10 Highest-Paying Engineering Careers in 2025

Top 10 Engineering Courses with High Salary Abroad

While choosing Engineering as the main subject, the students often get stuck between suitable engineering branches. But to cater to the question of which Engineering has highest salary in the world, we have summarised a list of popular engineering branches with their high salaries. 

These engineering branches are popular because they open opportunities for top paid job roles for graduates. Following is a list of top 10 Engineering courses abroad, along with the average starting salary and highest paid job roles thereafter.

1. Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering is one of the popular branches of Engineering degree program. There is a lot of scope for Petroleum Engineering grads to get good jobs abroad if they graduate from top Petroleum Engineering colleges abroad. The following are different engineer salary and job details after graduating with a Petroleum Engineering degree.  

Average Starting Salary: USD 78,900

Top Paid Job Roles after Petroleum Engineering: 

• Production Engineer: USD 56,000 - USD 78,000
• Reservoir Engineer: USD 56,000 - USD 78,000
• Subsea Engineer: USD 75,000 - USD 110,000
• Petroleum Economist: USD 85,000 - USD 130,000
• Drilling Engineer: USD 90,000 - USD 153,000

2. Nuclear Engineering

While admissions are tough and only a few universities abroad offer Nuclear Engineering, having a degree in this branch is the highest paid. Students who pursue Nuclear Engineering can get an opportunity to work in and around Nuclear designs for space and aircraft. This is a top Engineering branch with positive prospects in terms of jobs and very well-paid salaries plus a high return on investment. Check out the top engineer salary for this field below: 

Average Starting Salary: USD 70,000

Top Paid Job Roles after Nuclear Engineering: 

• Reactor Operator: USD 70,000 - USD 100,000
• Radiation Safety Officer: USD 70,000 - USD 110,000
• Nuclear Policy Analyst: USD 75,000 - USD 120,000
• Nuclear Materials Engineer: USD 80,000 - USD 135,000
• Nuclear Research Engineer: USD 85,000 - USD 140,000

3. Aerospace Engineering

Categorised as one of the best engineering courses for the future, Aerospace Engineering has gained a lot of popularity lately. Since Aerospace Engineering colleges abroad charge a high fee for the course, the ROI is still on the higher side. Students can recover 30-40% of their fee once they get a high-paying job within a year of joining, thus good returns on investment. The scope of Aerospace Engineering for Indian students is vast at the global level. 

Average Starting Salary: USD 85,000

Top Paid Job Roles after Aerospace Engineering: 

• Spacecraft Systems Engineer: USD 84,500 - USD 174,500
• Propulsions Systems Engineer: USD 99,500 - USD 158,000
• Flight Test Engineer: USD 105,500 - USD 160,000
• Thermodynamics Engineer: USD 117,000 - USD 225,500
• Aircraft Design Engineer: USD 138,500 - USD 166,500

For more details,check out:

• Aerospace Engineering Salary Abroad
• Aeronautical Engineering Salary

4. Chemical Engineering

One of the toughest fields but the best branch in Engineering is Chemical Engineering. This branch in Engineering is offered across all major universities abroad. Students after graduating from top Chemical Engineering colleges can bag good job roles across manufacturing units of big companies. The jobs after Chemical Engineering salary are very high abroad. Though the degree courses in Chemical Engineering abroad are expensive, but the returns are good and positive. 

Average Starting Salary: USD 90,000

Top Paid Job Roles after Chemical Engineering: 

• Polymer Engineer: USD 95,000 - USD 145,000
• Pharmaceutical Engineer: USD 98,000 - USD 148,000
• Process Development Engineer: USD 102,000 - USD 155,000
• Chemical Engineering Consultant: USD 105,000 - USD 160,000
• Refining Engineer: USD 110,000 - USD 170,000

5. Electrical Engineering

One of the leading and popular engineering branches is Electrical Engineering. Students who wish to study abroad for Electrical Engineering can opt for leading universities in all major countries. Some of the highest engineer salary for this field are as follows:

Average Starting Salary: USD 91,000

Top Paid Job Roles after Electrical Engineering: 

• Hardware Design Engineer: USD 102,000 - USD 155,000
• Power Engineer: USD 98,000 - USD 148,000
• Controls Engineer: USD 95,000 - USD 145,000
• Embedded Systems Engineer: USD 92,000 - USD 140,000
• ASIC Design Engineer: USD 110,000 - USD 165,000

Check:

10 Best Colleges to Study Electrical Engineering Abroad	Top Colleges for Electrical Engineering Abroad
5 Top Engineering Courses Abroad	List of Top Courses After Engineering Abroad

6. Computer Hardware Engineering

Those who struggle with answers to the question - of which Engineering branch is best for future, should know that Computer Hardware Engineering is one of them. This branch of Engineering is the highest paid in USA and other leading countries. Students who have an interest in hardware can go for this branch in Engineering. Check out the job opportunities after degree completion along with high engineering salary below.

Average Starting Salary: USD 100,500

Top Paid Job Roles after Computer Hardware Engineering: 

• FPGA Engineer: USD 102,000 - USD 150,000
• Logic Design Engineer: USD 105,000 - USD 155,000
• Embedded Systems Engineer: USD 110,000 - USD 160,000
• Computer Hardware Architect: USD 118,000 - USD 170,000
• ASIC Design Engineer: USD 125,000 - USD 180,000

7. Robotics Engineering

If looking for a high paying engineering job,  career in Robotics will be perfect. This is one of the engineering branches with a good scope in future. Careers in Robotics are the most rewarding ones. Check out popular job options after Robotics Engineering abroad with their salaries.  

