California·Architecture and Engineering Occupations·SOC 17-2199

Best Engineer, All Other programs in California, ranked by enrollment

All engineers not listed.

41 schools in California run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,195 people a year. The job pays a median of $130,850 in California across about 28,610 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledEngineerLaser EngineerSolar DesignerDesign EngineerEnergy EngineerOptical EngineerProcess EngineerProject Engineer
Graduates / yr
2,195
in California
Median pay · California
$130,850
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
28,610
people employed
Schools
41
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
71%
across those schools
Median net price
$26,873
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in California that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Engineering
CIP 14.99
Engineering
539graduates / yr
12 schools · 1 specialization · 24.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $73,678
Engineering
CIP 14.01
Engineering
507graduates / yr
21 schools · 2 specializations · 23.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $67,734
Engineering
CIP 14.27
Systems Engineering
426graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 19.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $79,942
Engineering
CIP 14.47
Electrical and Computer Engineering
126graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 5.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Engineering
CIP 14.36
Manufacturing Engineering
108graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 4.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,154
Engineering
CIP 14.12
Engineering Physics
102graduates / yr
9 schools · 1 specialization · 4.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $57,457
Engineering
CIP 14.04
Architectural Engineering
89graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 4.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $73,510
Engineering
CIP 14.48
Energy Systems Engineering
81graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 3.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Engineering
CIP 14.13
Engineering Science
57graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 2.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $73,378
Engineering
CIP 14.45
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
51graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 2.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $59,620
Engineering
CIP 14.33
Construction Engineering
38graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $75,998
Engineering
CIP 14.42
Mechatronics
28graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 1.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,645
Engineering
CIP 14.43
Biochemical Engineering
26graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $68,934
Health Professions And Related Programs
CIP 51.23
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
8graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,966
Engineering
CIP 14.39
Geological/Geophysical Engineering
5graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $64,080
Engineering
CIP 14.08
Civil Engineering
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 2 specializations · 0.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $69,574
Engineering
CIP 14.11
Engineering Mechanics
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $77,174

19 programs in California that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in California (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own California page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1539
24.6%
12$73,678$22,938
2504
23.0%
21$67,734$24,375
3426
19.4%
7$79,942$20,500
4126
5.7%
3
5108
4.9%
7$72,154$21,457
6102
4.6%
9$57,457$24,706
789
4.1%
1$73,510$25,790
881
3.7%
3
957
2.6%
5$73,378$17,083
1051
2.3%
3$59,620$23,012
1138
1.7%
2$75,998$25,314
1228
1.3%
3$72,645$24,250
1326
1.2%
2$68,934$19,344
148
0.4%
1$35,966$26,323
155
0.2%
1$64,080$23,410
163
0.1%
2$67,734$24,375
172
0.1%
1$77,174$26,966
181
0.0%
1$69,574$24,625
191
0.0%
1$69,574$24,625

Top 25 schools in California

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 6 of the 41 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA Public · 4 feeder programs
417Systems Engineering
2University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
364Engineering, Other92%$26,87310%
3University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Public · 4 feeder programs
174Engineering, General93%9%
4University of California - San Diego
La Jolla, CA Public · 6 feeder programs
149Engineering, Other$56,52286%27%
5University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley, CA Public · 5 feeder programs
136Engineering, Other93%11%
6California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA Public · 5 feeder programs
132Architectural Engineering$80,48186%31%
7Stanford University
Stanford, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
115Engineering, Other$49,74192%$12,0324%
8University of California - Riverside
Riverside, CA Public · 2 feeder programs
86Engineering, General76%76%
9Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
66Engineering, General$92,49192%$22,85813%
10San Jose State University
San Jose, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
50Engineering, General69%85%
11University of California - Davis
Davis, CA Public · 3 feeder programs
48Biological/Biosystems Engineering86%42%
12California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Pomona, CA Public · 2 feeder programs
42Manufacturing Engineering$79,54968%75%
13National University
San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
42Electrical and Computer Engineering43%$31,817
14California State University - Chico
Chico, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
32Engineering, Other$74,20463%93%
15California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA Public · 2 feeder programs
30Manufacturing Engineering57%93%
16California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
29Engineering Physics/Applied Physics94%$17,6083%
17University of San Diego
San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
28Engineering, General84%$26,03552%
18University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
28Engineering, General69%$23,96471%
19California Baptist University
Riverside, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
27Electrical and Computer Engineering62%$26,94085%
20Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
24Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering88%$44,09448%
21University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
24Engineering, General70%$37,12162%
22Biola University
La Mirada, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
23Engineering Physics/Applied Physics68%$26,72774%
23California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA Public · 2 feeder programs
19Engineering, General50%94%
24California State University - Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
14Engineering, Other51%95%
25Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
14Systems Engineering79%$36,48845%

