<p>Ariesathena:</p>
<p>I found the theoretical chemical underpinnings behind chemical tests fascinating. But actually running the chemical tests (which is what my job entailed) was like a factory job--feeding samples into a big machine which did all of the chemical tests. </p>
<p>I'm sure there is an engineering equivalent. . .</p>
<p>Having said that, my brother is a petroleum engineer and loves it. He's stalled out salary-wise, but isn't interested in switching careers.</p>