Salaries for Engineers on the Rise

NEW YORK, July 23, 2012 – Good news for engineers on the salary front: on average, base salaries rose three percent from last year.

According to a new salary survey by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), the average salary for engineers in 2012 is $95,603, an increase of $2,877 over last year. Annual income for engineers, including commissions and fees, increased nearly four percent from 2011 to 2012.

The data were compiled from an online survey of 12,720 engineers in multiple age groups and employed in varied industry sectors and technical disciplines. Nearly 72 percent of the respondents indicated a salary increase. View The Engineering Income and Salary Survey.

Additional findings:

• Engineers working in the field of ocean engineering represent the highest full-time salaried median income, $169,000.
• The median annual income is the highest in California, Nevada and Hawaii, and lowest in the Upper Mountain states.
• Nearly 57 percent of respondents are recipients of a standard benefits plan from their employers; the remaining group receives flexible benefits.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be an engineer, and the results of the 2012 Engineering Income and Salary Survey confirm what we already know: Careers in engineering are rewarding on many levels,” said Thomas Loughlin, executive director of ASME.Podcast: Engineering Job Outlook in an Uncertain Economy.

“We hope the survey will be a resource to the many organizations that track employment and salary data on engineers,” said Alicia Karwoski, P.E., Director of Professional Activities at ASCE. “We are encouraged to see engineering salaries on the rise at a time when more engineers are needed to spur technological innovation in the United States and around the world.”

ASME and ASCE have been collaborating on the salary survey report for the last five years. The firm enetrix, a division of Gallup Inc., prepared The Engineering Income and Salary Survey, a broad report which breaks down key income data and trends based on length of experience, supervisory responsibility, education level, gender, ethnicity, work location, and other criteria. Read the ASCE article Engineering Salaries.

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

About ASCE
Founded in 1852, ASCE is the world’s preeminent civil engineering organization and the U.S.’s oldest engineering society. ASCE is home to more than 140,000 members in the civil engineering profession, positioning them to be global leaders to build a better quality of life. ASCE serves its members and partners by developing leadership, advancing technology, advocating lifelong learning, and promoting the profession. For more information, visit www.asce.org.