Systems Engineering Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Systems Engineering major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Engineering, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Engineering, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$105,727

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$166,985

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$224,176

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 3.0%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$4,220,319

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Architectural and Engineering Managers
SOC: 11-9041
Occupation: Architectural and Engineering Managers
$167,740
210,340
N/A
N/A
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1032
Occupation: Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
$106,120
39,910
N/A
N/A
Database Architects
SOC: 15-1243
Occupation: Database Architects
$135,980
64,770
N/A
N/A
Industrial Engineers
SOC: 17-2112
Occupation: Industrial Engineers
$101,140
350,230
N/A
N/A
Engineers, All Other
SOC: 17-2199
Occupation: Engineers, All Other
$117,750
150,750
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Architectural and Engineering Managers

12.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$167,740210,340
2023$165,370207,800
2022$159,920197,180
2021$152,350187,100
2020$149,530195,900

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

2.4%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$106,12039,910
2023$106,91038,370
2022$103,55036,010
2021$104,94035,440
2020$103,60038,520

Database Architects

10.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$135,98064,770
2023$134,70059,920
2022$134,87062,470
2021$123,43050,440

Industrial Engineers

13.7%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$101,140350,230
2023$99,380332,870
2022$96,350321,400
2021$95,300293,950
2020$88,950290,190

Engineers, All Other

13.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$117,750150,750
2023$111,970150,990
2022$104,600150,420
2021$100,640151,940
2020$103,380152,380

Colleges offering Systems Engineering

Johns Hopkins University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$96k

University of Maryland-College Park

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$16k

Earnings

$69k

George Washington University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$46k

Earnings

$78k

Maine Maritime Academy

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$22k

Earnings

$103k

University of Florida

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$12k

Earnings

$63k