Choosing a career path can be daunting, particularly if you are unsure of what the future holds. Let’s have a look at the direction engineering is going in.  It’s evident that engineering is progressing toward IT and automation, and it looks likely to stay this way for the foreseeable future. This means jobs in these sectors could prove secure investments. Despite continued demand for civil and petroleum engineering, these fields have witnessed slower growth when compared to the likes of information technology. Here are 2023’s top engineering roles and the salaries they may offer.

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1. Automation & Robotics Engineer

Repetitive tasks are done much more accurately and faster with robotic systems This makes their performance far more consistent than the variable dexterity and attention to detail of a human.  Every aspect of the design, development, testing and implementation of robotic systems is created and overseen by a robotics engineer. A background in either mechanics, electronics, or mechatronics is necessary to become a robotics engineer. As the world is becoming more automated, automation engineering is becoming a very promising career.

Median Annual Salary: $107,600

2. Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineering has an incredible amount of career options. Designing machines and other devices to control manufacturing systems is one of the key roles for a mechanical engineer. Engineering expertise is needed in a range of sub-fields like, fluid mechanics, combustion, environmental, vehicle systems, heat transfer, thermodynamics and energy systems.  Therefore, it is unlikely that there will ever be a shortage of jobs.

Median Annual Salary: $100,600

3. Civil Engineer

There are many different engineering jobs available to those with the right training and skills. Civil engineering is one of the most popular types of engineering, and it involves designing and building structures such as bridges, roads, and dams. There are also many other types of engineering jobs, including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering. Engineering jobs are important because they help to improve the infrastructure of our society and make our lives easier.

Median Annual Salary: $88,050

4. Electrical Engineer

Electricity is used everyday and is a field that is continually in demand. Electrical engineers may work in the power industry, designing and maintaining electrical power systems. They may also work in the telecommunications industry, designing and managing communication networks.  Most engineers have at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Some jobs may require a master’s degree or even a PhD. This is a very rewarding field because it is continually growing.

Median Annual Salary: $101,780

5. Machine Learning & Data Science

Software engineering has grown steadily in recent times and there is no indication it is about to slow down. Data science, a sub-category of software engineering, entails extracting importance from huge packs of data. These vast collections are referred to as big data and can come from industries like finance, medicine or e-commerce. It uses software engineering alongside statistics to compile, study and display the data so that clients can optimize their services. For instance, experts can use sales data of particular items around certain months to devise focused marketing strategies.

Machine learning is a section of data science that uses past data to predict future events. It works by having algorithms generate guesses, confirming their accuracy and adjusting themselves to become more precise in the future. For better predictions, a wide range of data should be taken into account. Although an undergrad degree isn’t obligatory to pursue a career in data science, some short courses offering knowledge of pertinent topics exist – yet it’s essential to have an excellent understanding of mathematics and coding. 

6. Alternative Energy Engineer

These engineers work on developing and improving renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. They also work on making these energy sources more efficient and less expensive. In addition, they may also work on developing new alternative energy sources. This is due to the increasing awareness of the need to move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources. In addition, many governments are investing heavily in renewable energy projects, which will create even more demand for qualified engineers.

Median Annual Salary: $96,820

7. Mining Engineer

Mining is where raw materials are obtained for manufactured goods. Open pit and underground mines need to be designed and supervised, from excavation to construction and maintenance.  Once the mine has been built, then there is th indeed for designing processing methods and also transportation systems to the relevant processing plants. Demand for all metals are still in demand and countries with minerals will alway have a need for mining engineers.

Median Annual Salary: $97,090

8. Project Engineer

A project engineer is a critical field that is a necessity in every branch of engineering. Project engineering doesn’t necessarily need a bachelors degree, an undergraduate degree can be used but further study in technical fields is recommended as an understanding of many technical fields is needed to project manage a project. Managing a project may include design, manufacture, procurement, and delivery of everything from small components to complex mining plants. Understanding every facet of a project is fundamental as it requires technical understanding in many fields of engineering. Again, continuous learning is needed to keep up with different fields of engineering.

Median Annual Salary: $91,976

This is not a complete list of engineering jobs, but it does give a cross-section of remuneration and a feeling for the current engineering jobs available.  With the skills shortage in South Africa there is no shortage of engineering jobs in South Africa. Specialization in any engineering field will help your job search become easier.  Data science and automation are becoming the leading roles and offer higher than average starting salaries.