by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 6 degrees and certificates in Engineering Acoustics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 83% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $89,751 one year after completing, rising to $106,353 after four years.
A degree in Engineering Acoustics explores Engineering Acoustics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Acoustics And Signals Processing To Undersea And Antisubmarine Warfare. Includes Instruction In Acoustics; Electrical Engineering; The Generation, Propagation And Reception Of Underwater Sound Waves; Military Applications Of Underwater Sound; And Acoustic Signal Processing.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, engineering acoustics draws strong interest, with 6 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award engineering acoustics degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4.
By level, the 6 awards include 5 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 33% of engineering acoustics degrees and certificates in the latest year (2 of 6). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5) and Asian (1).
The most common engineering acoustics credential is the master’s degree: 5 of the 6 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to engineering acoustics call most for Reading Comprehension, Quality Control Analysis and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Problem Sensitivity and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an engineering acoustics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to engineering acoustics, at 47.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 25.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.9% |
| Some college courses | 6.8% |
| Master’s degree | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Engineering Acoustics, with an average median salary of $95,412; the strongest outlook belongs to Non-Destructive Testing Specialists, at 3.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Test Technician (Test Tech), Laser Specialist, Photonics Technician (Photonics Tech) and Certified Laser Technician (Certified Laser Tech).
The occupation related to engineering acoustics with the most projected jobs is Photonics Technicians, at 306,018.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
Engineering Acoustics graduates earn a median $89,751 one year after completing their program, $106,353 after four years and $58,787 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $89,751 |
| 4 years | $106,353 |
| 5 years | $58,787 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to engineering acoustics is Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other, with a median salary of $121,642.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
Engineering Acoustics has 5 similar majors in the Military Technologies & Sciences field, which together award 347 degrees a year; the largest are Space Systems Operations (193), Military Applied Sciences, Other (97) and Undersea Warfare (32). Browse all Military Technologies & Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Space Systems Operations | 193 |
| Military Applied Sciences, Other | 97 |
| Undersea Warfare | 32 |
| Combat Systems Engineering | 19 |
| Operational Oceanography | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.