How it works
Drawn to engineering and not sure which kind? Press the button for one of 16 kinds of engineer or 7 kinds of engineering technician, each with what the work is and the usual entry-level degree.
Read the full guide
Pick by what you want to work on
After your first press, the list beside the button narrows the draw: Machines, vehicles and factories; Electronics and computers; Buildings, energy and environment; or Chemistry, materials and health. Two more choices split the list into engineers, who usually start with a bachelor's degree, and technicians, who usually start with an associate's degree.
What engineering major should I choose?
Set the count to 3 and keep the field that makes you curious, then read its page in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at bls.gov. Many colleges share a first year across engineering majors, so ask yours how late you can switch before you worry about choosing wrong.
Tips
- Read the technician card next to the engineer card for the same field: the work overlaps and the schooling is shorter.
- Ask an engineer what they did last week. It tells you more than a job title.
Questions and answers
What are the main types of engineer?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics handbook lists 16, including civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics, chemical, aerospace, biomedical, environmental and industrial engineers. This list adds 7 kinds of engineering technician.
What is the difference between an engineer and an engineering technician?
In the handbook's summaries, engineers design, develop and test, while technologists and technicians help them and run and maintain the equipment. Its typical entry-level education is a bachelor's degree for the engineers here and an associate's degree for the technicians.
Is this a test that tells me what to study?
No. It is a shuffled list with filters, made to give you a field to read about. It does not score your answers or judge what you would be good at.