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Job outlook for co-operations engineers in the United States
Co-operations engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected co-operations engineer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 30,600 new jobs for co-operations engineers are projected over the next decade.
Co-operations engineer salaries have increased 6% for co-operations engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,835 co-operations engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 86,804 active co-operations engineer job openings in the US.
The average co-operations engineer salary is $42,618.
Are co-operations engineer jobs in demand?
Co-operations engineer job and salary trends over time
Co-operations engineer jobs over time
Co-operations engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,835 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,709 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 9,760 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 9,353 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 8,883 | 0.00% |
Average co-operations engineer salary over time
Co-operations engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $42,618 | $20.49 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | $42,172 | $20.28 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $41,703 | $20.05 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $41,147 | $19.78 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $40,395 | $19.42 | +1.0% |
Co-operations engineer jobs by state
Most common states for co-operations engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 242 | 32% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 184 | 30% |
| 3 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,136 | 27% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 189 | 27% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,402 | 25% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 782 | 25% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,804 | 24% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 251 | 24% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 135 | 23% |
| 10 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 689 | 22% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 428 | 22% |
| 12 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 275 | 21% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 157 | 21% |
| 14 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,112 | 20% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,084 | 20% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,362 | 20% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,176 | 20% |
| 18 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 587 | 20% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 344 | 20% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 176 | 20% |
Most common cities for co-operations engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hagerstown | 12 | 30% | $46,478 |
| 2 | Saginaw | 6 | 12% | $38,571 |
| 3 | Woburn | 4 | 10% | $53,403 |
| 4 | Burlington | 2 | 8% | $53,388 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 5 | 5% | $53,771 |
| 6 | Rochester | 5 | 4% | $39,485 |
| 7 | Bethesda | 2 | 3% | $46,850 |
| 8 | Bowling Green | 2 | 3% | $32,321 |
| 9 | Cedar Rapids | 3 | 2% | $40,250 |
| 10 | Warren | 3 | 2% | $38,845 |
| 11 | Flint | 2 | 2% | $38,667 |
| 12 | Wichita | 5 | 1% | $37,108 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $32,665 |
| 14 | Birmingham | 2 | 1% | $35,119 |
| 15 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $53,858 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $31,670 |
Co-Operations Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of co-operations engineer experts
Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus
San Jose State University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Tuskegee University
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Arizona State University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
North Dakota State University
University of Denver
Weber State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Hampton University
University of Houston - Downtown
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Jiayue Shen
Mechanical Engineering Technology Program CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Co-Operations Engineer?
Jiayue Shen: To maximize your salary potential when starting your career in Mechanical Engineering Technology, contemplate acquiring certifications like the FE or PE license, or additional training in high-demand specialized areas such as semiconductors. Moreover, gaining practical experience through academic clubs, undergraduate research, internships, or co-op programs can increase your appeal to employers, potentially resulting in higher salary offers.
Jerry Gintz CMfgE
Teaching ProfessorArizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus
Manufacturing Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Co-Operations Engineer?
Jerry Gintz CMfgE: When entering a career in manufacturing engineering, consider starting as a technician to gain experience with the company before transitioning into engineering. This will allow you to build confidence and better understand the production systems you will be responsible for as an engineer.
What Co-Operations Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jerry Gintz CMfgE: From a manufacturing engineering perspective, the most important skills an engineer will need is the ability to understand, design, assemble, and deploy production capable systems. This includes an expertise with computer-aided engineering tools to assist in the design and verification of engineered systems before a company expends capital on the equipment.
What will help Co-Operations Engineers increase their earning potential?
Jerry Gintz CMfgE: From a manufacturing engineering perspective, compensation is normally tied to capability so the more relevant skills a candidate has entering the workforce the higher compensation they can expect to receive. This is especially true in manufacturing given the shortage of qualified engineering talent available for hire. Additionally, consider focusing on industrial automation as a resource to aid efficient production. Manufacturing is always looking to increase efficiency and a foundational knowledge of industrial automation systems will serve you well as you build a career in manufacturing engineering.
What Co-Operations Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
J. Richard Elliott Professor Emeritus: It’s always a good time to major in CHE because the broad background makes it feasible to pivot into whatever field is in demand when you expect to graduate.
What Co-Operations Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Lew: Chemical engineering is a multidisciplinary, technology-driven field that offers a broad set of skills and knowledge. Graduates have many career opportunities to choose from in various industries. The profession is dynamic, well-compensated, and allows for success and growth.
