100+ Important Engineering Statistics for 2024

In an increasingly interconnected and technology-driven world, engineering disciplines continue to play a crucial role in shaping the course of modern society. Engineers form the backbone of innovation and problem-solving across industries, from designing sustainable infrastructure to advancing groundbreaking technologies.

The engineering field is vast, ranging from civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering to emerging domains such as AI, machine learning, and data science. Keeping track of this dynamic profession’s latest trends and insights is paramount for aspiring engineers, professionals, educators, and policymakers.

This comprehensive compilation of over 100 important engineering statistics for 2024 provides an up-to-date snapshot of the state of engineering across multiple specialties. In addition, it explores employment data, growth projections, educational trends, and other significant statistics across different engineering disciplines.

Whether you’re considering a career in engineering, planning strategic initiatives, or just interested in the numbers behind the world’s engineering landscape, these statistics will offer you a wealth of information and perspective.

15 Engineering Stats That Will Blow Your Mind

1. The global engineering services market is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2027. source
2. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of engineers is projected to grow 4% from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. source
3. The median annual wage for engineers was $91,010 in May 2019. source
4. The engineering field that is expected to grow the most over the next decade is biomedical engineering, with a projected growth rate of 4%. source
5. Civil engineers held about 326,800 jobs in 2019. source
6. The number of women in engineering remains low, with women making up only 13% of the engineering workforce. source
7. The largest employers of civil engineers in 2019 were engineering services, state government, and local government. source
8. The median annual wage for civil engineers was $87,060 in May 2019. source
9. The top-paying states for civil engineers in 2019 were Alaska, California, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington. source
10. The number of degrees awarded in engineering has been increasing over the past decade, with over 500,000 awarded in 2018. source
11. The number of foreign students studying engineering in the US has been increasing, with over 230,000 in 2018. source
12. The number of engineering jobs in the renewable energy sector is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. source
13. The number of engineering jobs in the tech industry is also expected to grow, with software engineering jobs projected to grow 21% from 2018 to 2028. source
14. The median annual wage for software developers was $105,590 in May 2019. source
15. The top paying states for software developers in 2019 were California, Washington, New York, District of Columbia, and New Hampshire. Source

General Engineering Statistics

• As of 2023, the total number of engineering jobs in the U.S. is approximately 1.8 million (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The average annual wage for engineers in the U.S. is $95,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Approximately 12% of employed engineers in the U.S. are women (National Science Foundation).
• An estimated 20% of high school students express an interest in pursuing engineering as a career (American Society for Engineering Education).
• Over 600,000 engineering bachelor’s degrees were awarded worldwide in 2023, up from 500,000 in 2015 (UNESCO).
• The states with the highest employment of engineers are California, Texas, and Michigan (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The highest-paying engineering fields in 2023 are petroleum engineering, computer engineering, and aerospace engineering (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The engineering sector is projected to grow by 3% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• 30% of engineers are employed by the federal, state, and local governments (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• About 15% of engineers are self-employed (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Renewable energy engineering jobs have grown by 10% annually since 2018, with over 15,000 jobs in solar and wind engineering alone (U.S. Energy and Employment Report).
• There has been a 60% growth in the number of jobs in Artificial Intelligence engineering since 2016, with over 50,000 job postings in 2023 (Indeed).
• By 2023, approximately 35% of engineers use 3D printing technology in their jobs (McKinsey Global Institute).
• A 2023 survey showed that 45% of engineers expect AI and automation to significantly change their job roles within the next five years (Engineers Week 2023 Survey).
• Roughly 70% of engineers report that continuous learning and skill improvement is the most critical factor in their career advancement (Engineers Week 2023 Survey).
• Engineering startups have increased by 8% annually since 2018 (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor).
• Robotics engineering is experiencing a growth rate of 9% yearly, with an expected 20,000 new jobs by 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Engineering services exports from the U.S. reached $50 billion in 2023, up from $45 billion in 2020 (U.S. Department of Commerce).
• Roughly 20% of engineering graduates pursue post-graduate education (National Center for Education Statistics).
• This running list of statistics provides a snapshot of the dynamic field of engineering in 2023, illustrating its importance in our everyday lives and its substantial impact on the future of work and innovation.

