In the history of inventions, most people probably never heard of Martin Cooper. An electrical engineer at Motorola in the 1960s, and a fan of Star Trek, what fascinated him was Trek’s communicators. So he invented the first cell phone. Engineers are personnel, most often with at least science degrees, who apply the principles of science (or science fiction) to develop economical solutions to technical problems. In other words, Martin Cooper was the bridge between what used to be a gimmick on Star Trek to your Blackberry.

Still, engineers are one of the four STEM fields that the nation is going through a severe shortage of. As such, there are now all manner of government and private financial aid, grants, and scholarships being offered. This influx is an attempt to fill what was once called the “brain drain” and now, or at least in a state of the union address by former President George W. Bush, is bordering on a crisis. If you need more information about student loans and grants, look on the internet.

In 2005, the Bureau states there are 1.6 million engineers in the U.S. The largest chunk, 278,000, is civil engineers, followed by mechanical (238,000) and electrical (214,000). In all, the BLS lists 18 different types, including a catch-all “other” group. Overall engineering employment is expected to grow by 11 percent over the 2008-18 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Admittedly, there are certain engineering specialties where there are currently a few too many, such as mechanical or manufacturing, yet the numbers are below the national average. Currently, they have an 8% unemployment rate. Countering this, Microsoft’s Bill Gates went on record that the computer industry is suffering a severe shortage of experienced electrical and computer engineers, and the company is putting up scholarship money to create more.

Another reason why certain prospects will be excellent in certain specialties is (in addition to openings from job growth) many baby boomers are starting to consider retirement. Openings are being created need to replace retirees; transfer to management, sales, or leave engineering for other reasons. This is forcing a number of companies to look for personnel outside of the U.S. boundaries. There is an abundance of information about college grant on the web.

What’s also important is anyone in the engineering profession stay must current in their field of expertise. Guys like Cooper have this habit of creating new tech at a rate that can cause future shock. Engineers who aren’t taking online college courses and seminars soon find themselves falling behind the pack. A good engineer usually can find a way to work-study with an online college towards a Masters and even a PhD. Many engineers are finding a Bachelor degree isn’t enough anymore.

The BLS states the median salary for engineers of all stripes is about $81,000. Their employment packages also include educational financial aid, medical/health insurance, and all manner of financial incentives. The rewards are certainly worth it. The bottom level agricultural and marine engineer earns a minimum of $43,000+ while the top end engineers, such as petroleum, moves towards $150,000.

It was a sure bet that Apple paid a corps of engineers good money to make it work. Science degrees can get you started. Learn about the financial aid available, up to and including grants online , to get you into this amazing field.

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