Florida provides a variety of lifestyles to choose from, from urban to rural living in large cities to wide agricultural areas throughout the state. With miles of sunny beaches and coastline, world-renowned theme parks and tourist attractions, and mild weather year round, Florida has something for just about everyone. As the population continues to grow and change, so too will the career opportunities in the various engineering fields.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 98,430, and counting, engineering related jobs in the state of Florida. Nuclear engineers are the leading employers in the state with an increase rate of 43.2%.
Here is a list of some the larger companies in Florida that higher engineering professionals: Disney, University of Florida, American Airlines, Florida Hospital Orlando, American Express, Universal City, Pensacola Naval Air Station and Marriott International.
Engineering Education in Florida
Florida opportunities for studying engineering are numerous, with over 100 options for schools offering various engineering programs, including both public and private options, community colleges and technical schools and full four-year universities. Degrees can be obtained ranging from associates to doctorates.
General financial aid is available, as well as scholarship opportunities specific to the engineering field in Florida. For example, the Florida Engineering Foundation Inc. offers several scholarships for students interested in pursuing a career in engineering, and the Florida Engineering Society Junior College Scholarships offers monies for students in their final year of a pre-engineering program at the community or junior college level in Florida.
Outlook for Engineering Jobs in Florida
Within the general field of engineering, Florida can provide a large number of options to choose from. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, architectural and engineering management is on the high end of the salary range for engineering with annual salaries in Florida averaging $116,350.
However, projected job growth is slower in comparison to other engineering areas. On the other hand, environmental engineering lists a lower annual salary at an average of $41,260 in Florida but faster projected job growth. In the middle, the field of petroleum engineering provides an annual salary of around $114,080 annually and a job growth that is in keeping with the national average of all occupations.