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January 29, 2025 | 07:58 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Engineering is reputable for being one of the most challenging fields of study, requiring mathematical skills, logical thinking, technical skills, problem-solving, and others. While pursuing an engineering degree takes a lot of grit, determination, and late nights, it offers incredible rewards in terms of career opportunities and even paycheck.
So, if you are up for the challenge, let’s take a look at the top 5 hardest engineering majors and learn about the potential career paths for each, citing Amber Student and Shiksha.
1. Nuclear Engineering
First on the list is nuclear engineering. You guessed it, this particular major revolves around the handling of nuclear energy, from development to operation, for various purposes, mainly for power generation.
Although this branch of engineering study opens up the opportunity to establish a career in research institutions, the nuclear power industry, and even government agencies, studying nuclear engineering requires a deep understanding of physics and chemistry, as well as a strong foundation in mathematics.
Moreover, nuclear work can pose some serious health risks, including burns, nerve damage, and gastrointestinal problems, due to exposure to radiation and the handling of hazardous materials, according to Jobzmall and Nuclear Engineering International.
Average Starting Salary: US$70,000 to US$90,000 per year
Top Universities: MIT, Tsinghua University, Stanford University, University of California
2. Aerospace Engineering
Dreaming of building airplanes, rockets, or even spacecraft? Consider choosing aerospace engineering for your career, although you will need to prepare yourself as it is one of the hardest engineering majors out there.
Since aerospace engineering mostly focuses on designing, developing, and testing the operation of aircraft and spacecraft alike, what you learn will be a mix of advanced mathematics, aerodynamics, and materials science. Therefore, you must be well-informed in core math topics, like calculus and linear algebra, as well as physics.
Those with degrees in this field typically work as aerospace engineers and spacecraft designers.
Average Starting Salary: US$65,000 to US$75,000 per year
Top Universities: California Institute of Technology, MIT, Purdue University, University of Michigan
3. Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is considered one of the hardest engineering courses due to the combination of organic and physical chemistry. The major demands students to innovate and optimize systems to produce refined products from raw materials.
Some key areas of the study include thermodynamics and reaction engineering. While it appears to be mentally exhausting, on the bright side, chemical engineers are some of the highest-paid professionals.
Average Starting Salary: approximately US$78,350 to US$192,000 per year
Top Universities: MIT, ETH Zurich, Delft University of Technology, University of Tokyo
4. Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering exists to address problems in the fields of biology and medicine since its primary objective is to improve healthcare facilities. This major is also responsible for the development of medical robotics and biomaterials.
Therefore, those who plan to pursue a career in this field should understand biological sciences and the principles of physics. Furthermore, graduates of biomedical engineering commonly work as biomechanics engineers, clinical engineers, and others.
Average Starting Salary: US$75,000 per year
- Top Universities: Harvard University, MIT, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Toronto
5. Civil Engineering
Have you ever wondered how buildings and bridges can withstand such immense loads? This is one of the fundamental responsibilities of a civil engineer.
Civil engineering specializes in designing, analyzing, and constructing the framework of structures to ensure their resilience and durability. While you will still learn about theoretical knowledge, those in this field will also be introduced to other areas requiring practical skills, including land surveying, traffic flow, and construction management.
Average Starting Salary: approximately US$62,000 to US$237,000 per year
- Top Universities: MIT, Tsinghua University, Stanford University, University of California
Engineering is indeed not for the faint of heart. But, if you are determined to pursue a career in this field, make sure to choose a reputable institution that offers a comprehensive learning environment as well as a wide range of job opportunities. Consider choosing one of these top 10 engineering universities in the world as your study destination.
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