<p>I've heard that, on average, chemical and electrical engineers earn about 20k more than mechanical and civil engineers in regards to starting salary.</p>
<p>Is this true? If yes, why is this so?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm%5DEngineers%5B/url">http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm]Engineers[/url</a>]</p>
<p>It's closer to 12k, with petroleum being the highest and environmental being the lowest. </p>
<p>When you look at statistics, scrutinize the data carefully. Cost of living is probably one of the most influential factors in determining salary. Some jobs tend to be concentrated in expensive areas, such as Silicon Valley (CS). Some can be found in every city and town in this country (civil). Most are employed in the private sector, but approximately 1/3 of all civil engineers are employed by a government agency, which really brings down the average salaries.</p>
<p>If you take cost of living and private/public employment into account, the difference probably won't be as much.</p>
<p>Personally I'd rather be above average in my major of choice, than choose a major with the highest average salary.</p>
<p>I'd rather do something I liked than make an extra 10k, but that's just me.</p>
<p>Id eat **** for a living if you paid me enough. people all seem to say you should want to work to be happy and money means nothing. Thats great and fine, but that doesn't apply when you grew up broke. Money can and does make me happy.</p>
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It's closer to 12k, with petroleum being the highest and environmental being the lowest.
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<p>Be careful with the above stats. It may not represent the market. It does not make sense when starting salary for petroleum with a BS is 60,718 and with an MS is 57,000.</p>
<p>I have the impression that Bureau of Labor Statistics did not do a good job. Some job descriptions are obsolete.</p>
<p>Yes, definitely something to consider. It might be the case that only one or two people reported a starting salary for MS in petroleum engineering. I can't say BLS did a bad job though; they got this statistic from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. </p>
<p>What job descriptions are you looking at in particular?</p>
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It's closer to 12k, with petroleum being the highest and environmental being the lowest.
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<p>The type of industry that you work in is a big factor in determining starting salary, no matter what type of enginner you are. For example, Aerospace Companies hire not only aerospace and mechanical engineers, but also chemical process, materials & process, facilities, electrical, computer and environmental engineers. All are on the same pay schedule with respect to engineering rank and promotion.</p>
<p>ken285:</p>
<p>The descriptions about Computer Hardware Engineer, Computer Software Engineer, Electrical Engineer, and Electronic Engineer are not really correct. Compter hardware engineers don't design computer chip (that is the job of an electrical engineer with micro-electronic specialty). People don't call Computer Software Engineers Computer Engineers. In the industry, people don't really differentiate Electrical Engineers and Electronic Engineers (they did that probably 10-20 years ago. Now everyone is Electrical Engineer).</p>
<p>Now, take a look at the description of software application engineer. "The programming languages most often used are C, C++, and Java, with Fortran and COBOL used less commonly. Some software engineers develop both packaged systems and systems software or create customized applications." This is obsolete. The programming languages most often used these days are in the following order: C#, java, C++,...</p>
<p>The salary distribution of software engineers are probably not correct.</p>
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Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer systems software engineers in May 2006 are as follows:</p>
<p>Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences $97,220
Scientific research and development services 97,180
Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing 93,240
Software publishers 87,450
Computer systems design and related services 84,660
Data processing, hosting, and related services 78,270 </p>
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<p>I guess people make highest salary in SW are people who develop SW for communications, online transactions,...</p>
<p>lol dr.horse</p>
<p>What kind of engineer are you Dr. Horse?</p>
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The type of industry that you work in is a big factor in determining starting salary, no matter what type of enginner you are. For example, Aerospace Companies hire not only aerospace and mechanical engineers, but also chemical process, materials & process, facilities, electrical, computer and environmental engineers. All are on the same pay schedule with respect to engineering rank and promotion.
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<p>Just curious, what do chemical engineers have to do with aerospace engineering?</p>
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Id eat **** for a living if you paid me enough. people all seem to say you should want to work to be happy and money means nothing.
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<p>So would you recommend becoming a doctor instead of an engineer then? The anesthesiologists make like $300k - $400k.</p>
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Id eat **** for a living if you paid me enough.
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<p>Really? I wouldn't sell my respect for any salary a shit eater could make.</p>
<p>Cs ---------------</p>
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Really? I wouldn't sell my respect for any salary a **** eater could make.
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<p>Haha, nice. ^5</p>
<p>after malpractice insurance (like 200K per annum?) and other costs anesthesiologists don't make nearly as much as you would think. What kind of salary growth can engineers look forward to? is six figures common with 5+ yrs experience or is that an overstatement? do engineers generally breach 200K and, if so, which ones?</p>
<p>$100k after five years is a bit on the optimistic side; perhaps if you started with a PhD or you got an incredibly lucky job offer as a petroleum engineer out of undergrad.</p>
<p>Some people take their entire career to get up to 100k while others don't even make it that far. And 200k? I heard that most engineers stop below 150k with the exception of petroleum.</p>
<p>Engineers generally do not make anywhere near $200,000. Are you kidding? You will NOT get rich by becoming an engineer! Moreover, when your salary starts approaching the 100k mark, start saving your money because your chances of being laid off are increased.</p>