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<p>I find that highly doubtful. The average working individual in LA makes a third of that. So it’s certainly far more than OK.</p>
<p>Maybe you should re-adjust your expectations.</p>
<p>most engineers do not make that much. The ones that do were lucky to find a good opportunity in advancement.</p>
<p>I plan to make investments on the side when im on a full time salary. I probably wont be rich, but fairly well off.</p>
<p>in general, I’d rather be financially well off doing something I really enjoy rather than be rich doing something I hate. That’s why I’m not doing medicine.</p>
<p>My problem is that I like my job but I don’t get paid enough. But “enough” is relative. A salary web site says my salary is comparable to other young engineers in the industry but I do know a guy my age who got a $17,000 salary increase by switching companies. Also, my salary would be good if I was single but after getting married and having a baby (wife works part-time, goes to college full-time), it is hard to keep up with things that can be hard to budget for, such as medical bills and car maintenance.</p>
<p>how much if you dont mind saying?</p>
<p>Bills like car matienence? As in, you pay someone to fix your car? And you call yourself an engineer…</p>
<p>Start learning about the stock market, major in finance so you can learn even more, and then let your money make more money.</p>
<p>pandem, during my interview for my job they asked me if I did my own car maintenance and for the most part, my answer was no. So the interviewers questioned me ability as an engineer. I didn’t get into it but it is not like they were hiring me for my ability to turn a wrench because if I even pick up a tool the union guys will file a grievance. But there are certain things I simply can’t do in my apartment parking lot, such as replacing a leaking gas tank on my older car.</p>
<p>Since engineering salaries are typically higher when you first start out of college, need to make sure that you wisely invest that money from your first few years. Anyways, if you stay in the career path you will always be making a good salary, so if you are smart financially it shouldn’t be difficult to live a good life.</p>
<p>Like dsmo said, the key is to be smart from day one. You have live well below your means so that when more expensive things happen, like all of the layoffs going on, you can be able to survive through the rough times. One example of stupidity for me was buying a brand new $25,000 car when I started my job. I also have school loans to pay but by being a single it was no burden. My engagement and marriage came rather quickly. It’s a blessing to have a family but it also cost a lot of money. Another sinkhole for me is my commute to work…120 miles roundtrip per day, but that is only temporary. My job moves around quite a bit until permanent assignment in 2011 and since my wife is in college I try to stay close to the campus and the daycare. </p>
<p>The other thing to budget carefully for is medical expenses, but this can be very hard to budget for. One unexpected illness or car accident and you can be in deep debt if you don’t have a good health plan. A coworker of mine has three kids who he is trying to put through college and doctors have found cancer in his digestive system. He is very worried about the cost of the medical care.</p>