Also called: Failure Investigation Engineer, Engineering Expert Witness
Investigates why buildings collapse, machines break and accidents happen, often testifying in court.
A balcony collapsed at an apartment complex. You inspect the wreckage, take samples, run calculations and find the wood rotted because of a hidden leak. Months later you explain it to a jury in plain words.
Expert witnesses often bill $250-500 an hour.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in engineering, PE license and many years of experience; master's common.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering.
Growing about average. Steady demand from insurers and lawyers.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps reconstruct accidents from data; site investigation, expert testimony and credibility in court stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, Chemistry, Speech or debate, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2199.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.