Engineering is a field that is applicable in every aspect of production and machinery or industrial processing. Since it is practical in nature, engineers try as much as is possible to keep up with the current and emerging issues and problems worldwide; through the provision of solutions to these problems. This fact in itself, always keeps the industry a step ahead of the others sectors of the economy such as agriculture, entertainment or even religion.
Engineering degrees dominate the top ten highest paying degrees because, unlike the other industries which are flooded with ready professionals; qualified engineers are and will always remain few and therefore, tend to control their demand in the market. This also works for them because they are free to dictate their pay scales, making their careers even more attractive. This compared to others sectors, which more often than not are flooded by skilled professionals, gives engineers an upper hand in the job market.
Engineering as a career also deals with the most sensitive parts of production, without which production (which is the single most fundamental for the firm) would be at a standstill or paralyzed. For instance, engineers in the oil industry control production in a multibillion industry. Because of this, they control the major commodity's production. This factor, aside from their numbers in the work place, also makes their careers attractive, making them attract good salary perks, benefits, risk allowances and so on.
The engineering courses also offer a chance for self employment. Thence, for firms to employ a professional, they need to provide payment that satisfies the engineer since he will always compare his earning as an employee to his earnings as an own boss. This in turn leads to high payment for most of the highly qualified engineers, taking them high on the earning scale world-wide.
Another factor which makes engineering dominate our current pay ranks is the fact that, some of the fields and environments in which they work are risky. For example, those dealing with chemical engineering are usually at higher risk of being harmed by chemicals and the chemical process. Thus, they are usually paid highly as a form of motivation or incentive, to make sure these although not so safe sectors actually run.
Industries that highly rely on engineering always compete for the engineers since they are few. In order to win the competition, these industries quote higher salaries to attract the few professionals hence making engineering one of the highest paying careers.
Since the engineers are professionals and they are scarce, most of them get jobs in different firms thus they end up working for more institutions at the same time hence doubling their pay.
Whatever the circumstances, engineers' futures look bright as there still is no hope of the others sectors turning tables on them, based on recent surveys. Engineers will thus continue to dominate and thrive over other degrees in top ten paying industries, until something changes. That is why if you want to earn big amount of money you should consider being an engineer.
To find out more about the various specialties of engineering or search a full list of engineering degree programs you can do so at our free online engineering career guide.