All 41 schools in California

Every school in California with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in California that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Naval Postgraduate SchoolMontereyPublic4174
University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesPrivate not-for-profit3646
University of California - Los AngelesLos AngelesPublic1744
University of California - San DiegoLa JollaPublic1496
University of California - BerkeleyBerkeleyPublic1365
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoPublic1325
Stanford UniversityStanfordPrivate not-for-profit1152
University of California - RiversideRiversidePublic862
Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremontPrivate not-for-profit661
San Jose State UniversitySan JosePublic501
University of California - DavisDavisPublic483
California State Polytechnic University - PomonaPomonaPublic422
National UniversitySan DiegoPrivate not-for-profit422
California State University - ChicoChicoPublic321
California State University - NorthridgeNorthridgePublic302

What engineers, all other earn in California

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in California
$130,850
Mean annual
$139,670
Jobs in state
28,610
What the range looks like
10th pct$74,950Median$130,85090th pct$212,130
Versus the national median
+6.4%

U.S. median $122,930. California pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.59×

Concentrated here: California employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in California

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$169,650median
4,970 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$159,800median
4,850 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$141,150median
150 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$136,650median
460 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$132,790median
3,570 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$139,980median
670 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$125,060median
7,530 jobs
Fresno, CA
$122,470median
250 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+2.1%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
9,300
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
3,300
158,800 → 162,100
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Engineers, All Other page.

How to become a Engineer, All Other

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Top skills

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWritingActive ListeningSpeakingMathematics

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in California

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Engineers, All Other25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 14.0101Engineering, General
  • 14.0103Applied Engineering
  • 14.0401Architectural Engineering
  • 14.0702Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  • 14.0802Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • 14.0805Water Resources Engineering
  • 14.1003Laser and Optical Engineering
  • 14.1004Telecommunications Engineering
  • 14.1101Engineering Mechanics
  • 14.1201Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
  • 14.1301Engineering Science
  • 14.2401Ocean Engineering
  • 14.2701Systems Engineering
  • 14.3301Construction Engineering
  • 14.3401Forest Engineering
  • 14.3601Manufacturing Engineering
  • 14.3801Surveying Engineering
  • 14.3901Geological/Geophysical Engineering
  • 14.4001Paper Science and Engineering
  • 14.4101Electromechanical Engineering
  • 14.4201Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
  • 14.4301Biochemical Engineering
  • 14.4401Engineering Chemistry
  • 14.4501Biological/Biosystems Engineering
  • 14.4701Electrical and Computer Engineering

Common questions

Answers for people weighing engineers, all other programs in California.

What degree do you need to become an Engineer, All Other?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Engineering, Other, which awarded 539 degrees in California in 2024-25, 24.6% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming an Engineer, All Other?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 19 programs to this occupation. The largest are Engineering, Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, plus 13 more. Together they graduate about 2,195 people a year in California.

How much do engineers, all other earn in California?+

The median is $130,850 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 6.4% above the U.S. median of $122,930. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for engineers, all other growing?+

BLS projects a +2.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 9,300 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in California?+

41 institutions in California reported graduates from at least one of the 19 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do engineers, all other work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Engineer, Laser Engineer, Solar Designer, Design Engineer, Energy Engineer, Optical Engineer among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 17-2199.

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

All Clema data sources and release dates →

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card