PE and Money

[knight1fox3]

In addition to online salary resources, I also contacted a few local job recruiters (head-hunters) to see how the salary levels compared. The online resources were inflated a bit but weren't necessarily too far off the mark. It's difficult to zero in on a specific number for an MEP firm because every firm is different and will have its own pay grade structure.

When the economy tanked back in 2008, our wages were frozen for a period of 12-16 months. While I was ok with that, we certainly lost ground in keeping up with the norm for my area. To compensate, I went to my boss and asked for a 10-15% raise. I specified a range because I didn't want to be held to an absolute number. I wanted my management to make a decision as to how much I was valued. In the end I believe the raise came to something like 11%. That was in addition to our annual 3% merit increases. I eventually left that company (after 6+ years) to go work for an engineering power consulting firm where I was able to negotiate a 20% salary increase from where I was at with my previous employer. I'm actually even considering making another move soon.

 

[JIX007]

Thanks! I am going to have a talk with my management this week and as I have a pretty good idea by now about my market value. I know for fact that there is a high demand for electrical PEs around this area. So I don't see any reason why my management would drag their feet.

 

[JoeyPinoy]

I think it's always important to remember that even if you like your company/boss/job function, that the relationship is ultimately commercial.

This article involving Steve Jobs shows how we as individuals don't have complete control on our employment fate:

http://pando.com/2014/01/23/the-techtopus-how-silicon-valleys-most-celebrated-ceos-conspired-to-drive-down-100000-tech-engineers-wages/

 

[pssreddy25]

Friends,

I have been working as R&D engineer with a company in Mechanical domain.

Work involves ANSYS Structural, CFD, Autodesk Inventor Automation, formulation standardizing practices.

How ever I am fed up with this work for last 5 years and planing to sit for Mechanical PE in the coming April'14.

However, Can you please let me know any jobs for mechanical engineers with EIT/PE requirement?

 

[willsee]

HVAC Design

 

[knight1fox3]

And anything in the world of consulting.

 

[############01]

This is an interesting topic. I had not considered that I might suggest a raise because at my company there is typically an assumption that a raise occurs when one achieves PE status. We do not have a large number of PEs though. Now I am wondering if after the PE happens I ought to suggest a number rather than being passive about it.

I work as an environmental engineer. I am a "senior" engineer in title and will sit for the exam next month (Ahhhh!) My firm is a consulting firm that provides a wide range of environmental services to private equity clients (mostly). I have about 6 years of experience and do mostly compliance work with some remediation sprinkled in. Currently I'm just below 60k plus we have a bonus program so last year I got a 6k bonus (I am expecting a similar number for 2013 but that typically happens in March). I'd say about 10-15 hours of my 40hr week are in generating sales and maintaining client relationships and the rest is project work. I just had an annual review and my metrics were all well exceeded.

I work in the southeastern US. I entered my info into the salary website referred to and it appears I'm underpaid regardless of PE status. I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts (not trying to hijack this thread).

 

[Ship Wreck PE]

I just got my PE in October 2013 and I asked for a review and we settled at a 19% increase. Go for it!!

 

[cajone5]

This is an interesting topic. I had not considered that I might suggest a raise because at my company there is typically an assumption that a raise occurs when one achieves PE status. We do not have a large number of PEs though. Now I am wondering if after the PE happens I ought to suggest a number rather than being passive about it.

I work as an environmental engineer. I am a "senior" engineer in title and will sit for the exam next month (Ahhhh!) My firm is a consulting firm that provides a wide range of environmental services to private equity clients (mostly). I have about 6 years of experience and do mostly compliance work with some remediation sprinkled in. Currently I'm just below 60k plus we have a bonus program so last year I got a 6k bonus (I am expecting a similar number for 2013 but that typically happens in March). I'd say about 10-15 hours of my 40hr week are in generating sales and maintaining client relationships and the rest is project work. I just had an annual review and my metrics were all well exceeded.

I work in the southeastern US. I entered my info into the salary website referred to and it appears I'm underpaid regardless of PE status. I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts (not trying to hijack this thread).

