Is engineering good for introverts?
It depends on the role. Of the 8 engineering roles we compared, bioengineers and biomedical engineers report the least contact with others and electrical engineers the most.
Engineering is often pictured as solo work at a desk. In the ratings, every discipline here rates working in a team as very important or more. Software developers are included because many people weigh software against engineering.
If a quiet workplace matters to you, check the noise column, where the engineering disciplines differ more than they do on contact.
We compared seven engineering disciplines that each have their own federal occupation code, plus software developers for comparison. Where O*NET splits a discipline into specialties, we averaged them. The ratings come from O*NET, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, where workers answer questions about what their job involves.
What the data shows
- Contact with others ranges from 3.8 out of 5 for bioengineers and biomedical engineers to 4.3 for electrical engineers. Both are closest to "contact most of the time".
- After contact, the biggest difference is in distracting or uncomfortable noise: 1.1 out of 5 for software developers, against 3.0 for industrial engineers.
- The next biggest is face-to-face discussions: 3.0 out of 5 for software developers, against 4.8 for chemical engineers.
- None of the 8 occupations with their own pay data involve more contact with others than the typical US occupation.
- 4% of software developers say they have face-to-face discussions every day, compared with 83% of chemical engineers.
- All 8 rate working in a team as very important or more.
- Among occupations with their own pay data, the lowest-contact one is bioengineers and biomedical engineers, at a median $109,370 a year. The best paid is computer hardware engineers, at $161,740.
Social demands, side by side
Each figure is an O*NET average on a 1 to 5 scale. Lower means less of it. Hover a heading for the exact question.
| Role | Contact | Face-to-face | Phone | Speaking | Customers | Teamwork | Conflict | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | 3.8 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Chemical Engineers | 4.0 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
| Civil Engineers | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Electrical Engineers | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Industrial Engineers | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Software Developers | 3.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 |
Pay, entry and outlook
| Role | Median pay | Typical entry education | Typical training | Growth 2025-35 | Projected openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | Bachelor's degree | None | +7.6% | 1,200 |
| Chemical Engineers | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree | None | +4.7% | 1,100 |
| Civil Engineers | $100,840 | Bachelor's degree | None | +6.4% | 22,700 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $161,740 | Bachelor's degree | None | +9.1% | 4,100 |
| Electrical Engineers | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree | None | +9.9% | 11,400 |
| Industrial Engineers | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree | None | +12.4% | 23,100 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $104,110 | Bachelor's degree | None | +11.2% | 17,800 |
| Software Developers | $135,980 | Bachelor's degree | None | +10.2% | 95,300 |
Each role in detail
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Contact with others: 3.8 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 14% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 30% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $109,370 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 1,200 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
- Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
- Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.
Chemical Engineers
Contact with others: 4.0 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 22% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 83% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $125,040 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 1,100 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
Civil Engineers
Contact with others: 4.2 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 36% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 72% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "very important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $100,840 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 22,700 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
Computer Hardware Engineers
Contact with others: 4.0 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 22% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 50% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $161,740 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 4,100 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
- Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
Electrical Engineers
Contact with others: 4.3 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 46% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 70% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $120,630 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 11,400 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
Industrial Engineers
Contact with others: 4.2 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 35% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 81% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a month or more".
Median pay $102,440 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 23,100 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
- Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
Mechanical Engineers
Contact with others: 4.2 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 32% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 62% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $104,110 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 17,800 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
Software Developers
Contact with others: 3.9 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 17% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 4% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a month or more" (35% say never). Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "extremely important"; dealing with customers or the public "fairly important". Distracting noise: closest to "never".
Median pay $135,980 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 95,300 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
What the numbers can't tell you
- O*NET ratings are averages of worker answers on a 1 to 5 scale. Some questions ask how much (contact), some how often (face-to-face, phone, public speaking, conflict, noise) and some how important (teamwork, customers). They are shown on their own scales.
- The ratings describe the job, averaged across workers and workplaces. A particular employer, team or shift can be very different.
- They don't measure personality, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.
- Pay and openings are national figures from the BLS. Local pay varies.
Common questions
Which engineering job involves the least contact with others?
Of the 8 roles compared here, bioengineers and biomedical engineers report the least, at 3.8 out of 5 on O*NET's contact rating, closest to "contact most of the time".
Do these engineering jobs need a degree?
All 8 occupations with BLS education data typically need more than a high school diploma to start.
Do these ratings measure personality?
No. They are averages of what workers say their job asks of them. They describe the work, not the people doing it, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.