A career in engineering is almost a surefire way to land a secure job with high pay immediately after graduation. Even in struggling economies, engineering jobs remain attainable. Currently, the demand for biomedical and civil engineers is at an all-time high. Biomedical engineers attempt to solve medical and health problems by using their knowledge of biology, biomedical principals and engineering. They assist in the design and creation of products ranging from prostheses to medical information systems. Biomedical engineers have developed heart-lung machines, lasers used in lasik eye surgery, artificial organs and pacemakers. Subdisciplines include medical imaging, biomechanics, systems physiology and clinical engineering. This career is perfect for those who have a genuine concern for the well-being of others, an interest in mechanical and electronics engineering and perhaps didn’t want to become a doctor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, biomedical engineers make a comfortable salary: the top ten percent earns an average of $121,970 per year. And many biomedical engineers live and work in or around some of our nation’s finest cities; most notably the San Francisco, Boston and Philadelphia areas.

Civil engineers will have the important duty of building and rebuilding America’s infrastructure to compensate for population growth. More specifically, these engineers build and repair roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, buildings like schools and government facilities, and much more. Other types of civil engineers deal with our changing environment; coastal engineers protect the coasts from erosion and flooding, environmental engineers deal with waste management and clean our water, and geotechnical engineers examine subsurface conditions to determine if the area suitable for building new structures. Typically, people who care about the efficiency and the well-being of their surroundings pursue this career. There always has been and always will be a need for civil engineers. After all, it’s one of the world’s oldest professions. Society wouldn’t function without them, and their importance is well-recognized. The pay isn’t bad either: the top ten percent average a salary of $115,630.

Civil engineers are among the many types of engineers who work for federal and state governments. In 2008, 8,405 electronic technicians, 8,594 aerospace engineers, 10,433 civil engineers, 16,190 engineering technicians, 19,318 electronics engineers and 20,395 general engineers worked for the federal government, according to Fedscope. Jobs have been listed by NASA, the US Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Patent and Trademark Office and the Department of Army. These jobs are ideal for recent college graduates who could use payment for relocation and a quick promotion. And they’re available all over the country, though the highest percentage is located around the Washington DC and Northern Virginia area.