Any Engineers In The House?

[dipren443]

I've been an engineer for almost 10 years now(MSOE'98) I also have my PE license. I probably won't ever make 100K. My designers with 2 year degrees make more than I do because they get paid overtime. For example, one of my senior designers averaged about 45 hours per week and made close to 70K, another averaged close to 50/wk and made over 80K. I still make low 60's and work around 50hrs/wk. If your wife has good health insurance then working through a contract agency would be even more lucrative. I live in central Wisconsin where the cost of living is pretty low, we pay contract CATIA V5 designers minimum $35/hr and have paid $50+/hr in the past for very qualified people. They get to do all of the fun design stuff anyways. I come up with ideas and check their work. Most of the time I am in meetings or doing paperwork. Also remember how much a quality eduaction costs, hell I still owe $10K for school.

Also remember that in most manufacturing settings everyone hates engineering.

This is probably the biggest disappointment I have with my "Engineering" position. I know I am not the only engineer mired in paperwork and bureaucratic BS. I have many friends working for Lockheed Martin and have the same complaint.


There is one other way to make decent coin with a basic Mechanical Engineering degree. Most of our field service personnel make very close to six figures, but spend little time at home. It is a huge tradeoff and it is not for everyone, however.