Mid-Level

Erecting Engineer

You handle erecting engineering — typically for structural, industrial, or process equipment installations — supporting field erection of large equipment or structures with technical engineering and on-site coordination. Half mechanical engineer, half field practitioner.

Career Level
Junior
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Work Personality
R
I
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Realistichands-on, practical
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Erecting Engineers
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Erecting Engineer

Most days tend to involve a blend of pre-erection engineering, field work, and contractor coordination — reviewing erection plans, partnering with riggers and contractors on lift sequencing, troubleshooting issues during erection, and producing the documentation that field work requires. You'll often spend significant time on-site during active erection projects.

The harder part is often the safety-critical nature of erection work combined with the field problem-solving each project demands. You'll typically coordinate with riggers, contractors, and engineering teams, where senior judgment matters because the consequences of errors during erection can be severe.

People who tend to thrive here are technically rigorous, safety-grounded, and comfortable with field engineering work. The trade-off is the road time and physical site demands of field work and the cumulative pressure of carrying erection responsibility. If you find satisfaction in getting major equipment or structures into place safely, the role can be a hands-on niche in engineering.

IndependenceAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
SupportModerate
RelationshipsModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Erecting Engineers (SOC 17-2051.00, 17-2141.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$66K–$161K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
642K
U.S. Employment
+7.05%
10yr Growth
42K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningMathematicsComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionMathematics
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
17-2051.0017-2141.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.