Definitely be active in the conversation. Do your research. Know your worth. As you probably already know from this thread you can find salary info...

-- On websites (salary.com, glassdoor.com, engineersalary.com, etc.)

-- The NSPE has a report you can buy that will give breakdowns by education, experience, field, focus and licensure

-- The ASCE and ASME have a joint report you can find that's very similar to the NSPE one but usually a year outdated

-- Talk to recruiters and friends doing similar work

-- Look into job postings

Armed with this info you can approach your employer with a good idea of what you want. Aim slightly high and be willing to negotiate. Also, you should be going into this with the understanding that more pay leads to more responsibility. Know what you have to offer. Where can you add value to the business? Maybe you can write more proposals? Maybe you can lead projects? Maybe you can market and get more work in the door? You'll need at least something to hang your hat on so think about that as well. Your employer, while wanting the best for you, isn't going to just hand over a big paycheck without you working for it and justifying it.

Hope this helps Good luck.

 

[############01]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I guess my first step will be to get through the April exam....

 

[Seabushed]

In January ASME had a nice article regarding the 2013 salary survey.

https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/workforce-development/2013-salary-survey-engineers-ride-wave

 

[NJmike PE]

Unlicensed, I gross between 61k - 62k per year, depending on OT. I hope that a license brings in more.

Licensed, I gross 62.5k per year, taken off hourly and put on salary. No more OT. Not much of a raise there...

 

[Ship Wreck PE]

^^Ouch

 

[NJmike PE]

^^Ouch

yeah, tell me about it. and with 15 years of experience at the same company too.

 

[Ship Wreck PE]

Get her done in 40. ^^^

 

[knight1fox3]

^^Ouch

yeah, tell me about it. and with 15 years of experience at the same company too.

That wouldn't fly with me. Just sayin'. Thanks for the opportunity and experience! LOL

 

[snickerd3]

wow NJ...even working for the state my salary is higher.

 

[Dark Knight]

PE and Money...

I have to restrain myself from laughing but I do understand why the question is asked.

Am going to quote a professor during the orientation week in an engineering college. He asked a group of maybe 200 freshmen: " Who here wants to be an engineer because it pays good money?" A good group raised their hands but I am sure there were more than the ones who did it.

"Well...sorry to burst your bubble but you have selected the wrong career. You should have gone to law or medicine school". I have found that to be true.

Then we have the myth of professional license and how it has become a huge business for a few that are milking it to the extreme. Out of respect for some friends that may be related to the licensing authority will not say more but I do not have lost love for that organization.

Then some State Boars take it to the next level of stupidity. When I took the EIT and then the PE test (with a few years in between) a representative of the State Board was always there to remind us that regardless of the results we were not going to be able to practice engineering without paying them an annual fee. It is not enough you have to study your butt off in college, then you have to take not one, but two tests to complete the circle. You have to pay an annual fee too just to be able to work? "If you do not want to pay Walmart is hiring. I am sure you will do fine there", the a-hole said once. Ahh...But it is for a good cause..."We are protecting the profession of engineering". Bull crap!!!!!!!! They are protecting their worthless drinking bar for Friday nights.

Folks, there is no money in the PE. It is how it is and that is the bottom line. If you are doing it for the money you are up for a rude awakening. Saying something different is just a sales pitch.

 

[knight1fox3]

Folks, there is no money in the PE. It is how it is and that is the bottom line. If you are doing it for the money you are up for a rude awakening. Saying something different is just a sales pitch.

I respectfully disagree. There is great money to be made in engineering. And the work is very rewarding IMO. It's all about what you think you are worth and convincing your employer of this accordingly. You're only worth what you settle for in getting paid by your employer. Want a higher wage? Then you have to go get it and make it happen! I've more than doubled my salary since I graduated from my undergraduate program. And that did not happen by staying put in my first engineering position.

 

[snickerd3]

^that's why I got as a personal goal and not a work requirement or for $. It was more of a respect gainer and getting taken more seriously.