Indiana’s Economy Benefits from Engineering

Deciding to pursue a degree in engineering can be a lucrative and fulfilling choice. Recently, there has been a major drive to get people interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to fill job openings that have been cropping up around the nation and in the state of Indiana. The advancement of technology has encouraged these positions, and people are finding that they can get exciting and financially supportive positions in these industries.

The Value of Engineering to Indiana’s Economy

While many places around the world are seeing growth in the STEM sectors, places like Indiana project that stem jobs will grow faster in the next decade than any other occupation. Thus, they are looking to get employees started on their education as soon as possible.

Historically, Indiana has always had a strong engineering and manufacturing economy. At one time, it was known for manufacturing steel. There has been a resurgence of engineering and manufacturing within the state, and there are factories for almost every industry imaginable.

Indiana is the largest steel-producing state and has held that title since 1975. The Calmut region, located in northwest Indiana, produces 27% of all U.S. steel. Indiana is also known for auto manufacturing and is ranked 2nd for this industry. Other manufacturing industries within the state include medical devices and pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, chemical products, rubber, factory machinery, transportation equipment, rubber and petroleum and coal products.

Technology has had a huge impact on the manufacturing industry, creating machines that make the process faster and more cost-effective. As technology makes its way into the state, the need for skilled workers who can build and maintain this advanced equipment is necessary. However, it’s not only the machines that have an impact on manufacturing and creating the necessary parts to keep the world running. Developing new processes is also important, and that is achieved by engineers who have the education and skillset to accomplish those tasks.

From diesel engines to other car parts to steel tubing and shelving, there are a lot of industries that rely on technology and engineering to run. As the demand for these products increases, the demand for skilled, educated workers also increases—and that means engineering is an incredibly important aspect of Indiana’s economy.

Check out this video highlighting a manufacturing facility located in Indiana.

Annual State Revenue/GDP

When it comes to annual state revenue and GDP for the state of Indiana, the most recent figures come from projections made a few years ago. In that report, it shows that in the first quarter of 2018, the annualized nominal GDP of Indiana was approximately $368 billion, which is about 1.9% of the U.S. economy.

The biggest sector in the state was manufacturing, and it accounted for 28% of all industries, with 17% being durable and 11% being nondurable. After that, the industries that contributed to the state included financial services, business and professional services, healthcare and the government sector. Indiana leads the country in manufacturing output when it comes to the percentage of total GSP, and it has been in this position for several years.

Numbers from 2013 show that Indiana ranked number one in total state employment for manufacturing, with approximately 491,900 jobs employing 16.8% of the population. It also ranked in the top 10 in 2013 for total manufacturing employment.

It was expected that manufacturing would grow by 6.6% in 2019 and add more than 3,800 jobs. The cost of durable manufacturing was expected to contribute $600 million in output. In 2017, the total gross state product was $359 billion, with a per capita income of $44,165.

The Number of Engineering Jobs in Indiana

In 2018, there were 50,580 architecture and engineering jobs in Indiana, which accounted for 3.7% of the population. It is expected that engineering jobs will continue to rise, with the healthcare industry seeing the most growth. These will include registered nurses, pharmacy technicians, licensed practical and vocational nurses and managers for the medical and health services fields. It is expected that there will be a total of 7,000 new STEM jobs added to the state on an annual basis.

Engineer Salaries in Indiana

The median hourly wage for architecture and engineering in the state of Indiana is $35.51. The average yearly salary for these positions is $73,860. These numbers can be lower or higher depending on a person’s education and skill level, as well as the company they work for. Compared to national averages, these salaries are below the mean hourly wage of $39.48 and the annual mean wage of $82,150.

Type of Engineering Work in Indiana

There are a variety of different engineering jobs that you can get in Indiana. Within the engineering fields, some of the most in-demand jobs include the following:

• Mechanical engineers
• Industrial engineers
• Automotive engineers
• Architectural and engineering managers
• Civil engineers
• Computer systems engineers/architects
• Biomedical engineers
• Electrical engineering technicians
• Environmental engineers
• And many more

There are also a variety of positions in the STEM fields, including those in healthcare. If you have a desire to go into engineering or any of the other scientific fields, you are sure to find jobs in Indiana for your skillsets that are in high demand and pay well.

Indiana Engineering Colleges and Universities

Before stepping into the workforce, you’ll need to obtain the right education. Indiana has a variety of different engineering colleges and universities to choose from and finding a program that works for you should be easy. Some of the best engineering schools in Indiana for 2020 include the following:

• University of Notre Dame
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Purdue University
• Ball State University
• Indiana University in Bloomington
• Indiana Institute of Technology

Obtaining a degree from any of these establishments could help you secure a stable and lucrative position in the engineering industry. You won’t even have to leave the state to find a great job, as the state of Indiana is seeing growth within the engineering industry and needs educated, skilled employees to fill the various positions.

The state of Indiana has always been known for manufacturing, and it is in constant need of people with degrees in engineering and other STEM fields to keep the economy booming and moving forward. If you are considering getting a degree in engineering, your skills and expertise may be exactly what Indiana industry is looking for.

Are You an Indiana Professional Engineer

Indiana professional engineer will benefit from this article we recently posted. We provide an overview of the license renewal process Indiana engineers. It has links to the renewal forms, due dates, registration fees, and much more.

Continuing Education Packages for IN Engineers

We have seven continuing education packages for Indiana professional engineers – chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, geotechnical, mechanical, and structural. These packages include all required PDH hours and are guaranteed to be accepted by the board.