Highest Paying Careers You Can Get with a Science Engineering Management Masters

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Science engineering management is a subdivision of engineering that teaches how to design, plan and integrate complicated economic and technological management systems into any type of business. The field of scientific engineering covers the basic principles of machine construction and includes professionals who design roads, buildings, or bridges and manages various information technology processes to improve a business's functions. These engineers can also enter almost any field of interest as the profession includes aerospace, IT, and industrial sectors.

Engineers are considered incredibly clever, and a person wishing to gain a masters in this field needs to be able to solve complex problems with creative solutions. The management side of the qualification means that you will probably manage larger science and engineering projects rather than create them from the ground up. Here are 12 optimal careers you can get with a science engineering management masters and their earning potential.

Director of Hardware Engineering

The director is the head of a department, and the responsibilities of a director of hardware engineering include managing projects, hiring effective team members, and managing the project budget. Where a hardware engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing various computer hardware components, a director will oversee all other engineers, to ensure that the department is operating smoothly. The average salary for a hardware engineer is $90,000 per year, with directors earning closer to $150,000.

To become certified as a director of hardware engineering you need to have a masters in science and engineering, understand technical jargon, and work with administrative procedures. This aspect of management is included in the curriculum for science and engineering masters and is vital for this profession. Directors are also in charge of employees and ensuring that each staff member in the department is operating efficiently. This can mean rearranging employee responsibilities so that production can become more efficient.

IT Manager

IT managers are highly sought after because they are professionals who can oversee multiple technological and scientific processes in any business. An IT manager is responsible for delegating jobs to the correct technicians, sourcing optimal hardware and software for a business and its clients, as well as managing a team of technical professionals. Although an IT manager doesn't need to earn a masters, science and engineering majors can still easily get into this field because of their expertise in information technology. To find out more about this field in the scope of IT management, an online master of science engineering management from Kettering Online can assist.

IT managers are expected to be great problem solvers - they are usually in charge of large project management deployments - and they need to be able to work well under pressure. Most companies require a minimum of ten years of experience working in the IT field to become a manager; however, they can earn decent salaries of up to $146,000 per year.

Automation Engineer

An automation engineer will usually freelance because the money can be more than if they worked for a single firm. If you specialize in the software automation field, you will need some coding experience. Automation engineers are responsible for writing code, testing software, and automating as much of a business' processes as possible. These professionals are in high demand, especially in businesses where software mainly runs day-to-day procedures. Some freelance automation engineers charge a minimum of $50 per hour for consulting work, and the salary can reach over $100,000 with sufficient experience.

Automation engineers will spend the majority of their workday in an office behind closed doors because it requires exceptional attention to detail and careful planning. These engineers also have to be good communicators because there will be cases where they need to work closely with other staff to understand their requirements and how automating business processes can make their jobs easier.

Structural Engineer

Designing and constructing a building that can withstand tons of external pressure requires an engineer that is experienced with beams, foundations, and columns. This sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with the bones and muscles of buildings and structures such as bridges to ensure they are safe for people to use.

A structural engineer may not earn as much as a director of engineering; however, they can earn an average of $90,000 straight out of university. Structural engineers can also be architects but they will need both experience in theory and practice in the field of information technology.

Firmware Engineer

Similar to an automation engineer, firmware engineers are responsible for developing and implementing software in a company depending on the specific applications and systems in use. In some cases, programming skills are required but they are not essential because a firmware engineer manages software deployments, allocating resources as needed. This could be deploying new versions of Office onto all staff computers without having to install the software on each machine one-by-one.

Similar to software engineers, firmware engineers need a strong background in hardware and software and are a step up from software technicians. Firmware engineers are one of the top earners in science and engineering with a median salary of $141,500. Those who want to increase their earning potential should consider automation engineering with a specialization in firmware deployments.

Entrepreneur

With a science engineering masters, you can even open your own business. As this field of education includes management and administrative skills, being an entrepreneur is a very desirable opportunity for anyone unsure of which field they should specialize in. This occupation opens up doors to any industry professional that wishes to manage their own company. Entrepreneurs with relevant experience will be able to identify the departments that the business will need, how to effectively manage these departments, and how specific science and engineering functions will operate in the business.

The great thing about being an entrepreneur is being the boss. Just remember that any business requires at least five years of operations before a decent profit margin can be achieved. This is standard for any new business entering the market, but with science and engineering behind your belt, you will have the best chance possible to speed up this process.

