<p>OK, so I am presently on the course to become a Ultrasound Tech.</p>
<p>Anyway, as I pursue this path, I want to make sure I follow the right path.</p>
<p>Would you say healthcare is more stable than engineering.</p>
<p>You should do what you enjoy the most. Both will always be fairly stable. In terms of engineering, your question is so broad that I’m not sure there is a direct answer. Engineering spans a very wide range of industries. Some will be more stable than others but in general I think that most people would agree that in the future, there will be a need for talented engineers in this country as the baby boomers retire.</p>
<p>As far as education goes, engineering will be more rigorous than ultrasound tech. Compensation will also be quite different. Ultimately though, go for what you enjoy.</p>
<p>^^^^^^^See, that is where I am confused I like both!!</p>
<p>I recently went back to college at the age of 21. I was in special ed for like 9 years. After going back to a community college, I started to realize that I am not the dumbest guy in the world like my parents told me all my life.</p>
<p>So, I realize my options are open</p>
<p>Ultrasound techs start off at 30 bucks an hour. I believe Mechanical Engineers make about the same.</p>
<p>jesus christ what is wrong with your parents…</p>
<p>In general, technician-type jobs make less than engineers working in the design process. But like he said, do what you like and the money will follow.</p>
<p>Forget about the starting salary (even though that seems high for a starting salary), an experienced ultrasound tech will not make nearly as much as an experienced engineer. I’m not trying to put anyone down here, I’m just speaking from experience. I believe salary statistics support this.</p>
<p>A mechanical engineer has a much higher earning potential.</p>
<p>collegebound guy: I come from a christian-conservative family.</p>
<p>If your classified as “different” you are a failure in life automatically. Such is the way of a good portion christian-conservative families</p>
<p>[Diagnostic</a> Medical Sonographers](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292032.htm]Diagnostic”>http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292032.htm) Ultrasound tech salary(opprotunity to advance to management)</p>
<p>[Mechanical</a> Engineers](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172141.htm]Mechanical”>http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172141.htm) Mechanical engineers.</p>
<p>Looks like engineers make about 15k more a year. That isn’t too far from an Ultrasound Tech</p>
<p>Engineers also tend to be able to go into management based on quality of work down the road.</p>
<p>However, I’d be more readily concerned with the material in school and if you’ll be able to handle it. Go to a bookstore or borrow a textbook on some basic physics applications, and see if it’s something you think you’d be able to handle. Or you could take a look on MIT’s OpenCourseWare (google for the link), it’s very very helpful. They have video lectures as well as class notes, exam, and homework material.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should attempt an advanced math or physics class. If you do poorly, drop it like a hot potato, well within the drop dateline.</p>
<p>^^^ able to find the derivatives of logs EASILY.</p>
<p>I don’t think this is a good measure of success in engineering</p>
<p>Yes, at the median level but as the percentiles get higher, the difference becomes greater. Also, this is just referring to someone with the job title mechanical engineer. This likely does not refer to any engineers with management responsibilities. This is what I’m talking about when I say earning potential. A mechanical engineering degree gives you the flexibility to work in areas other than design such as sales, contracts, project mangement, etc…</p>
<p>I’m not trying to argue with you but from my experience in industry, a good engineer will make more than the median value that you cited in your link. Actually, ASME did a survey on the salaries of degreed engineers in industry and found that median salaries are approaching six figures with some variation by industry (some industries are over six figures).</p>
<p>[How</a> Much Are You Worth? - February 2009 Issue](<a href=“http://memagazine.asme.org/articles/2009/February/Much_Worth.cfm]How”>ASME News - ASME)</p>
<p>Anyway, it is not a competition about who makes more. Choose to do what you enjoy.</p>
<p>I believe the OP is comparing mechanical engineering technician with ultrasound tech job opportunities and salaries.</p>
<p>^^^ It’s more I have explored a crapload of career opprotunities, and it has come down to these two.</p>
<p>I just don’t want to be 40+ and go “Man, I should have done that. I guess it’s too late now”</p>
<p>The more you make, the less you gotta worry about dying a very painful death of being old and working to death. I have worked at a hospital and seen this time and time again. </p>
<p>Honestly, working to death(unable to retire) is probably one of the worser deaths I have seen in a hospital(on par with gun shots).</p>
<p>If I were in a situation like that in my 40s, I don’t know what I would do.</p>
<p>ME 76.</p>
<p>What about this:</p>
<p>become an Ultrasound sound tech around age 28. Then, go back and work on an engineering degree!</p>
<p>An engineering degree is the highest paying college degree you can attain; which is why, and I stress this, so many people that pursue it get the wind knocked out of em’ and drop out. So stop wasting your time comparing salary compensation. People that succeed in engineering enter for other reasons; nobility, the challenge and rigor, the ‘Eureka’s’, the contribution to society, the thirst for objective and scientific knowledge, etc…etc…</p>
<p>Well put cyclone.</p>
<p>Good luck to you cooldudemanus.</p>
<p>Wow, cooldude, I come from a VERY conservative Christian family, and my family is not like that at all. They were upset when I stopped going to their church, but they accepted it and now we get along great. My dad is very proud of his engineering daughter, even though that description automatically makes me “different” in their church.</p>
<p>I agree with the others, do what you enjoy!! If you DON’T like engineering, your days will feel awfully long.</p>
<p>MainlongHorn.</p>
<p>Have you ever observed how christian-conservative families treat special ed kids? Do so sometime. Special ed kids are seen as “Genetic misfits” that “God” can love anyway!Growing up, the other conservative families told their kids to stay away from me because they were afraid that my “special- ed charactaristics” would rub off on their kids. So, I spent my teen years working out and reading textbooks. </p>
<p>Last week, I returned to my old church to show off how strong and smart I have become.
Felt good</p>
<p>Anyway, I guess that leaves me with yet another question about engineering. How easily can it be outsourced?</p>