What Can You Do With an Engineering Management Degree? 6 Jobs to Consider

With an engineering management degree, you can explore many different kinds of jobs as an engineering manager. Engineering management is a role for engineers looking to move into managerial roles to solve both business and engineering problems. Some roles focus on the supervision of engineering staff and other departments, while others focus more specifically on managing projects, meeting deadlines, and working with stakeholders. 

Explore six jobs you can get with an engineering management degree, including salaries, job outlooks, and requirements. 

What is an engineering management degree?

An engineering management degree prepares you for leadership roles in engineering management—managing teams, developing products, and leading engineering projects. It’s typically a graduate degree, but some bachelor programs do exist. These programs help you develop skills in leadership, business analysis, finance, and problem-solving in addition to advanced engineering principles. Generally, you can find four different paths for engineering management degrees:

• Bachelor of Engineering Management: This four-year program allows engineering students to combine financial analysis, economics, and human resource skills with their technical engineering skills.

• Accelerated Master of Engineering Management: This program combines a technical engineering bachelor’s degree with a Master of Engineering Management degree in an accelerated five-year program. 

• Master of Engineering Management (MEM): This two-year master’s degree program prepares engineers who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in engineering with the skills needed to move into management positions that lead teams of engineers. 

• Master of Business Administration (MBA): This common advanced business program specifically prepares you for taking on executive positions, supporting company growth and leading entire companies. 

Is an MEM better than an MBA?

A Master of Engineering Management (MEM) degree isn’t necessarily better than an MBA, depending on your goals. Both degrees give you the business acumen you need to move into management, but the MEM degree is specifically designed for engineers who want to continue working in the engineering field, while the MBA skills are much more general. Some MBA programs may include an engineering specialization but aren’t as specific as MEM degrees.

6 engineering management degree jobs

An engineering management degree can lead to more career opportunities in management and senior-level engineering roles while also increasing your earning potential. Explore six job options below, their average annual salaries, job outlooks, and some requirements to consider. 

Engineering manager

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $160,227 [1]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 6 percent [2]

Requirements: Extensive work experience and at least a bachelor's degree, though most employers prefer an MEM or an MBA

Engineering managers make plans for product development, designs, or engineering processes and organize a team of engineers to make these products happen. They also supervise, budget, and collaborate with other departments, managers, and stakeholders. 

Process engineer

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $92,803 [3]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 12 percent [4]

Requirements: At least a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, industrial, or general engineering and a master’s degree for higher-level roles

A process engineer, also known as an industrial engineer, works to create efficient engineering and manufacturing processes by analyzing their energy, materials, and workers to ensure the effective creation of the product or process. They often work in manufacturing and provide insight into layout and production processes to make the best product at the lowest cost. 

Plant manager

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $107,024 [5]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 3 percent [6]

Requirements: Often a bachelor’s degree with extensive work experience; some employers prefer a master’s degree

Plant managers, sometimes referred to as industrial production managers, work in manufacturing plants to supervise the production of products, goods, cars, computers, and more. They analyze data, meet budgetary and deadline goals, oversee workers, create more efficient processes, and communicate with suppliers. 

Systems engineer

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $114,671 [7]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 12 percent [4]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree at a minimum, master’s degree for advanced positions, and management experience

Systems engineers search for the most efficient ways to produce or organize processes by analyzing each component of a system. They oversee all aspects of the process, manage teams, and ensure product quality. They work daily to solve complex problems in many different industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and product development. 

Senior electrical engineer

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $127,941 [8]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 9 percent [9]

Requirements: A bachelor’s degree to work in the field, a master’s degree to move to a senior role with years of experience

Senior electrical engineers design, repair, and maintain electrical and electronics systems while managing teams of electrical engineers. They can also act as mentors for new electrical engineers and guide them throughout their time in the field. 

Engineering director

Average annual salary (Glassdoor): $185,957 [10]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 6 percent [11]

Requirements: Master of Engineering Management or an MBA

Engineering directors move out of supervising teams and into overseeing entire engineering departments within a business. They strategize long-term company goals, oversee the budget of the whole department, develop marketing strategies, and communicate goals directly to company stakeholders. They may also create company-wide policies and practices. 

Non-degree options for gaining engineering management skills

If you’re looking to gain skills in engineering management without a degree or don’t quite have enough experience in the field, you can explore non-degree options and gain in-demand business skills with Coursera offerings such as:

• Google Project Management: Professional Certificate

• IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst Professional Certificate

• IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate

• Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate

Get started in engineering management with Coursera

An engineering management degree can help boost your earning potential as an engineer. If you’re looking for an online master's degree option in engineering, try the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management or the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree options from the University of Colorado Boulder on Coursera.