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What is an information engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
introduction image

An information engineer is an individual who designs and manages information systems. They analyze, organize, and optimize data to ensure efficient access and retrieval. Information engineers use various tools such as programming languages, databases, and data modeling techniques to create systems that meet the needs of businesses and organizations. They work closely with other professionals such as software developers, data analysts, and project managers to ensure that the systems they design are effective and secure.

What general advice would you give to an information engineer?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.Andrea Welker Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.
ScoreInformation EngineerUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $105,003

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 13.64%

Black or African American 7.84%

Hispanic or Latino 11.56%

Unknown 5.00%

White 61.65%

Gender

female 14.22%

male 85.78%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an information engineer?

Pros

  • High demand for skilled information engineers

  • Opportunity to work in a variety of industries

  • Chance to work with cutting-edge technology

  • Possibility for remote work

  • Good salaries and benefits

Cons

  • High-pressure job with tight deadlines

  • Long working hours, especially during project deadlines

  • Constant need to stay updated with new technologies and trends

  • Can be stressful due to the high level of responsibility

  • May require working on weekends or holidays

Information engineer career paths

Key steps to become an information engineer

  1. Explore information engineer education requirements

    Most common information engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.2 %

    Master's

    14.1 %

    Associate

    13.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific information engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service7.32%
    Linux6.11%
    Troubleshoot5.31%
    Java4.63%
    SAN3.80%
  3. Complete relevant information engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information engineer resumes.
  4. Gain additional information engineer certifications

    Information engineer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific information engineer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for information engineers include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research information engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage users VPN access with RSA tokens.
    • Use of Powershell to automate server builds and daily tasks.
    • Use of PowerShell to automate daily tasks, and create reports ..
    • Mentore and lead QA team on best practices of STLC.
  6. Prepare your information engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable information engineer resume templates

    Build a professional information engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information engineer resume.
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
    Information Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for information engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an information engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first information engineer job

Zippi

Are you an information engineer?

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Average information engineer salary

The average information engineer salary in the United States is $105,003 per year or $50 per hour. Information engineer salaries range between $78,000 and $139,000 per year.

Average information engineer salary
$105,003 Yearly
$50.48 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do information engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Information engineer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

Nothing not doing my job


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

very little


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

I love the fact that I have self taught myself by trouble shooting issues for fifteen years while working in corrections as the Video court officer with no prior experince or degree

Cons

I dislike the fact that I don't get paid as a Video technician although I'm called to fix issues


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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