How to Become an Engineer: The Steps, the Math and the Pay, Starting in High School

Last updated: November 11, 2026

To become an engineer in the United States, you earn a bachelor's degree in engineering, which usually takes about 4 years, ideally from a program accredited by ABET. With that degree you can start work as an engineer. To become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), the most common path adds three steps: pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, gain about 4 years of work experience, and pass the PE exam in your discipline. You can prepare in high school with math through calculus, physics and chemistry, and hands-on projects. This guide uses data from NCEES, ABET, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), universities and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The engineers who design satellites and surgical robots all started with one problem they could not stop thinking about. Find yours early. Show me project ideas →

How long does it take to become an engineer?

Stage	Typical length	What you get
Bachelor's degree in engineering	About 4 years	The degree most entry-level engineering jobs require
FE exam	Near or after graduation	The title engineer in training (EIT) or engineer intern (EI)
Work experience	Usually 4 years	Progressive, verifiable experience, often under a PE
PE exam and state license	After the experience	The Professional Engineer license

So you can work as an engineer about 4 years after high school, and you can be a licensed PE about 8 years after high school. BLS says engineering programs "often take about 4 years of classroom, laboratory, and field studies." Some universities offer 5-year programs that combine a bachelor's and a master's degree, and some 5- or 6-year co-op plans mix classes with paid work.

Step 1: Choose your branch of engineering

Engineering is many careers. Here are major branches from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, with the median pay in May 2025:

Branch	What they do	Median pay
Computer hardware	Design and test processors, circuit boards and memory	$161,740
Petroleum	Improve oil and gas extraction	$144,910
Aerospace	Design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles	$134,960
Nuclear	Develop uses of nuclear energy and manage nuclear waste	$133,970
Chemical	Design processes to make products such as fuels and paper	$125,040
Electrical and electronics	Design electrical equipment and systems	$125,040
Materials	Develop and test materials	$112,860
Bioengineering and biomedical	Design medical devices, equipment and software	$109,370
Environmental	Solve problems of planetary health	$107,110
Mechanical	Design, build and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices	$104,110
Industrial	Design systems for production processes	$102,440
Civil	Plan, design and supervise building and infrastructure projects	$100,840

You do not have to decide now. At MIT, for example, every student takes the same core of calculus, physics, chemistry and biology, whatever the major. Many students find their branch through a class, a club or a project they love. If you like several branches, a project that crosses two of them, such as a robot that maps a room, is a good way to find out.

Twelve branches, one choice. A small research project in robotics, energy or medical devices tells you more about your fit than any career quiz. Help me choose my field →

Step 2: Prepare in middle school and high school

Take math every year, through calculus

Calculus is the foundation of every engineering degree. MIT, for example, requires all its students, in every major, to take single-variable and multivariable calculus. Its admissions office says students do better when they take math "throughout high school," often through geometry, algebra I and II, trigonometry and precalculus, toward calculus.

Take physics and chemistry

MIT says well-prepared students have taken "at least some physics, chemistry, and/or biology," and recommends introductory courses in all three if possible. BLS adds that computer and electrical engineers benefit from programming experience.

Build things, and compete

Robotics:FIRST Robotics teams design, build and program robots each season.
Science Olympiad: its build events, such as Boomilever and Electric Vehicle, are engineering under a deadline. See our Science Olympiad guide.
Math competitions: MATHCOUNTS was founded in 1983 by the National Society of Professional Engineers and partners. See our MATHCOUNTS guide.
Summer programs: our list of summer engineering programs for high school students covers options at many universities.

Try research

Competitions teach you to solve problems someone else wrote. Research teaches you to ask your own. That is the daily work of engineers in research and development. learnSTEM students have done research in fields such as robot localization and mapping, computer vision, electrical circuits, vehicle dynamics, tissue engineering and renewable energy policy.

In learnSTEM's STEM Research Program, admitted students work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top-20 university, on their own schedule, and take one question from an idea to a finished paper. You do not need a topic in advance; you shape the question with your mentor in the first weeks. As one learnSTEM student said: "Rather than just focusing on content, it emphasized how to ask meaningful questions, seek evidence, and approach problems from multiple angles." Our guide on how to choose a research topic shows how to start.

Picture showing an admissions reader a study you designed yourself, with real data and a written paper, next to your robotics season. Send me the research starter guide →

Step 3: Earn an ABET-accredited engineering degree

ABET accredits 4,863 programs in engineering, engineering technology, computing and the applied and natural sciences, at 950 colleges and universities in 42 countries. Why it matters: NCEES says licensing boards generally require PE candidates to have a bachelor's degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program, and BLS says most employers prefer graduates of accredited programs. Before you apply to a college, check that the exact program you want is on ABET's list.

