Can Engineers Make A Lot Of Money

Engineers who make over 100k, what do you do?

I've been on this sub for a little while, and it seems rare for fellow engineers to break the 100k barrier.

level 1

Not rare, just most engineers posting on here are younger.

level 2

Correct, Almost everyone over 7-8 years in my department has broken 100k. There are a few outliers who are not very good at their job. The soft ceiling on the technical side seems to be about $160,000. By soft ceiling I mean most people don't stay technical and get promoted above that job grade but the highest paid guy on our technical ladder is around $250,000 based on the middle number for his pay grade. He is the only one in an international engineering department of 2000+ engineers. Oddly enough he doesn't really do much technical work. Mostly marketing engineering within the company.

level 2

Mechanical engineer. Broke the 100 barrier after about 10 years. I design engines. Specifically responsible for performance and emissions. Large company (listed on DOW JONES)

level 2

Oil and gas in Australia.

level 2

On a side note; do engineers who work in the oil & gas industry feel like there are ethical questions raised by their contribution to a political economy that is causing climate change?

level 2

· 8y (Mechanical - Oil & Gas Well Completions)

level 2

What do you think are the pros and cons of entering your industry?

level 1

Comment deleted by user · 8y

level 2

Listen to this fellow. The time to make hay is when you're young and stability isn't important. Companies want you to be loyal, but will give zero loyalty in return, and hiring managers only care about the experience on your resume. "Job hopping" is not a mark against you. If another company will pay you a dollar more than you're making now, go work for them. When you get older, have a spouse with a career, kids in school with friends they don't want to leave... then stability becomes more important and you get tied to a geographical location. Until then, never stop looking for your next job... unless, of course, you land in your dream job.

level 2

Comment deleted by user · 8y

level 1

Aerospace, working on satellites at one of the big primes for 7 years and now at that level.

level 2

This gives me so much hope. Just got accepted for Aerospace Engineering. I know it's a lot of hard work to get there, but I can't wait to work my ass off to get there.

level 2

Any advice for someone hoping to get there one day?

level 2

This might seem silly, but what exactly do you do different now that you're in management compared to when you were an engineer?