26 lakhs
Civil Engineering 47.810 lakhs 55.39 lakhs
Computer Engineering 55.20 lakhs 77.40 lakhs
Electrical Engineering 54.81 lakhs 75.12 lakhs
Environmental Engineering 43.81 lakhs 53.87 lakhs
Industrial and Systems Engineering 67.50 lakhs 97.43 lakhs
Mechanical Engineering 61.46 lakhs 75.88 lakhs
Petroleum Engineering 69.05 lakhs 81.95 lakhs

Top Companies For Engineers In The United States

The United States is one of the world's most powerful countries, having several world-class corporations. Some of the country's leading engineering firms are listed in the tables below.

Company Salary/year (in INR)
McDermott 88.71 lakhs
Canadian National Railway 87.56 lakhs
KBR Inc 83.47 lakhs
Northrop Grumman 81.19 lakhs
ExxonMobil 80.73 lakhs
Motorola Solutions 8.01 lakhs
Caterpillar 80.05 lakhs
National Oilwell Varco 80.03 lakhs
Intel Corporation 79.35 lakhs
Exelon 79.24 lakhs

Where To Look For Jobs IN The USA After Engineering

Direct campus placement services are not available at the majority of American institutions. Companies are encouraged to use their Career Service department to attract students as interns or project assistants.

On the internet, several websites feature job postings from various firms on their pages.

  • Indeed
  • LinkedIn
  • Job2Careers
  • Monster.com
  • CareerBuilder
  • Google for Jobs
  • SimplyHired, LinkUP
  • Engineer Jobs

Jobs After Engineering: Highest Paying Cities

Engineering has traditionally been a reliable and well-paid profession. Location is one of the factors that influence earnings and job opportunities after engineering in the United States. When looking for an engineering job, consider where you want to work because geography has an impact on compensation and career progression.

The base salary varies based on whatever state or city you live in and the demand in the field you are looking for work in. The following are some of the highest-paying states in the United States.

Mechanical Engineers

City Annual Avg Salary (in INR)
Columbus, Indiana 59.05 lakhs
Chicago, Illinois 66.271 lakhs
Albuquerque, New Mexico 69.87 lakhs
Detroit, Michigan 72.77 lakhs
San Jose, California 82.49 lakhs

Also Check: MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA 

Chemical Engineers

City Annual Avg Salary (in INR)
New York 65.82 lakhs
Huntsville, Alabama 73.74 lakhs
Washington, District of Columbia 76.52 lakhs
Los Angeles, California 78.05 lakhs
Palm Bay, Florida 85.66 lakhs

Also Check: Masters in Chemical Engineering in USA

Petroleum Engineers

City Annual Avg Salary (in INR)
Beaumont, Texas 14.04 lakhs
Houston, Texas 13.52 lakhs
Wichita Falls, Texas 13.27 lakhs
Oxnard, California 12.29 lakhs
Denver, Colorado 12.14 lakhs

Architect Engineers

City Annual Avg Salary (in INR)
Sacramento, California 87.21 lakhs
San Jose, California 86.13 lakhs
Santa Rosa, California 85.07 lakhs
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 84.47 lakhs
San Luis Obispo, California 82.51 lakhs

Also Check: Masters in Architecture in USA

Biomedical Engineer

City Annual Avg Salary (in INR)
Boston, Massachusetts 9,468 lakhs
Worcester, Massachusetts 9,881 lakhs
San Frasnisco, California 9,326 lakhs
San Jose, California 9,094 lakhs
Albany, New York 8,695 lakhs

Also Check: MS in Biomedical Engineering in USA

Environmental Engineer

City Annual Avg Salary (in INR)
Beaumont, Texas 97.13 lakhs
San Francisco, California 94.25 lakhs
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 87.18 lakhs
Kennewick, Washington 87.05 lakhs
Sacramento, California 86.67 lakhs

Post Study Work Visa After Engineering In The USA

The F1 Visa, M1 Visa, and J1 Visa are three different types of student visas that allow students to stay in the United States for a short time after they finish their studies. International students with an F1 student visa can work for up to a year in a job that is directly related to their major subject of study. After completing their studies, F1 visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

For students seeking an MS degree in a STEM subject such as computer science, engineering, or business management, this period can be extended up to three years. To qualify for OPT, students must find work within 90 days of the expiration of their US student visa.

The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa for graduate students and professionals who want to work in a speciality occupation that needs theoretical or technical knowledge.

You may be allowed to reside and work in the United States for up to three years if you have an H-1B visa. Your period may be extended, but it cannot exceed a total of six years in most cases. To keep their H-1B status, students must continue to work for the same employer. If they change employers during their H-1B period, they must reapply for the visa with the new employer's information.