What will help Co-Operations Engineers increase their earning potential?
Christopher Lew: People like the broad range of career opportunities, the ability to address complex challenges, and the potential for success and growth in various fields. Dislikes may include the complexity of the field and the varied responsibilities that require a unique way of thinking and problem-solving.
Michael Buechler
Professor Manufacturing TechnologyWhat will help Co-Operations Engineers increase their earning potential?
Michael Buechler: I would suggest beginning career individuals maintain an open mind as to where their carrer leads, they may find interest in areas of manufacturing not previously known or explored by them. Also work especially hard early in your career and try and find an employer that gives you the best opportunity to grow professionally and learn new skills.
Uises Gonzalez-Valle
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
What will help Co-Operations Engineers increase their earning potential?
Uises Gonzalez-Valle: The beginning of professional life is not simple independent of the career path that you follow and ME and MET can have their own complications. However, some good advice would be to develop independence and adaptability which are key traits of an engineer, and always keep yourself updated with the most recent technological developments. If you are independent and adaptable, you have all the skills to learn and further your professional development. In addition, I would say it is essential to start building a network, including peers and mentors. Having a strong network of peers and mentors helps you significantly to progress in your professional line. From day-to-day to daily changing decisions, having a strong network to support would significantly help in building your professional path. Lastly, I would say that having a good Work-life balance is vital too, since our personal life is as important as our professional life. Remember, we should work to live instead of live to work.
Kimberly Henthorn
Department Head & Associate ProfessorRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering
What skills stand out on Co-Operations Engineer resumes?
Kimberly Henthorn: All chemical engineers must be excellent at math and problem solving, but in today's world, having experience with programming, data analytics, or statistics will really strengthen your resume.
What soft skills should all Co-Operations Engineers possess?
Kimberly Henthorn: Being good at the technical stuff is important, but being able to effectively communicate is just as critical. Both oral and written communication skills are necessary in order to explain to others what your work means. You also have to be able to work with a team; chemical engineers rarely work alone, so knowing how to work with people in other disciplines to get the job done is important.
What skills will help Co-Operations Engineers earn the most?
Kimberly Henthorn: I think being well-rounded is more important than being really good at just one thing. Showing that you are good at academics is only one element of being a good employee. You have to be good at communication, be personable, have a curious and creative mind, and work well in a team. Being involved in leadership opportunities and extracurriculars (both at school/work and in the community) are a great way to show well-roundedness.
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Adjunct Associate Professor of MSE,, Affiliate Member of The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, and Founder/CEO of Eco-friendly Plastic Materials, LLCTuskegee University
Chemistry, and Material Science Engineering Faculty
What skills stand out on Co-Operations Engineer resumes?
Dr. Michael Curry Ph.D.: -Able to work in team environments
-Excellent critical thinker
-Able to make critical data evaluations and interpretations and process adjustments
-Strong background in chemical processes
-Excellent communicator (writing, talking, reading)
-Strong problem-solving capabilities
-Excellent project manager
-Independent thinker
-Self-starter
Mike DeVore Ph.D.
Professor & Program ChairCincinnati State Technical & Community College
Mechanical Engineering Technology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Co-Operations Engineers?
Mike DeVore Ph.D.: -Computer-Aided Design
-Knowledge of manufacturing processes
-A good mathematics foundation
-Technical communication
-Problem solving
David Nielsen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorArizona State University
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
What skills stand out on Co-Operations Engineer resumes?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Relevant real-world experience (i.e., internships); computational skills like programming; statistical analysis.
What soft skills should all Co-Operations Engineers possess?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Communication, teamwork, decision-making.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Co-Operations Engineers?
David Nielsen Ph.D.: Strong fundamental understandings of mass and energy balances, as well as thermodynamics; data analysis.
Christi Patton Luks
Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic AffairsMissouri University of Science & Technology
Linda & Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
What soft skills should all Co-Operations Engineers possess?
Christi Patton Luks: Teamwork and communication skills are key! Everything is done with a team. You may be the expert on the process side of the project, but you need to have great communications with the mechanical team, the financial team, and those in operations. Everyone has a slightly different skill set and point of view, so it is critical that you make your concerns clear to the rest of the team, no matter their background. Another helpful soft skill is the ability to work with people from other cultures. Many companies are multinational, or their clients are in different countries. It can be tricky to set up a time to meet as a group when dealing with multiple time zones, but the cultural issues can also be daunting. The best way to build those skills is to get to know people of different backgrounds. A friend whose parents were born in Country X or has done a lot of travel can be incredibly helpful in warning you of cultural pitfalls.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Co-Operations Engineers?
