Writer: Cassidy Li, Hong Kong
Written on the 27th of April 2025
Engineering is one of the most prominent careers in STEM, requiring the application of science, technology, mathematics, and innovation. Through teamwork and collaboration, engineers in different fields have different tasks, including the creation of buildings and bridges, and everyday vehicles and rockets. The job often involves both office work as well as working on the field or in the lab, but the mixture depends on the specific field of engineering. Deadlines and high standards and stakes may make the job highly stressful and difficult at times, but all of this makes completing the job/project very rewarding. The role requires problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. Math, physics, as well as subject-specific (e.g. circuits, aerodynamics) knowledge are also essential to the job.
To become an engineer, employers typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in either math or science (related to the field of engineering), and most require a master’s degree or doctorate for certain positions. Tests like the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) or the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) must be passed in order to become a licensed professional engineer.
Engineering is known to have a very low rate of female workers compared to other fields of work. Specifically, the mechanical engineering branch has one of the lowest percentages of females in the field based on U.S. data in 2022, with a ratio of 90.3% (males) to 9.68% (females). Research taken from Data USA shows that the average salary for females is 95,711 USD, and for males is 106,467 USD, meaning that the male engineers are being paid approximately 11.24% more. However, reports from Career Explorer show that the gender mix in mechanical engineering as of 2025 is 84% male and 16% female, revealing a great increase of females in the workforce.
Aerospace engineering is another branch that has an extremely low percentage of working women. Based on data from the U.S., the ratio of males to females in aerospace engineering is 86.4% to 13.6% as of 2022. According to Data USA, the average female salary is 112,150 USD, while the average male salary is 129,878 USD. By comparing the two values, we can see that the average male aerospace engineer is being paid 15.81% more than the average female, which is a significantly large difference for people in the same profession. In 2025, data from Career Explorer reveals that the percentage of female aerospace engineers has increased to 18%, allowing for more female representation in the field.
Other branches in engineering, like chemical or civil engineering, also have low percentages of females in the workforce, with the percentage of female chemical engineers being 19.1% in 2022 (Data USA), and for civil engineers the percentage is 17.1% (Data USA). Fortunately, these numbers have increased significantly. What’s worse is that male chemical engineers on average earn 21.21% more than their female co-workers. The percentage of female chemical engineers is now 40% (Career Explorer), and civil engineers is 33% (Career Explorer) as of 2025.
It is important to note that these statistics are based on data from the U.S. and may not apply in global contexts.
Bibliography:
Data USA. (n.d.). Data USA. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://datausa.io/
CareerExplorer. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.careerexplorer.com/
Engineering Career Qualifications and Education Requirements. (2025, January 29). Indeed. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/engineering-qualifications