Salary and Career Resources for Acoustical Engineers

Not many U.S. universities offer official degrees in acoustic studies, so most professionals complete a Bachelor’s Degree in electrical engineering or a comparable course of study. Most employers do require at least a Bachelor’s as a minimum qualification for entry into the workforce. Many students integrate related acoustic theory courses into their degrees by taking classes in statics, circuits, thermodynamics, sound control, and vibrations, among others. A Master’s Degree may be required to qualify for some positions with a given company. At this level, students complete classes in wave propagation, optics and nonlinear acoustics. The Ph.D. level opens further management opportunities in the field, whereby students will have completed a rigorous academic training rooted in statistical analysis. This level of training opens the door to teaching at universities as well. With an eye to business, students should seek to refine their interpersonal and communication skills as well as their leadership capacities in managing a team of engineers and professionals. They may be asked to negotiate and consult with outside suppliers in managing the lifecycle of a development project.

The Technology Student Association (TSA), and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), provide members and interested parties with comparable tools and information to enhance their value in the contemporary marketplace. All of these institutions publish recent research and logistics regarding industry events and resources to the further refine the prowess of practitioners.

Students and job seekers particularly benefit from involvement with these groups, as the institutions provide invaluable networking and mentoring opportunities for individuals to develop relationships with potential employers and their contemporaries in the field. Esteemed firms such as Boeing, Procter & Gamble, and Universal Studios have sought candidates through these avenues. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth projections for acoustical engineers remains strong through 2020, where hiring is projected to grow by 10 percent. The states of California, Texas and Michigan possess the greatest opportunities for professionals. While exact statistics on the median salary of these professionals is unavailable, O*Net reports that electrical engineers of the same background command a yearly salary of $89,180.

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