Christi Patton Luks: We teach a lot of facts and theories. All of those are useful, but really the ability to problem solve and pull together the different things you've learned is what makes the difference. When I worked in the industry, I may not have solved a differential equation, but I had solved enough problems in school that I could recognize when the patterns I was seeing in real life had the correct trends. If the trend wasn't what I expected, I got to dig deeper to figure out why. Curiosity and a desire to dig deeper to solve a problem really help.
What skills will help Co-Operations Engineers earn the most?
Christi Patton Luks: Frankly, your GPA may be the biggest driver for your first job out of college. A high GPA gets a lot of attention, but you'll need work experience and activities to convert that into a job offer. If your GPA isn't great, then those extracurricular activities and internships will be what lands you that job. The key is to tell a story about what you got out of each of those experiences. When I was interviewing for my first job, I think I got more interest in the fact that I had helped to organize a local preliminary competition to Miss America than anything else. I hadn't competed! I had just organized the production of the show. I spent just a few weeks working on that project, but it was unusual and demonstrated leadership and organization, and teamwork.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Co-Operations Engineer job market given the pandemic?
William Cross Ph.D.: The biggest job market trends given the pandemic are working from home, and slightly delayed hiring - in Metallurgical Engineering at SD Mines, it took about 9-12 months for our Spring 2020 graduates to be hired to levels that took less than three months pre-pandemic, although eventually most of our graduates have been placed. The Fall 2020 graduates have seen a similar delay.
I expect some of the work from home will remain into the future, but do not expect the delayed hiring to extend for too much longer. I also expect that in some fields the pandemic has accelerated trends towards greater automation of job functions.
What soft skills should all Co-Operations Engineers possess?
William Cross Ph.D.: The soft skills that all graduates should possess are primarily in communication - speaking/writing clearly, and listening/reading comprehension - and in teamwork skills. Being able to function in a variety of roles on a team is very important to success in many jobs.
How have salaries changed over time for Co-Operations Engineers?
William Cross Ph.D.: This of course depends on the time range to which the question refers. Over the last 4-5 years salaries have been rather flat on average going by SD Mines graduates in Metallurgical Engineering, although this is working off a rather high baseline. SD Mines has been recognized as the top engineering schools in the nation for return on investment, and Metallugical Engineering has an above average starting salary for SD Mines at around $65,000/year.
Andriy Voronov
ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Coatings and Polymeric Materials Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Co-Operations Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: Since pandemic is not over yet, there may be only a guess on how significant this impact can be. I think answering this question resonates with more general one, namely, "Will our life after COVID-19 be the same as before?" We all want to be positive about that but are just not certain. Moreover, I think in some professional aspects in most fields, changes are unavoidable. Working from home, attending virtual conferences, taking part in Zoom meetings, even virtual get together with colleagues will most probably remain to be a new post-pandemic working routine, by all advantages and disadvantages this may bring to most recent graduates. Speaking about materials science, I hope and do believe that there will be global and impactful factors other than coronavirus pandemic, such as novel materials trends, technological innovations etc., to take into account for graduates.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Co-Operations Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: I think most graduate programs in materials science offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research and educational activities. Their philosophy is to educate and prepare job prospects by providing advanced aspects of work, including extensive collaborations between departments, programs, institutions or with industrial partners. Offering specialized trainings in various areas, graduate programs aim to merge basic and applied research within the certain field. With this said, quit often graduate programs work also with leading industrial scientists who help to provide to the graduates new and practical directions to become competitive at the job market. Answering your question more specifically, graduate programs do target as complementary and comprehensive education as possible. It will be interesting to hear from graduates what courses they took have the biggest impact for them, as well as if they need any additional certifications/licenses and which specifically.
How have salaries changed over time for Co-Operations Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: Being materials scientist means being able to do lot of things starting from fundamental research on material properties and characterization up to developing entirely new formulations and modify them to make new products suitable for new applications. One should be prepared to work in research lab, but also in pilot plants, as well as in manufacturing facilities. As for the soft skills, those are critical thinking, problem solving, communication, written and oral, including ability to communicate science to scientists, but also nonscientific audience, also flexibility and adaptability in (always) willing to learn. Although not a soft skill, but rather technical one, do not forget about fundamental knowledge and understanding of materials specifics and properties one works with.