Senior Cost Analyst

With experience in science and engineering, a professional can branch out into financial analysis that is responsible for managing an organization's costs and profits. A senior cost analyst can help identify where spending is not effective and which company hardware and software can be used more efficiently to cut down costs and increase profits.

Senior cost analysts also need some experience with economics and market trends to accurately determine where costs can be saved. These professionals earn about the same as structural engineers at about $90,000 per year, and will work normal office hours, but they need to have exceptional management, organizational, and communication skills.

Construction Manager

A construction manager can earn anywhere from $126,000 - $150,000 per annum with sufficient experience. A construction manager will not only be responsible for managing structural engineers, they will also oversee the whole construction process from the beginning of the design to the end product. Construction management can be a stressful environment because large building materials and tools are used to construct various structures, which means there are safety concerns.

A construction manager is responsible for ensuring that all builders are properly equipped with the correct gear and that health and safety standards are upheld. This profession may require that you get your hands dirty at times, but it can be a very lucrative career with a science and engineering masters.

Industrial Manager

This profession includes construction management but with a greater focus on industrial processes within manufacturing. An industrial manager is responsible for eliminating waste during the production process by identifying shortfalls or redundant hardware. Industrial managers are in charge of construction managers and structural engineers to provide the most cost-effective and machine-efficient way to manufacture products and services. Compared to other engineering sectors, industrial managers don't need to know as much about mathematics and technical components because they will usually only deal with the basic concepts of industry management.

Industrial management does require knowledge in basic manufacturing processes and sometimes industrial psychology may be needed to improve employee performance. By understanding how employees work and where they can improve performance, an industrial manager can increase production rates and profits. These managers can earn $40,000 more than the national average American salary with a little over $92,000 for experienced professionals.

Senior Systems Engineer

A senior systems engineer is one step up from IT management. The job requires analysis, planning, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex networks and systems like business LANs and WANs. This job is largely for people who enjoy solving complicated problems and requires at least 3 years as an IT manager. Senior systems engineers work with large servers, mainframes, and mini computers to ensure that a business is operating effectively. Sometimes they are also responsible for automation procedures such as managing large deployments of software in single instances.

Senior systems engineers can earn anywhere from $120,000 and up with a good number of years experience in IT management and automation procedures.

Aeronautics Engineer

Aeronautics engineers are among the top earners for science engineering masters with an average salary of $150,000 if you can get a job at NASA or SpaceX. These engineers are responsible for designing and building aircraft and spaceships that can withstand pressures from outside the earth's atmosphere. Typically, only a bachelor's degree is needed to enter the aerospace field, however, you will need a masters to become an experienced and sought-after professional. This career requires a lot of study and experience with the average aeronautics engineer aiming for 10-19 years of practice.

Aerospace engineers work at the cutting edge of technology, and they frequently need to learn about transportation, exploration, defense, and communication systems in order to be fully qualified.

Agricultural Engineer

This sector of science engineering is concerned with environmental issues, as well as buildings and power supplies. Agricultural engineers are responsible for designing agricultural machinery and equipment that assists in improving the production and processing of food and agricultural products. One of the main functions of an agricultural engineer is to design the structures for crop storage. They sometimes also work with animal shelters to design homes and building structures to house stranded pets.

Agricultural engineering aims to integrate technology into the farming sector to solve various architectural problems. This can include designing new machinery or restructuring the way crops are grown to increase product throughput. This specialization does require a bit of extra studying to major in agriculture, yet this is easy enough to achieve if you already have your masters. Agricultural engineers can also become biological engineers that are concerned with the science of human anatomy and how it can be improved with technology. Think about artificial limbs and joints, or prosthetic limbs that require a deep understanding of physics and biology.

A masters in science and engineering is a worthwhile qualification to aim for because it's at the forefront of business in the 21^st century. To increase your earning potential, consider a career in one of the managing sectors of science and engineering as those professionals can earn well above $208,000 or more per year. Engineers who understand not only how technical projects, tools, and systems function, but also how to lead a team and an organization, are becoming increasingly crucial for engineering firms. Through an engineering lens, you will be trained in business principles such as marketing, accounting, and leadership abilities.

Those that bring engineering projects to the forefront have been some of the most renowned and celebrated people throughout human history. The success of a civilization can be determined in a variety of ways by the success of its engineering and the bright brains behind these achievements. Excellent engineering necessitates great organization in all circumstances, and the better the achievement, the more skilled managerial practice is required. They are experts at creating innovative solutions that improve people's lives or improve products and procedures.