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Master of Engineering Management
A female MEM alum answering the question, "What is engineering management?" to her team during a meeting.

What is Engineering Management?

What is Engineering Management? It's a special type of management needed to successfully lead engineering and technical organizations.

Last Updated: 07/06/2026 | All information is accurate and still up-to-date

What is Engineering Management, and how can it benefit me?

Engineering Management is a specialized type of management that is necessary to lead engineering and technical employees and organizations successfully. First, it combines the problem-solving skills of engineering with the planning and administrative skills of management. This combination, in turn, helps you oversee the operations of engineering-focused companies.

Next, to be a successful engineering manager, you need to know how to mentor and motivate technical professionals. These skills often differ from those required to manage people effectively in other fields.

Furthermore, the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) degree helps you in two main ways. First, it improves your science and engineering skills. Second, it enhances your critical management abilities. With an engineering management degree, you gain the skills needed to manage and succeed in today’s complex engineering environments, making you highly sought after.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an engineering manager’s median salary in 2024 is $167,740 per year.

A male MEM alum answering the question,

Why is NC State the right place for me to get my MEM degree?

The NC State MEM program is designed to meet the industry’s demand for tech-savvy leaders, focusing on giving you flexibility in both the program and the curriculum. Additionally, we personalize the coursework to fit your needs while adapting to the future needs of the industry. NC State is advantageously located in the Research Triangle Park area, one of the largest tech hubs in the United States, making it nearby companies like Cisco, IBM, SAS, Red Hat, and more.

Moreover, our program offers eight concentrations, including “Build Your Own” and professional practice options. These concentrations benefit from our expertise in areas like advanced manufacturing, health and human systems, supply chain management, facilities engineering, entrepreneurship and analytics. These specialized tracks not only help you plan for your future career but also provide flexibility. As a result, you can connect with industries that employ MEM graduates:

  • Pharma and life sciences (17%)
  • Computer hardware and software (14%)
  • Defense and aerospace (26%)
  • Civil, environmental and energy (7%)
  • Other tech industries (26%)
  • Other (10%)

Furthermore, our concentration in facilities engineering meets the degree requirements and certification from the US military branches for MEM degrees

Our last group of graduates had an average reported salary of $109,479.

What You Will Learn

Leadership:

  • Organizational leadership
  • technical team management

Project Management

  • Agile & waterfall methodologies
  • engineering project delivery

Data & Analytics

  • operations research
  • statistics for decision making

Finance for Engineers

  • engineering economics
  • budgeting and ROI

Systems Thinking

  • complex systems
  • operations optimization

Transfer Policy. You can transfer up to 12 credit hours (including from non-degree studies) into the MEM program, following the guidelines in the Graduate Student Handbook.

MEM vs MBA

While Engineering Management vs an MBA offers similar curricula, an engineering management degree emphasizes technical skills critical for leading in technology-driven industries. Thankfully, both will prepare you to be a proficient leader with a curriculum in:

  • Management and leadership
  • Decision-making
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Marketing
  • Operations

Moreover, the technical focus of a MEM program equips you with specialized knowledge in engineering and technology. This expertise is increasingly sought after in industries driven by innovation and technological advancement. By combining management skills with a strong technical foundation, you become uniquely positioned to lead in dynamic and rapidly evolving sectors such as tech, manufacturing, and engineering services.