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Mechanical & Materials EngineeringUniversity of Denver
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Co-Operations Engineers?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think so. At least for a couple years.
What's a good job out of college for Co-Operations Engineers?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think any technical job is a good job for engineers. You build experience, ideally in an area of interest, making it easier to get your next job.
What will help Co-Operations Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I stress outside the class experiences - internships, undergraduate research, and/or study abroad. I believe all help with earning potential. And maybe students should consider getting their PE.
What will help Co-Operations Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. A. Tye Gardner Ph.D.: Getting a master's degree goes a long way to making candidates stand out and improving earnings. My recommendation is to tailor your MS degree to the specific field you're interested in working in, because employers really want to see candidates that are passionate about the field, and very few people survive a graduate degree without at least a little passion. Available salary data indicates that if you choose an affordable program (let's just say Weber State University), it takes only a few years to pay off the added cost, increases starting salaries, and dramatically improves long-term earning potential. Moreover, you can find electrical engineers with MBAs at C-level positions all over the country. It turns out being an EE makes you a good candidate for business leadership.
What experience really stands out on Co-Operations Engineer resumes?
Dr. Mingshao Zhang: Internship and Co-op (Cooperative Education) experiences that related to the industry.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Co-Operations Engineers?
Jerald Dumas: Those students who successfully navigate their engineering coursework and other extracurricular actives during the coronavirus pandemic would have displayed endurance, adaptably, and management skills, skill sets that will endure beyond the pandemic. During this remote period of learning, students have been required to enhance their time management skills as they cannot physically interact with professors or classmates. They experience obstacles such as engagement with parties in different time zones or social environments. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated their maturity as it relates to such skill sets.
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry Program Coordinator, Assistant ChairUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Sciences and Technology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Co-Operations Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Chemistry graduates can work in a broad spectrum of fields: education, government agencies, research laboratories, and industry (oil, chemical, healthcare, pharmaceutical), and these jobs should still be viable options to Chemistry majors, even during the pandemic. As a result of the pandemic, I anticipate a greater number of opportunities arising in the pharmaceutical industry and the drug discovery field.
Charles Jenckes
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
Mechanical Engineering
What skills stand out on Co-Operations Engineer resumes?
Charles Jenckes: For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Co-Operations Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: The most obvious consequence is a decline in the oil field sector, which used to employ many chemists. This is very noticeable in our area (Lafayette and its vicinity). As a result of this decline, the job market for chemists has dropped from very good to fair. However, most other chemistry jobs have been stable, and our students can still find industrial positions. A major sector for employment has been QA/QC-type lab work. This has not changed because chemistry is not as strongly affected by Covid as many other sectors of our economy are. Fundamentally, the jobs and types of skills needed have not changed very much (except for niche sectors such as oil field and transportation-related products). The cheap oil and gas have provided a boost to industries that depend on affordable petrochemicals (e.g., polymers).
What Co-Operations Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: It is advisable to gain as much experience as possible, such as an internship. Graduates will usually get some help from their former home departments by way of contact names and referrals, but few take advantage of that. If there is no better option, even volunteer work can help. Of course, the closer the work is related to the student's future career path, the better. Another option is to return to college for an M.S. degree. One year already gets you halfway there, and a degree that provides you with specialized skills is well worth it. In practice, most graduate students in science and engineering find academic scholarships, so it doesn't have to cost you anything. Since most students change institutions for graduate school, their circle of friends and contacts drastically increases.
What general advice would you give to a Co-Operations Engineer?
Thomas Junk Ph.D.: While this may not exactly answer your question, it is very important to start making connections and to network WELL BEFORE graduation. Internships, volunteer work, membership in professional organizations, leadership activities all help to land a job after graduation. It is very important to continue networking as much as possible. The only true job security is the ability to find another job - it is truly liberating because it enables you to say "no" to your boss, if necessary. Also, I noticed that many graduates do not take advantage of all possible avenues to find employers. It is important to have a good web presence and to sign up on sites such as LinkedIn.
I also highly recommend cultivating ties to one's former institution and college friends. Often, job openings are filled by word of mouth: companies looking for somebody with a specific skill set ask around. A company contacted me for the name of somebody I could recommend for a specific job, but I came to find out that the contact information that I had of the person I wanted to recommend was no longer valid.
It is important to have specific career goals. Many recent graduates and fresh hires let their careers "drift" and have no idea where they want to be ten years from now. Also, always keep looking for jobs! Few jobs are so good that it is impossible to find a better one.