Find Out Appropriate Starting Salary for Engineer

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I need a little help, I have an interview coming up and I wanted to know of any websites or resources that would give me info on starting salaries for engineers. I'm an IE, but the position overlaps with other operational aspects not necessary for an IE. I don't want to get tricked by a low offer when it should be higher, which I think might be the case. I know it depends on industry, degree, location, etc. Where could I find this out? a reliable source please. </p>

<p>Thanks a lot!</p>

2

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys-5.html#post15975553[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys-5.html#post15975553&lt;/a&gt; can give you a hint. Even if your school does not have a career survey available, you can check other similar schools in your area for their career surveys to see how students graduating in your major do.</p>

<p>Note that pay rates do vary regionally, so some of the differences between schools are actually regional differences (many companies recruit mainly at local schools). Also, survey and reporting methodology differ, so be cautious about any differences between schools that you find.</p>

3

<p>For IE what I typically hear ranges from about 60-75K, generally in the Midwest (very commonly Chicago/Chicago-Area), for actual IE jobs. Finance and Consulting are a different thing. You should probably expect slightly more on the coasts. </p>

<p>Though think about what you’re worth. Maybe you’re a genius, have higher expectations. Maybe you’re a moron (or appear to be a moron), have lower expectations. Large companies will probably start all their entry hiring for any particular position at the same wage, but your worth could change what company you would work at. </p>

<p>60K seems to be a pretty strong lower threshold. I wouldn’t have considered a job paying under 60K (with some exceptions - if it was a start up and they were giving equity or something for instance) personally, as I don’t know anyone ending up with jobs under that.</p>

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<p>[Home</a> : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm]Home”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm)</p>

5

<p>If IE’s are in the Plant Rat department with Manufacturing or Plant Engineering jobs then salaries will be lower than ‘pure’ IE’s like paper pushing supply chain types or IT types and so on. </p>

<p>Cost of living even within a region has huge variations; 60k in Chicago is a lot less than 60k in Cleveland or Louisville…</p>

<p>I would suggest you focus more on the type of job and prospects for growth rather than just salary. I could be making a LOT more money on the West Coast but I prefer the lower pressure, lower money, big fish in medium sized pond approach of the Midwest… If I was 30 years younger, sure.</p>