Engineering Management Careers
How to Become an Engineering Manager
Engineers who move into management may supervise other engineers, direct industrial operations, or manage research and development teams. In addition to technical proficiency, these managers need to be knowledgeable about finance, marketing, operations management, and other areas of business management. They must also be good leaders and communicators.
Education Requirements
Since engineering managers usually start their careers as engineers, they typically hold bachelor’s degrees in engineering. If you’re already an engineer, you can gain the skills you need to move into management by earning a master’s degree in engineering management (MEM) or business administration (MBA). Engineers who want to manage in a technical area often prefer to earn an MEM, whereas those who move into areas such as marketing, human resources, or sales may choose an MBA program.
Employment Outlook
Opportunities for engineering managers are good with the best prospects in such areas as environmental and biomedical engineering. Engineers with strong leadership, communication and technical skills will advance the quickest.
Salary Information
Engineering managers median annual earnings is $105,430, according to recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.