Worth of a PE?
In monetary terms, for an engineer working for the "state" government of the Northern Mariana Islands, what it does is raise the salary ceiling from $50k to $70k (no federal taxes here). Of course, I probably won't get any raise at all, and in fact, my salary's been recently cut through "hour reductions" due to the terrible economy we have.
So assuming I remain in the $40ks, there is still quite a bit of "worth" to a PE:
- No one can tell me "I'm right because I'm a PE and you're not" anymore when I point out the obvious, such as rebar spaced at 16" o.c. instead of 8" o.c. as shown on the structural plans :true:
- Politically-appointed bosses cannot claim "lack of qualifications" as a reason to terminate my contract so they can hire their relatives or cronies.
- More confidence in being able to find a decent job if they do anyway :angry:
- A longer signature? :dunno: A nice framed certificate?
If you want to make really good money, you'd better either start your own business, as suggested by tmckeon, or do something else. My last year in the oil patch I had made $50k by the end of May when I quit. There's great pay to be had in Iraq and Afghanistan, too, working as a contractor. I have an attorney buddy who left to train future policemen in Afgh. for something like $175k a year. If he lives.
Personally, I'll be happy with just the added initials and being able to go home at 4:30 every day and enjoy the other parts of life.
h43r:
