<p>I have been contemplating whether to pursue CivE in graduate school or whether to find a job elsewhere and go on to business school.
I know these type of questions are asked over and over again but after reading so many statistics I am starting to feel as if the jobs in engineering keep getting worse and worse. Engineering firms keep cutting benefits and salaries to quality engineers. My passion in life is Structural engineering and I've always felt as though upon graduation, I would pursue graduate school for engineering and absolutely love what I'm doing and everything would be all hunky dory. I absolutely adore civil engineering and would love to some day be able to point at a building and say "see that kids your daddy built that."</p>
<p>The issue that I just cant get out of my mind is judging by the average civil engineering salary there is absolutely no way I will ever be able to accomplish the type of life I want to live. Not that I have ever planned on being some rich NY playboy with a penthouse bachelor pad. But, I've always wanted to start a family and have many children and live in a quiet suburb and I am just totally unsure if I would be able to support a family on 55k a year 10 years out of college. I just don't myself being able to afford a home and finance my childrens' education on 55k a year. I want to do what would be best for my family to insure their happiness and well being.</p>
<p>I've just grown unsure of how I would be able to survive financially off 60k a week which after 401k and taxes would leave with me less than 4,000 a month to raise an entire family in NYC. </p>
<p>I seem to be in the ties of a moral quandary - I would love to pursue civil engineering as to how passionate I am about residential and commercial building - especially in NYC but I somehow feel like 10 years down the road I might begin to wonder if I should of applied all the effort I will putting into a ME into pursuing an MBA most likely management, which would probably require far less effort.</p>
<p>I hope someone out there has pity on my poor soul and can help me make sense of this.
If anyone was in a similar situation please respond with your choice and if you are happy with it.</p>
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But, I've always wanted to start a family and have many children and live in a quiet suburb and I am just totally unsure if I would be able to support a family on 55k a year 10 years out of college. I just don't myself being able to afford a home and finance my childrens' education on 55k a year. I want to do what would be best for my family to insure their happiness and well being.
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<p>I don't know about CivE, but engineering PhD's normally make more than 55k a year. In ECE for example, 55k/year would be pretty much what an entry-level BS graduate would make whereas PhD's would make significantly more.</p>
<p>I have no intentions of applying for any PhD program. I am more influenced by physical structures and watching them being built. I'm not big on research. Although research will be needed in graduate school, I can see myself working on a Master's thesis but just can not see myself devoting x amount of years to a PhD.</p>
<p>Government jobs aside, many civE jobs have initial offers in the 50s. I assume that 10 years down the road, you would've gotten at least a few raises. A structural engineer IV in NYC (according to salary.com) would on average make well over $100k, so towards the latter years of your career, you won't be making $50k. </p>
<p>I can totally relate to the "see that kids your daddy built that" statement. Whenever I see that I've made a noticeable contribution to a project, I get this sense of pride and accomplishment. Best feeling in the world.</p>
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I have no intentions of applying for any PhD program. I am more influenced by physical structures and watching them being built. I'm not big on research
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<p>If you are not interested in research, you should consider getting a professional master's degree (e.g. an M.Eng) instead of an M.S.</p>
<p>Many schools have either one or the other. Usually you can choose whether to do a thesis or just take courses in either program if they only offer one degree.</p>
<p>"Average" civil engineering salaries typically appear low relative to those in other engineering disciplines. But salaries alone aren't the whole picture. Keep the following points in mind:</p>
<p>(1) A relatively high proportion of CEs work in the public sector (for federal, state, or local governments). Public sector salaries are generally lower than those in the private sector, so this brings down the "average" CE salary. But benefits (especially retirement packages) are usually better in the public sector, so these CEs aren't necessarily hurting. The lower salary vs. better benefits tradeoff is one that many CEs are willing to make.</p>
<p>(2) A relatively high proportion of CEs work in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas. Every community in the US -- no matter how small or remote -- needs CEs, while most other types of engineers are concentrated in large urban areas with high-tech or other industry. The salaries outside major urban areas tend to be lower, so again this brings down the "average" CE salary. But the cost of living (especially housing) is usually lower outside urban centers, so these CEs aren't necessarily hurting. The lower salary vs. lower cost-of-living tradeoff is one that many CEs are willing to make.</p>
<p>My guess is that salaries for structural engineers, working in the private sector in NYC, are significantly higher than the "average" for CEs. My guess is also that structural engineers, even in NYC, are not falling out of the middle class. Or do you see people on the street holding up signs reading: "Will design bearing walls for food" ?</p>
<p>Thank you, I guess I have been worrying too much, I am just beginning to decide which route I should take in regards to graduate school. I'd like to decide as early as possible, so that the requirements can be met without me having to be all over the place senior year.</p>
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I'd like to decide as early as possible, so that the requirements can be met without me having to be all over the place senior year.
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<p>What requirements are you referring to? There's really no special course requirements, especially if you're already in an engineering program. All you have to do really is take the GRE, get your letters of recommendation, get your transcripts, and fill out the applications. The only thing you can do prior to your senior year is taking the GRE.</p>
<p>WELL, If I decide to go that route (ME Civil) I would like to do some research to gain admission into a good private school. An MBA would require work experience and I'd like to get started on that as well if I decide to go that way.</p>