The different types of engineering careers available today

engineer your future

Discover the four main types of engineering, with a list of new engineering career options to try. You’re guaranteed a non-boring life when you work in engineering!

The four main types of engineering career

In the past, engineering was divided into chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. These were then divided into sub-groups. Let’s look at the four main types. Then we’ll cover the greatly expanded range of engineering career options available today…

Chemical engineering

£29,000 – £60,000 a year (UK average)

chemical engineer careers feature

Chemical engineers are sometimes known as ‘universal engineers’ because they know a broad range of stuff and have their fingers in all kinds of career pies. For example, the Nike sportswear development department is full of chemical engineers helping to create space-age fabrics. Chemical engineers research and design the machines, chemicals and activities which help create stuff from raw materials. Chemical engineers even help design ice-cream.

Chemical Engineering Careers

Civil engineering

£24,000 – £80,000 a year (UK average)

civil engineer careers feature

Civil engineers are like SimCity but in real life. They plan and manage mega building projects – anything from airports to statement skyscrapers and entire new towns. If you want to be able to walk past a city attraction and tell your friend “I made that happen”, you could think about becoming a civil engineer.

Civil Engineering Careers

Electrical Engineering

£20,000 – £60,000 a year (UK average)

electrical engineering technician feature

Would you like to change the world, improve lives and save the planet? Would you also like to make your tired old phone scratch-free again? As an electrical engineer, dreaming up and making all kinds of electrical equipment is what you do. You don’t need a degree to get into electrical engineering, either. You can start out as an electrical engineering technician then train to become a fully qualified engineer when you’re ready.

Electrical Engineering Careers

Mechanical Engineering

£22,000 – £55,000 a year (UK average)

mechanical engineering careers feature

Mechanical engineers have the very special skill of designing machinery and mini-machinery-bits (components, in other words). You’ll find machinery everywhere these days, so mechanical engineers are needed in almost any industry you can think of, from energy to healthcare.

Mechanical Engineering Careers

More types of engineering to develop your career today

Remember, there are lots of engineering jobs you can do without a degree, so don’t let education hold you back in your career choices.

… And that’s just for starters.

Engineering affects everything we do, from using phones to travelling and wearing clothes. That’s why there are so many types of engineering apart from the big 4 to choose from…

More engineering careers info:

Tagged in: ,

Discover Youth Friendly Employers

Email us at info@youthemployment.org.uk or call 01536 513388.

Build Skills + Confidence

Want a big boost in your life and work skills? Sign up to our free online Young Professional programme today!

Young Professional Programme

Get FREE skills training when you sign up. Get support with your personal confidence, positive attitude and coping with change!

Self Belief | Communication | Teamwork | Problem Solving | Self Management

FREE Online Courses

Boost your skills and careers confidence with FREE online courses. Complete them your own pace and get a certificate for your CV! Sign in as a Young Professional to get automatically enrolled.

Get Jobs + Experience

Find Opportunities

Looking for jobs and opportunities near you? Sign in as a Young Professional to see the latest jobs, apprenticeships, grad schemes, CV workshops, career events and early career opportunities in your area!

Latest Careers Help

Be Yourself

Mental Health

Stay Curious

Overcoming Barriers

For Students

Student Guides

For Teachers

Teacher Resources

Teachers - see how to use the Young Professional programme in your school or college, with lots of free teaching resources at your fingertips.