I'm no E or even a Chem E but I have "engineered lab control systems that integrate work flow and human interfacing in order to produce product and control data. Waas earning $65 to 70k

These effin threads are depressing.

Professional Engineer

You pay some money and take a test.

You, too, can be a home inspector!!! :D

Len, I'm willing to bet you had a lot more fun from ages 14-22 than I did.

Man...this thread has me feeling MUCH better about my salary...

well, you need some work experience under a PE first............then you pay and take the test...........then "hope and pray" for 4 months waiting for the results....

Good engineers are way underpaid and overworked. That is one of the many reasons I got out of the field....

I was a "network engineer" from '92-2001 and I made $60-$100k, straight salary and full benefits. One position (at a brokerage firm) paid at the lower salary range but I received a 50% bonus at year's end because I upgraded their WAN/LAN ahead of schedule and under budget. I never called myself an engineer because I don't have an engineering degree and I respect those who do. The title "engineer' is used too loosely these days, I think.

I feel like I'm well paid for the level of work and my age(27). My only fear is that I'm close to the ceiling.

quote: "My only fear is that I'm close to the ceiling."

You must be really tall ;)

Not likely. I made some poor decisions and I own them. I was a great student and had scholarships that I turned down to go to local college and work on the family business.

I was working 40+ and carrying a full load, it was too much and I dropped out. I was disgusted with what I was paying for (I paid for everything myself so it hit home) and figured a real world education would teach me more. I was right.....and wrong. I have no doubts that I learned
more about my business and business in general outside the classroom than I ever would have in it, but now I sit here with no parachute.
To add insult to injury, I would no doubt be making much more money than I currently am had I done virtually anything else....seriously almost anything.

Live and learn.

I am glad I started this thread...its good to get a guage on how salaries across the US and even work varies.

I used to do alot of hands-on very technical designs (structures, high pressure systems, electrical substations etc) and my Manager required me to get my PE. Currently I am in Management and no longer stamp drawings but review them from time to time. I often work 55hour weeks.

Thanks for all chiming in.

Regards - Yasin

I work for a road construction company and I am in charge of mix designs, Quality Control, ect. I don't have my PE but I have been working at the same job for 17 years. Including Bonus I made 110K last year. I also get $7500 for a car allowance and free gas, oil, tires, ect., and the other usuall benefits. The guys that work for me with around 5 years experience make 60K to 70K. The guys that work for me with a PE generally go over and work as Construction Managers or Bridge Engineers after a few years.

Not a PE, but a I'm a Certified Industrial Hygienist. I make about $140K/year. Iin my industry (Hollywood) I'm probably at the low end of annual earnings. But I also get to travel some. This year alone, New Zealand, Czech Republic (three times), London, Budapest, Paris, Vancouver, BC Canada, plus Washington, D. C., Mt. Rushmore, and several other domestic sites. Last year, a bunch of Caribbean islands for Pirates of the Caribbean 2&3. Later this year, I may be going to Malta, Vietnam, China, Jordan, and several other countries. BTW, I'm in London right now, flew in from Prague yesterday. My wife is with me on frequent flier miles. I love my job! Having my wife with me is an exceptional bonus.

Having invested many years in a career as a Computer Engineer/Electrical Engineer, I'd advise the up-and-coming to go into one of the following. These are the fields paying the big bucks.

• Lawyer
• Politician
• Lawyer
• Lobbyist
• Lawyer
• Marketing exec.
• Lawyer

…It's a little known fact that many a lawyer made a mint while Rome burned.

So what are the benefits to taking and passing the PE exam? Is there a significant bump in pay? What is the average bump between 2 engineers, everything being equal, one with PE and one without?

Speedy:)

I've had a Nuke-E degree for years...
Hence why I own a classic car restoration shop :)

-Nick

>>>you pay some money and take a test<<<

:rolleyes: The PE exam is akin to the Bar Exam for attorneys. This is not like getting a builders license where you take a 2 hour seminar and go get your license the next day.

In a nutshell:

1. Get a 4-year engineering degree from an accredited university.

2. Take the F.E. exam (8 hour exam). Subject matter: analytical geometry, integral calculus, differential equations, engineering probability, engineering economics, chemistry, statics & dynamics, strength of materials, material properties, fluid dynamics, electricity, thermodynamics, etc. - and that's just the morning session .... good luck :cool:

3. Obtain 4 years of engineering experience under the supervision of a P.E.

4. Submit a detailed application including recommendations from 3 P.E.s.

5. Take the P.E. exam (8 hour exam). This is discipline-specific and is supposed to be a practice-oriented exam. For Civil: structural, soil mechanics, foundations, hydraulics, hydrology, environmental, traffic analysis, transportation systems, etc.

6. Assuming you pass (I believe the failure rate is around 60%), you are now licensed to practice engineering in your state. If you're not licensed, you can't open your own practice and must always work under the supervision of a P.E. I believe engineers in the auto-industry are generally exempt from the requirements.

So this is an 8+ year process. The benefits? The ability to own your own practice. This is where the serious money is at (if that's important) - i.e., having other engineers work for you. Or maybe you just want to open a 1-man shop and make a comfortable living at your own pace.

The difference in pay for non-PE vs. PE? In my business, you need the PE license before I even talk to you about employment. So it's $0 vs. $100K :cool:

I PE is authorized to certify plans. That is the only difference but it is a big one. Without it you will always need someone to certify your plans which will keep you from starting your own business.

Pay is a little higher than an EIT but not much.

In some government structures being PE are recognized in levels. As you take other certification courses you become a level 1 PE, level 2 PE, etc. With each level you are given a salary increase.

Thank you for the insite. I will have this on my radar to complete once I am out of school.

Speedy:)