Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for roller coaster engineers in the United States
Are roller coaster engineer jobs in demand?
Roller coaster engineer job and salary trends over time
Roller coaster engineer jobs over time
Roller coaster engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 33 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 34 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 34 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 33 | 0.00% |
Average roller coaster engineer salary over time
Roller coaster engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87,487 | $42.06 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $85,808 | $41.25 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $84,779 | $40.76 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $83,334 | $40.06 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $81,694 | $39.28 | +0.7% |
Roller coaster engineer jobs by state
Most common states for roller coaster engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 474 | 68% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,675 | 24% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,771 | 21% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,592 | 21% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 864 | 21% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 201 | 21% |
| 7 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,732 | 20% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,110 | 20% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,134 | 19% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 245 | 18% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 962 | 17% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 98 | 16% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 450 | 15% |
| 14 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 111 | 15% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 961 | 14% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 488 | 14% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,299 | 13% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,484 | 12% |
| 19 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 772 | 12% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 207 | 12% |
Most common cities for roller coaster engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $135,026 |
Roller Coaster Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of roller coaster engineer experts
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
University of Delaware
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jiayue Shen
Mechanical Engineering Technology Program CoordinatorWhat will help Roller Coaster Engineers increase their earning potential?
Jiayue Shen: In the next 3-5 years, skills such as electronic control, basic programming, and critical thinking will become increasingly important in the field of Mechanical Engineering Technology. As industries like robotics, automation, and semiconductors continue to grow, professionals will need to be well-versed in these areas to stay competitive. Additionally, skills such as collaboration and effective oral and written communication will be crucial for advancing in one's career.
Uises Gonzalez-Valle
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
What will help Roller Coaster 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.
Song Choi Ph.D.
Assistant DeanUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
What soft skills should all Roller Coaster Engineers possess?
Song Choi Ph.D.: Critical thinking - logical, problem-solving methodology... I'm not quite sure to categorize this as soft/professional skills or hard/technical skills, but probably one of the most necessary assets.
Communication - written, verbal, and overall listening (helps focus on the problem statement and requirements). Most, if not all, projects/tasks are worked in large groups; thus, listening and expressing correctly is important.
Time management - scheduling of tasks and deadlines are important in all levels of engineering, from small fabrication projects/tasks to medium-sized manufacturing projects/tasks to large development/research endeavors. In Hawaii, one of the most important has been the transportation of materials, parts, components, etc., as most items are flown or shipped to us, and the overall project schedule is dependent on the availability of sub-units.
Collaboration - as most if not all engineering projects are dependent on multiple sub-categories. Due to the collaborative nature of engineering, communication is of importance again.
Creativity, innovation, and initiative - it's really about making our future better, more convenient, safer, cleaner, etc. Think outside of the box or live outside of your comfort zone.
Detail-oriented - it is about replicating results. Everything an engineer performs should be documented and clear.
Honesty and integrity as there have been too many fabricated claims and fraud as well as engineering espionage.
Mike DeVore Ph.D.
Professor & Program ChairCincinnati State Technical & Community College
Mechanical Engineering Technology
What skills stand out on Roller Coaster Engineer resumes?
Mike DeVore Ph.D.: The skills that stand out for the resumes of students who graduate from our MET program include CAD skills (AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks, and NX), experience in additive manufacturing, hands-on skills in manual machining and CNC, knowledge of engineering materials, and well-rounded education that includes two semesters of co-op experience.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Roller Coaster Engineers?
Mike DeVore Ph.D.: -Computer-Aided Design
-Knowledge of manufacturing processes
-A good mathematics foundation
-Technical communication
-Problem solving
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Roller Coaster Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Ajay Prasad: Medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and most consumer goods are still strong. The pandemic is also unlikely to slow the demand in areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality. While more manufacturing jobs are believed to return to the U.S., this likely will drive innovation for the automation of manufacturing processes. Going forward, demand is likely to be strong in infrastructure, renewable energy, automotive, and aerospace industries.
Charles Jenckes
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
Mechanical Engineering
What skills stand out on Roller Coaster 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
How would you rate the starting salaries for Roller Coaster Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Daisy Huang: Above average, but you won't be a millionaire easily (you can with some effort, saving, and investing well). It is very unlikely you'll ever be *super* wealthy, but it's also very unlikely you'll ever not find employment in your field. You'll have a solid ticket to a modestly comfortable life, with some luxuries, too.