Engineer
Role:
Engineers design and develop new products in a variety of different industries. They might be mechanical or software engineers or create electric machinery, design chemical or geotechnical processes, or help to structure civil or management disciplines. Whatever the case may be, engineers are involved in creating the diverse technologies that facilitate the processes of our lives in different areas. Combining creative thinking with the principles of mathematics and science using a wide range of technical skills, engineers work on the design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of various products from machines, vehicles, buildings, and roads to software or social processes serving consumers, businesses, and societies.
Engineers are creative thinkers and brilliant problem solvers. They excel at mathematical, scientific, and mechanical analysis. They follow plans and blueprints with a strong focus, yet remain flexible and work well under pressure.
Engineers develop systems for solving various problems as members of a team. They know that a single component is worthless without their counterparts, so they have to be great communicators, as well, to be successful at their job.
- Average Salary: $92,077
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Systems Engineer
Role:
If you're looking for a job that has a lot of job opportunities tied to it, look no further. Systems engineers are in full demand from all sorts of companies across multiple industries. Everyone needs an "I.T." person in their midst because it's no secret that very few actually know how to use technology.
Sure, most people may refer to you as the I.T. person, but your job is much more complicated than that. Of course, the majority of your time will be spent managing the I.T. services and solving any issues that present themselves, but you will have days that you'll have to recover important emails or divert a disaster.
The only thing stopping you from becoming a systems engineer is a bachelor's degree. Once you've got that under your belt, you'll be on your way to becoming a systems engineer. A really important aspect of being a systems engineer is having the communication skills necessary. The hardest part of your job will be "dumbing" down technology terms so that people can understand what's going on with the I.T. system. Once you get through that, the rest of your job will be easy peasy.
- Average Salary: $82,834
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Technical Support Engineer
Role:
If you're looking to work in a fast-paced industry, to make a difference, and thrive on new challenges while having the opportunity to grow, becoming a technical support engineer might be right up your alley. Starting a career as a technical support engineer is one of the most dynamic, fast-paced, and exciting roles. Technical support is a field that offers you valuable practical experience, expands your soft-skills, keeps you right on the cutting edge of technological advancement. You may frequently learn and engage with the latest technology solutions.
Working as a technical support engineer (or IT support engineer), you may provide first-hand technical assistance to clients experiencing technical faults. You might resolve issues within different computer systems such as software, hardware, and other network-related or IT-related problems. Typically, the technical support engineer is a mid-career position that provides high-level job satisfaction and diverse working environments. As an IT support engineer, you'll work in a wide range of industries, such as telecom, automobile, medical, healthcare services, information technology, aerospace, and many more. While providing technical support to the customers, you may work in shifts, on-call, or solve the issue in-person, via phone, or a computer. You might even work traditional nine-to-five weekday hours when providing services to the company employees.
To join the technical support field, most aspiring IT support engineers hold a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, information technology, or a closely related discipline. However, you might be able to secure this role without a degree if you have a strong customer service background and proven experience as a technical support engineer or desktop support engineer. To excel in your role as a technical support engineer, you must have excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and an ability to troubleshoot complex and diverse technical issues effectively. Working as an IT support engineer, you may earn an average annual wage of $70,000 along with compensation benefits. Besides offering higher wages, a position in technical support may offer more sophisticated opportunities to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the employment opportunities for technical support engineers expect to grow 11 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than the nationwide average for all occupations. It means that more exciting opportunities are foreseeable in the future to you as a technical support engineer.
- Average Salary: $85,716
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
