Nevada, the Silver State, is known for its largest city, Las Vegas. However, Nevada is also known for its breathtaking, natural sights, such as the Lake Tahoe region and the Spring Mountain Range. The resort industry is the main economic sector of the state, with most firms in Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, and the Lake Tahoe area.
Engineering Education in Nevada
Although Nevada has a strong resort and recreation industry, the natural wealth and geographic size of the state allows for many engineering investments, whether for the U.S. military or for the strong mining industry. Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno is the only Nevada community college that offers certificate and associate’s programs in engineering.
Three other four-year schools in the state offer certificate and associate’s programs in engineering, as well as bachelor’s degrees: the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, Great Basin College in Elko, and Western Nevada College in Carson City. The University of Nevada system, which includes the Las Vegas and the Reno campus, both offer undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering.
Outlook for Engineering Jobs in Nevada
The engineering sector includes many sub-fields, including agricultural, mining, nuclear, industrial, and chemical as just a few engineering fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which measures all engineering occupations with architectural occupations, the annual average salary of engineers calculated to $75,800 in Nevada.
The lowest tenth percentile earned an annual average salary of $41,240, while the upper tenth percentile earned $114,790. As of May 2011, there are 13,150 engineering and architectural workers in Nevada. The largest engineering sector in terms of employed workers is in civil engineering, with 2,540 civil engineers employed in Nevada.