<p>Looking for some advice from you smartie-pants! I’m interested in both, but leaning more towards Aerospace because it’s more towards my interest (or so I think because I love planes). But I got some questions:</p>
<li><p>How would you describe the job of an Aerospace Engineer? What do they work with exactly? Do they work in high-tech environments?</p></li>
<li><p>Which one of the two, in your opinion, would be better and why? I heard EE is more evolving in our society.</p></li>
<li><p>Which one earns more money?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’ll admit it, money is a factor when I look at careers because I don’t want any financial problems when I’m an adult and I want to live a happy/satisfying life (that means I want a Bentley Continental GT by the time I’m 30). I’m hoping to earn at least 130k before I’m too old (probably too high for engineering). If I want to earn a lot of money, should I even look at engineering careers at all? </p>
<p>I’m just very imaginative; love electronics and technology; I love math and damn good at it too (I do math HW for fun, how’s that for weird). That’s why I’m interested in engineering. I’m not that great at English. </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Ahhh the refreshingness of high school when math & physics were fun (well for most. I actually love them more now that I'm in college). Keep up the positive attitude, you'll need it.</p>
<p>Anyways I will always favor the more general major unless you're absolutely sure of a career (which most, I saw 95% aren't completely sure, I'm one of the few people I know that is sure they are staying in chemE.) I would go with EE on general principle but go with what you like and what makes you happy. (But do think about MechE with AeroE tech electives for grad school AeroE programs.) You won't get through an engineering career based purely on a monetary standpoint. It won't work. You need to have your heart in it. Just liking the subjects in high school isn't enough either. High school isn't college.</p>
<p>I'm sure sakky and others will run here and tell you that engineerings don't make that much and it plateaus but you aren't asking about other options. So foregoing anything except pure EE & AE jobs I would say which one earns more is hard to calculate b/c just a BS in AeroE is usually not enough to get you an actual Aero career whereas in EE it is often quite serviceable. It is nice to see you're goal oriented but why don't you try contacting professionals themselves and seeing what route they took. That might help you make some decisions. I don't know how you'd do that but it is something to think about.</p>
<p>Thanks IlliniJBravoEcho! </p>
<p>Yeah, I just mentioned high school math for the heck of it. I have a passion for working with technology. It doesn't have to be engineering, per-say, but engineering is the only field I'm familiar with. The problem with me is, I know the type of environment I want to work in and what kind of job I would love to do, but I just don't know everything avaliable for me. I need to research more I guess, I try but I can't really get a good sense of certain careers. </p>
<p>I just found something I may be interested in. </p>
<p>Test Pilots:</p>
<p><a href="http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_compresult.asp?NarrowCode=RD01&NarrowDesc=Aerospace+and+Defense&JobTitle=Test+Pilot+V&JobCode=SC16000308&geo=U.S.%20National%20Averages%5B/url%5D">http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_compresult.asp?NarrowCode=RD01&NarrowDesc=Aerospace+and+Defense&JobTitle=Test+Pilot+V&JobCode=SC16000308&geo=U.S.%20National%20Averages</a></p>
<p>What do Test Pilots do exactly? </p>
<p>$130k - $155k and they get to fly new planes?? I don't care if you die in this job, it sounds like a dream! But seriously, why do they get paid so much?</p>