Aerospace Engineering Facts

• Aerospace engineering employment is approximately 66,000 in the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The projected job growth rate for aerospace engineering from 2020 to 2030 is about 3% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 35% of aerospace engineers are employed in the manufacturing industry, specifically aircraft and parts manufacturing (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Additional Engineering Statistics

• Mechanical engineering is the most popular engineering major in the U.S. in 2023 (National Center for Education Statistics).
• 3D modeling and simulation skills are among the most sought-after engineering skills in 2023, with job postings requiring these skills growing by 35% since 2018 (Indeed).
• Cybersecurity engineer roles have increased by 74% over the past five years (CyberSeek).
• The demand for engineers in the renewable energy sector increased by 90% between 2018 and 2023 (IRENA).
• Only 13% of engineers in the U.S. are women, but the percentage of engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded to women has risen to 21% (Society of Women Engineers).
• The U.S. ranks third worldwide in the number of engineering graduates, producing over 120,000 engineers in 2023 (World Economic Forum).
• About 30% of engineers say they were inspired to enter the field because of an interest in problem-solving (DiscoverE).
• Over 40% of engineers say they were inspired to enter the field because they enjoyed math and science in school (DiscoverE).
• Approximately 25% of U.S. engineers were born outside the country (American Society for Engineering Education).
• Only about 7% of licensed engineers in the U.S. are women (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying).
• Agricultural Engineering Facts
• The U.S. has about 2,600 agricultural engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Agricultural engineering has a projected job growth rate of 2% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• About 20% of agricultural engineers work in the federal government (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

AI and Machine Learning Engineering Statistics

• There will be around 15,000 AI and machine learning engineers in the U.S. in 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The projected growth rate of AI and machine learning engineering jobs from 2020 to 2030 is an impressive 15% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 50% of AI and machine learning engineers work in computer systems design and related services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Architectural Engineering Statistics
• The U.S. has around 132,000 architectural and engineering managers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Architectural engineering has a projected % growth rate of 3% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• About 70% of architectural and engineering managers work in professional, scientific, and technical services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Automotive Engineering
• About 12,000 automotive engineers are in the U.S. as of 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The job growth rate for automotive engineers from 2020 to 2030 is projected to be around 2% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 40% of automotive engineers work in motor vehicle manufacturing (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Biomedical Engineering Statistics

• Approximately 21,000 biomedical engineers are employed in the U.S. as of 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Biomedical engineering is expected to have the highest growth rate of 6% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 20% of biomedical engineers work in research and development services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Chemical Engineering Statistics
• Around 33,000 chemical engineers are in the U.S. as of 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Chemical engineering is expected to experience a growth rate of 4% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• More than half of chemical engineers work in manufacturing industries (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Civil Engineering Statistics

• A projected growth rate of 2% for civil engineers is expected between 2020 and 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• As of 2023, there are over 300,000 practicing civil engineers in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The civil engineering sector represents approximately 20% of the total engineering workforce (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Computer Engineering Facts

• Computer hardware engineering employment in the U.S. is roughly 77,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The projected growth rate of computer hardware engineering jobs from 2020 to 2030 is 2% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 25% of computer engineers work in computer systems design and related services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Data Engineering Facts

• The U.S. will be home to approximately 28,000 data engineers in 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The job growth rate for data engineers from 2020 to 2030 is projected to be around 9% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Almost 30% of data engineers are employed in professional, scientific, and technical services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Electrical Engineering Facts
• The United States is home to around 200,000 electrical engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Electrical engineers have a projected % job growth rate of 3% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• About 40% of all electrical engineers work in engineering, design, and research services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Environmental Engineering Facts

• The U.S. employs approximately 55,000 environmental engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Environmental engineering has a projected % job growth rate of 3% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Almost 30% of environmental engineers work in engineering services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Geotechnical Engineering Facts

• As of 2023, there are over 8,000 geotechnical engineers in the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Geotechnical engineering is anticipated to grow by 6% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• More than 30% of geotechnical engineers work in construction (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Industrial Engineering Statistics

• The U.S. is home to over 290,000 industrial engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Industrial engineering has a projected % growth rate of 10% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Approximately 20% of industrial engineers are employed in manufacturing (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Interesting Engineering Facts

• The percentage of U.S. engineers over the age of 55 is roughly 25% (U.S. Census Bureau).
• In 2023, around 20% of engineers in the U.S. will be involved in energy-related projects (U.S. Energy Information Administration).
• More than 35% of U.S. engineers say their jobs involve a significant amount of project management (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
• An estimated 60% of U.S. engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) software in their work (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
• Approximately 10% of U.S. engineers work in higher education, either as teachers or researchers (National Science Foundation).
• The median tenure of engineers in the U.S. is eight years in 2023, higher than the median for all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• More than 50% of engineers in the U.S. use project management methodologies like Lean Six Sigma, Agile, or CAPM in their work (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
• Over 15% of engineers in the U.S. hold a management position (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The demand for engineers in the biomedical field increased by over 5% in 2023 compared to 2020 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Roughly 5% of engineers in the U.S. move into roles outside of engineering, such as sales or finance (National Society of Professional Engineers).

Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture Facts

• About 12,000 marine engineers and naval architects are in the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Marine engineering and naval architecture have a projected growth rate of 1% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 25% of marine engineers and naval architects work in ship and boat building (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Materials Engineering Statistics

• About 25,000 materials engineers are in the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Materials engineering has a projected % job growth rate of 2% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 20% of materials engineers work in research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Mechanical Engineering Statistics
• The United States employs over 300,000 mechanical engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• There’s an expected growth rate of 4% in the mechanical engineering field between 2020 and 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 25% of mechanical engineers work in manufacturing industries (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Mining and Geological Engineering

• The U.S. has approximately 6,000 mining and geological engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Mining and geological engineering have a projected % growth rate of 4% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Nearly 30% of mining and geological engineers are employed in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

More Interesting Engineering Statistics

• The average starting salary for an engineer with a bachelor’s degree is $66,000 (National Association of Colleges and Employers).
• As of 2023, only 5% of Fortune 500 companies have engineers as CEOs, but those companies tend to outperform others in the marketplace (Fortune Magazine).
• Globally, China leads in the number of engineering graduates, producing over 600,000 engineers in 2023 (World Economic Forum).
• A 2023 survey indicated that 60% of engineers consider problem-solving to be the most enjoyable part of their work (National Society of Professional Engineers).
• Engineers who hold professional engineering (PE) licenses earn an average of 15% more than their non-licensed counterparts (National Society of Professional Engineers).
• Approximately 20% of astronauts have an engineering background (NASA).
• The demand for civil engineers specializing in sustainable and green design has increased by 20% since 2018 (American Society of Civil Engineers).
• In 2023, approximately 25% of engineers will work at least part of the time (Society of Women Engineers) remotely.
• Engineers with a specialization in data science have seen job growth of over 15% annually since 2018 (Indeed).
• Over 50% of engineers are involved in some form of continued education or professional development program (National Society of Professional Engineers).

Nanotechnology Engineering Statistics

• The U.S. has about 5,000 nanotechnology engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The projected job growth rate for nanotechnology engineers from 2020 to 2030 is 7% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• More than 40% of nanotechnology engineers work in research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Nuclear Engineering Facts

• Nuclear engineering jobs in the U.S. total approximately 17,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Nuclear engineering has a projected growth rate of 1% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• About 40% of all nuclear engineers work in electric power generation (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Petroleum Engineering Statistics

• Around 33,000 petroleum engineers are employed in the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The job growth rate for petroleum engineers from 2020 to 2030 is projected to be around 3% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The majority (about 50%) of petroleum engineers work in oil and gas extraction industries (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Robotics Engineering

• The number of robotics engineers in the U.S. stands at roughly 15,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The projected growth rate of robotics engineering jobs from 2020 to 2030 is a whopping 20% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 25% of robotics engineers work in manufacturing sectors (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Software Engineering Statistics

• There are over 1.5 million software development jobs in the U.S. as of 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Software development jobs are projected to grow by 22% from 2020 to 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Approximately 33% of software developers are employed in computer systems design and related services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Sound Engineering Statistics

• There are approximately 15,000 sound engineers in the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The job growth rate for sound engineers from 2020 to 2030 is projected to be around 4% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Over 50% of sound engineers work in radio and television broadcasting (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Structural Engineering Facts

• Structural engineering employment in the U.S. stands at about 25,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The projected job growth rate for structural engineers from 2020 to 2030 is 3% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Almost 30% of structural engineers work in architectural, engineering, and related services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Surprising Engineering Statistics

• There’s an estimated 3% increase in engineering internships and co-op programs offered in 2023 compared to 2020 (National Association of Colleges and Employers).
• Over 75% of engineering graduates feel that their education prepared them well for their jobs (National Center for Education Statistics).
• 15% of engineers go on to earn their master’s degrees, while 3% earn their doctorates (National Science Foundation).
• Roughly 35% of engineering firms in the U.S. specialize in civil engineering, making it the most common engineering discipline among firms (U.S. Census Bureau).
• Over 80% of engineers say they would choose the same career path if they could start over again (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
• About 10% of engineers in the U.S. work more than 50 hours per week (U.S. Census Bureau).
• Nearly 60% of engineers report that teamwork is a crucial part of their job (National Society of Professional Engineers).
• An estimated 5% of engineers in the U.S. are self-employed, either as consultants or business owners (U.S. Census Bureau).
• Approximately 15% of patents granted in the U.S. in 2023 are in the engineering sector (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
• Around 30% of engineers in the U.S. have worked on international projects (National Society of Professional Engineers).
• In 2023, about 40% of engineers will have at least one professional certification beyond their academic degree (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
• An estimated 20% of engineers change their industry sector at least once during their careers (National Society of Professional Engineers).
• More than 60% of U.S. engineers have more than ten years of work experience (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
• An estimated 8% increase in the demand for engineers specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is expected by 2030 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Systems Engineering Facts

• The U.S. employs approximately 70,000 systems engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• The projected job growth rate for systems engineers from 2020 to 2030 is about 7% (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• About 20% of all systems engineers work in professional, scientific, and technical services (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

---

Engineering Statistics FAQs