There are many types of careers in engineering, as varied as designing commercial airplanes and military fighter jets in the field of aerospace engineering, building new motors and engines in mechanical engineering, and designing video games and computer software in computer engineering. In fact, the list of professions is nearly endless. No other career field offers more choices. Even better, engineers earn an average salary that is considerably higher than what most other careers pay. Below are descriptions of eight popular engineering careers.

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers work on the development of aircraft, commercial jets, cargo planes, private planes, and helicopters. Some of the many specialties within this area include the design of systems or instruments for planes. Some aerospace engineers work on space missiles and satellites.

Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural engineers are concerned with every phase of agriculture, from producing better strains of plants and better breeds of animals to the final processing of food products.

Computer Software Engineering

Computer software engineers design and maintain computer programs, such as the one you are using to view this page.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers deign chemical products such as detergents, fertilizers, drugs, and perfumes. They produce silicone heart valves, unbreakable windows, and even the lipstick and other makeup some of us wear.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineers design bridges, highways, dams, buildings, airports, power plants, amusement parks, factories, and so on. They also help develop public transportation systems and the control networks that link and regulate the nation’s highways, railroads, and urban transit systems.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers are involved wherever electricity is used. They design products as varied as huge power-generating systems and tiny circuits and materials used for transistor radios and computers.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineers design equipment and vehicles with moving parts, such as cars, snowmobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, machinery, and all types of power-making and air- conditioning systems. Other products created by mechanical engineers include rockets, nuclear reactors, and high-speed trains.

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineers develop the power of the atom, producing the technology, for example, that makes possible the heating systems for entire communities.

To learn more about engineering careers, check out the profiles at Graduating Engineer and Computer Careers Online.

For information on annual salaries for engineers, please visit www.salary.com.