Choosing a school? See our guide to the best engineering schools, and if MIT is your dream, how to get into MIT.

In college, three things make you hireable:

Internships or co-ops. BLS says co-op plans let you gain valuable experience and earn money to pay for part of your education.
Engineering clubs and teams. Design-and-build teams give you hands-on project experience.
Research with a professor. BLS says a PhD is essential for engineering faculty and for some research and development programs. Undergraduate research is how you test that path.

Step 4: Pass the FE exam

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step toward a PE license. NCEES designed it for recent graduates and for students close to finishing an EAC/ABET-accredited degree.

FE exam fact	Detail
Format	Computer-based, at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers
When	Year-round
Questions	110
Appointment	6 hours, including 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time
Fee	$225, paid to NCEES
Results	Usually within 7 to 10 business days, pass or fail

Step 5: Gain experience and pass the PE exam

Most states require four years of "acceptable, progressive, and verifiable" work experience, according to NCEES. NSPE describes it as four years of progressive engineering experience under a PE. Then you take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. NCEES offers more than 20 PE exams, one for each discipline.

Do you need a PE license? Not to start. BLS says licensure is not required for entry-level mechanical or civil engineers. But only a licensed engineer can sign and seal engineering drawings, and civil engineers who serve the public directly usually must be licensed. NSPE notes that every state now regulates engineering; the first licensure law passed in Wyoming in 1907.

What engineers earn and the job outlook

BLS reports a median annual wage of $108,620 for engineers in May 2025, and projects 8% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3% for all occupations. Across architecture and engineering occupations, BLS expects about 174,800 openings each year.

The top 10% in some branches earn far more. In May 2025, the highest 10% of petroleum engineers earned more than $253,200, and the highest 10% of computer hardware engineers earned more than $225,330. With experience, engineers can also move into management: architectural and engineering managers had a median of $171,270, and the top 10% earned more than $262,760. That role usually requires 5 years or more of experience.

How much math do engineers really use?

A lot in school, and it varies at work. BLS says mechanical engineers use "calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math" in analysis, design and troubleshooting. Math skill grows with practice. Take math every year, work problems steadily, and ask for help early. If a class feels hard, that is the normal feeling of learning the language engineers use, not a sign that you are in the wrong field.

Calculus is the language of engineering. A research project is often the first place you speak it, on a question you chose yourself. Show me how to start one →

Can you become an engineer without a degree?

In practice, a degree is the standard path. NCEES notes that many states offer additional paths to licensure, so check your state board. Without a four-year degree, engineering technician and technologist roles are a strong option. Many require an associate's degree, and BLS reports median pay of $74,510 for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians and $82,890 for aerospace engineering technologists and technicians. BLS also notes that mechanical engineering technology programs focus "less on theory and more on the practical application," which suits students who love hands-on work.

Frequently asked questions

How many years does it take to become an engineer?

About 4 years for a bachelor's degree, after which you can work as an engineer. A PE license typically takes about 4 more years of experience and two exams.

What qualifications do you need to be an engineer?

A bachelor's degree in engineering, ideally from an ABET-accredited program. For a PE license, you also pass the FE and PE exams and gain about 4 years of experience.

What subjects do you need to be an engineer?

Math through calculus, physics and chemistry. BLS adds that programming helps, especially for computer and electrical engineering.

Can you make $250,000 as an engineer?

Yes, at the top of some fields. BLS reports that the highest 10% of petroleum engineers earned more than $253,200 in May 2025, and the highest 10% of engineering managers more than $262,760.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

BLS wage data do not show a typical engineering salary at that level. The highest 10% of engineering managers earned more than $262,760 in May 2025, so $300,000 sits near the very top of the field.

How can I become an engineer as a kid?

Build, code and take math seriously. Join a robotics team, MATHCOUNTS or Science Olympiad, and try a small research question of your own.

Sources

About learnSTEM

All bright students reach a point where school stops challenging them. learnSTEM provides that challenge: the space to explore a field of their choice, guided by a world-class PhD mentor from a top-20 university, completely one-on-one and on your own schedule. Students finish with a passion for a new subject, a research project they are proud of, and a clear sense of what they want to pursue next.

See if you qualify for the STEM Research Program → · Questions about eligibility? Contact us →

"It has only strengthened my love for learning about the world and given me a paper that I am proud to say I've made." — learnSTEM student