Average Starting Salary: USD 90,000

Top Paid Job Roles after Robotics Engineering: 

• Robotics Design Engineer: USD 90,000 - USD 135,000
• Robotics Field Service Engineer: USD 95,000 - USD 140,000
• Robotics System Engineer: USD 100,000 - USD 150,000
• Robotics Software Engineer: USD 105,000 - USD 155,000
• Robotics Research Engineer: USD 110,000 - USD 160,000

8. Biomedical Engineering

Interested in medical field related Engineering, can go for this branch in Engineering. Biomedical Engineering abroad has a good scope in the medical field and job roles are very well paid. The following are the highly paying job roles after Biomedical Engineering. 

Average Starting Salary: USD 85,500

Top Paid Job Roles after Biomedical Engineering: 

• Regulatory Affairs Engineer: USD 85,000 - USD 125,000
• Biomedical Research Engineer: USD 88,000 - USD 130,000
• Clinical Engineer: USD 91,000 - USD 135,000
• Biomaterials Engineer: USD 95,000 - USD 145,000
• Biomedical Device Engineer: USD 98,000 - USD 150,000

9. Environmental Engineering

With growing concerns about environment there is a need for Environmental Engineers. Job roles after Environmental Engineering may be limited but the salaries offered are lucrative. If you are also interested in pursuing this degree you can consider following job roles based on salary slabs below.

Average Starting Salary: USD 70,000

Top Paid Job Roles after Environmental Engineering: 

• Environmental Engineer: USD 70,000 - USD 100,000
• Sustainable Design Engineer: USD 85,000 - USD 130,000
• Environmental Lawyer: USD 88,000 - USD 135,000
• Remediation Engineer: USD 90,000 - USD 140,000
• Environmental Engineering Consultant: USD 105,000 - USD 160,000

10. Civil Engineering 

Those interested in construction, design and related fields can go for Civil Engineering abroad. Civil Engineers are highly paid across all major countries. The starting salaries may be lower, but with experience, salaries can increase gradually. Check out engineering salary after choosing the field of Civil below:

Average Starting Salary: USD 70,000

Top Paid Job Roles after Civil Engineering: 

• Transportation Engineer: USD 72,000 - USD 108,000
• Water Resources Engineer: USD 75,000 - USD 110,000
• Construction Manager: USD 78,000 - USD 118,000
• Geotechnical Engineer: USD 80,000 - USD 120,000
• Structural Engineer: USD 85,000 - USD 130,000

Check:

•  Top 10 Toughest Engineering Courses in the World
• Best Countries to Study Automobile Engineering

Which Engineering Branch is Best for Future?

In terms of high paying salaries, all the 10 branches in Engineering mentioned in the previous section are the best branches in Engineering. Which engineering branch is best for future is also dependent on the fact that what interests the students in currently popular Engineering branches. Plus, which engineering branch has good growth prospects and what is the most lucrative job opportunity after graduating with a popular engineering degree.

In some cases, a couple of countries have reported that there will be a shortage of skilled engineers in the upcoming years and that too at an alarming rate. As per the BCG report published on December 13, 2023, the following countries will face Engineer shortages:

• United States of America: 400,000 by 2030
• Japan: 700,000 by 2030
• Germany (already facing shortage): 320,000 since 2023

Top Engineering Fields for High Paying Jobs

As per National Academy of Engineering (NAE) there are around 12 engineering fields which have globally offered highest paying jobs. So those looking at building their engineering careers with a high paying job can consider these fields:

Top Engineering Fields for High Paying Jobs
Aerospace Engineering	Bioengineering	Chemical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering	Computer Science and Engineering	Electric Power/Energy Systems Engineering
Electronics, Communication, and Information Systems Engineering	Industrial, Manufacturing, and Operational Systems Engineering	Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering	Earth Resources Engineering	Specialised Fields

These are some of the key fields offering highest paying engineering jobs abroad. Students should look at pursuing these for higher education. 

Key Factors Influencing Highly Paying Engineering Role

Several factors need to be taken care of which can help you as engineers in getting some of the highly paying jobs. Some factors to consider include:

• Find engineering jobs in a niche area. These jobs are not only specialised but also very highly paying.
• In long term job roles seniority and experience increase. Along with salary and skillset which is essential when finding other high paying engineering jobs abroad.
• Time to time you should pursue specialised course certifications which can further build your CV and also help you in getting an even higher paying job.
• If you have a degree from tier 1 university with high GPA can also help you find a well paid engineering job.

How to Choose the Best Engineering Careers Abroad

Now the final step in getting the best engineering career abroad will only depend on your choice of study and the university too. Apart from this consider these tips also before choosing an engineering career abroad:

1. Research what is latest and trending job roles. 
2. Compare the job roles, salaries and by location (countr or state).
3. Understand where your interest lies and choose that field of study.
4. Finally, choose those universities which will aid you in getting internships or full time jobs (through campus placements).

Since the demand for engineers is very high, the supply is down. So, those who go for Engineering courses abroad can expect high pay along with a good return on investment. Ultimately specialising in your field is key to getting a high-paying engineering job abroad.