<p>I'm nearing the end of my first year as an engineering student at Ohio State and need to choose a specialty soon. Any thoughts on which one would be the most lucrative long term? I've heard that engineering salaries cap pretty early so definitely want to get a degree that would allow me to get into management easily. The main three that I have been considering are industrial and systems engineering, computer science and engineering, and welding engineering. Any thoughts on which would be high in demand in today's economy?</p>
<p>Engineering salaries are known to vary over time, sometimes wildly (aerospace is the worst for this). Chemical Engineering seems always to be near the top (although you did not list it), and last time I looked it was close to $100,000 per year. Very few engineering majors make less than $75,000 per year. Plus, social scientists say that additional income above $70,000 per year adds very little to happiness.</p>
<p>So… choose the one you think you might like the most. However, welding engineering sounds too narrow. I majored in civil engineering, but now do work closer to industrial engineering (which is what I would choose if I had a “do over.”). Industrial engineering has the advantage of probably putting into a management path, if you would be interested in that. Computer science might have peaked, but… who knows?</p>