Here are the top five states for engineering jobs

 

Engineering job insights

• There will be approximately 195,000 engineering job openings projected each year between now and 2033.
• The state you live in could matter when it comes to finding a competitive engineering job market.
• It’s important to know which states have the fewest opportunities.

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Whether you’re a seasoned engineer or just getting started, location matters when it comes to work.

It’s never been a better time to seek employment in the engineering field, with about 195,000 job openings projected each year between now and 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Although these jobs are in high demand, one size does not fit all when it comes to location. Battling it out against many engineers for a handful of jobs is not an ideal situation, especially after going through the education and training an engineering career demands.

As we navigate the top states for engineering jobs, it’s important to note that engineering is a broad field. The data captured here doesn’t take specific engineering occupations into consideration. It’s also important to note that all figures are from May 2023, the most recent data available from the BLS.

Here are five states in which you’re most likely to find a job as an engineer.

1. California

The Golden State is certainly golden for engineers. It boasted 31,490 jobs in May 2023.

The state has 1.75 engineering jobs for every 1,000 jobs. And California also offers the highest annual mean wage at $136,040.

2. Texas

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the engineering job opportunities.

The state had 8,200 jobs in the engineering field as of May 2023 and 0.61 engineering jobs per 1,000. The median annual wage in the Lone Star State is $116,750.

3. Florida

If you like your engineering with a side of fun in the sun, check out Florida.

There were 8,080 jobs in May 2023 and 0.84 engineering jobs per 1,000. The median annual wage in the Sunshine State is $102,500.

4. Louisiana

Coming in at No. 4 in our list of the top states for engineering jobs is Louisiana.

There were 6,950 engineering jobs in Louisiana in May 2023, with the highest number of engineering jobs per 1,000 at 3.75. The median annual wage for engineers in Louisiana is $102,920.

5. Ohio

Rounding out our list of the top five states for engineering jobs is Ohio.

The state boasted 6,530 engineering jobs, according to BLS data, with 1.19 engineering jobs per 1,000. The median annual wage for Ohio engineers is $114,110.

Worst states for engineering jobs

Now you know where you’re most likely to land that dream engineering job. But are there states you should avoid if you want to go into the field?

Here are the five states with the fewest engineering jobs.

5. Puerto Rico

If you’re searching for engineering work in paradise, Puerto Rico is probably not the best choice.

The U.S. territory has a meager 350 engineering jobs and just 0.38 engineering jobs per 1,000. The annual median wage is $68,820.

4. Alaska

The largest U.S. state by landmass is one of the smallest states for engineering opportunities.

The Last Frontier might be big on wide open spaces, but there are few jobs for engineers. There were just 310 jobs with 1.01 engineering jobs for every 1,000. But if you’re lucky enough to score one of these jobs amid Alaska’ wild beauty, you’ll be well-paid. The median annual wage is $120,390.

3. North Dakota

North Dakota is a big state with a little population.

The state, which has fewer than 800,000 people, offered engineers just 260 jobs. There were 0.62 engineering jobs per 1,000 jobs in the state.

If you are a North Dakotan with one of those 260 jobs, you can stand to earn a mean annual wage of about $92,470.

2. Wyoming

Wyoming is the home of Old Faithful, but there’s certainly no geyser of engineering jobs coming out of the state.

There were just 210 engineering jobs and 0.77 for every 1,000 jobs. The median annual wage for engineers in the state is $119,220.

1. South Dakota

Heading up our list of the worst states for engineering jobs is South Dakota.

It’s unsurprising that the home of Mount Rushmore is low on engineering jobs considering it has a population of fewer than 1 million people.

The state had just 100 jobs in the sector. The BLS does not have wage data.

Location matters when it comes to engineering jobs

Now you know where the most –– and fewest –– engineering opportunities are.

When it comes to engineering, location might not be a factor for everyone, as some jobs can be done remotely, and more companies are moving to a remote-only or hybrid model. But engineering is a field that could require in-person participation more so than other occupations.

If you’re dreaming of that perfect engineering career, this map might offer some insights into the best and worst states to seek out those opportunities.