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.
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.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
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.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Engineering roles →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.
Median pay for an Erecting Engineer is about $101K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $66K to $161K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Active Listening, Mathematics, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Speaking.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 7.05% through 2034, with roughly 642,170 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Construction Project Manager, Utility Division Project Manager, and Weatherization Operations Manager.
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