Engineers, All Other: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Architecture and Engineering · SOC 17-2199 · O*NET 17-2199.00
Engineers, All Other fall under the Architecture and Engineering category in the U.S. occupational classification. Engineers, All Other earn a median salary of $117,750 per year, ranking in the top 7% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.1% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about engineers, all other right now
The O*NET code 17-2199 covers engineers who do not fit neatly into the standard specialty categories, but for parents and teens the most concrete example in this group is aerospace engineering: designing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles, and the propulsion and avionics systems that run them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects aerospace engineering employment to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 4,500 openings each year over the decade. The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $134,830 in May 2024, among the highest of any engineering specialty. Entry typically requires a bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited program; some defense and security work requires U.S. citizenship, a security clearance, or a graduate degree. Engineers offering services directly to the public must hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license. The current industry trend is striking: the global aerospace and defense market is expected to grow from about $847 billion in 2025 to roughly $900 billion in 2026 (Deloitte), driven by commercial aircraft order backlogs, low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, reusable launch vehicles, and AI-enabled defense systems. Roles for general engineers also span energy, biomedical devices, and advanced manufacturing. Teens who love physics, are excited by space or aviation, and can stick with a hard problem are well-suited; AP Physics, Calculus, a model rocketry club, or a flight simulator hobby are all credible starting points.
What do engineers, all other earn?
The median annual wage for engineers, all other is $117,750. That puts engineers, all other at #58 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is engineers, all other a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for engineers, all other is +2.1%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 158K positions in 2024 to 162K in 2034, a net change of 4K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What education does my child need to become engineers, all other?
The standard path into engineers, all other begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about engineers, all other
What is the median salary for engineers, all other?
The median annual salary for engineers, all other is $117,750 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is engineers, all other a growing career?
BLS projects +2.1% growth for engineers, all other from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become engineers, all other?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to engineers, all other?
Related occupations within the Architecture and Engineering category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.