<p>I am currently majoring in AE @ Georgia Tech. Although we're ranked 2nd behind MIT in nation, I am not happy with the salaries that AE majors get after graduation. But I love AE and don't wanna leave that so I though minoring in something else would make a difference.</p>
<p>Before I thought of management minor (i know management is crap @ Gatech but I was planning to take classes at Emory and transfer out) but then I also gave a though for minor in Electrical or CompE.</p>
<p>Well I’m planning on doing AeroEng at GT, but for many years now I’ve wanted to go into CS. I think that a lot of the skills I’ve gained when my interest in CS was at its peak will benefit me as an engineer. That being said, I think doing a minor in CS or something related to that will do some good, as a few have told me.</p>
<p>But then, that’s just me, and I still like CS, just doesn’t appeal to me as much as engineering anymore. I’d only be doing it purely for self-satisfaction and probably a fall-back option, though I can’t see how it would realistically increase my chances for a higher salary. I mean, would you really be happy working at something that you kind of liked making 10 grand more (for instance) or something you really loved and enjoyed (AeroEng) with a little less pay? Also, according to the BLS report, AeroEng’s are one of the higher paid engineers…</p>
<p>Kinda confused about your intentions and this whole topic now.</p>
<p>aggie, I think it depends on the political environment. I think aerospace must be feeling the pinch right now, cuz today, for the first time I can remember, I saw a Boeing ad that wasn’t just a “Look at us, we’re Boeing and we’re awesome” thing, it was a direct appeal to voters to contact their congressperson and push for some pork project Boeing is trying to sell to Congress. I found that despicable.</p>
<p>Obviously, military spending is a huge component of aerospace jobs (until space tourism fulfills its promise). The less of it, the less aerospace dough.</p>
<p>This statement is true, but as long as the millitary spends (which it will because government spending is a direct component of gdp, therefore more spending will be necessary to boost this economy) I do not see how aerospace industry will take that much of a hit. However, space travel is not looking promising.</p>
<p>The example here is boeing. Look at their stock and try to tell me that the industry is hurting. Their stock has risen $20 since november, and many economist project that they will keep this trend and stay one of the biggest gainers on the market as a whole for a good while. I know this is not millitary spending, but that will probably pick up even more once there is more confidence in the economy as a whole. </p>
<p>So, I can see how areoE may have lower than normal salaries now, but I cannot see how this can stay the same for the future.</p>
<p>Doesn’t aero encompass other things, not just space travel? What about working on aircraft in general? I wouldn’t dismiss an aero degree just because the gov’t’s focus has shifted away from space travel.</p>
<p>I never said space travel was all they did, I was talking about military spending, and in many ways I imagine military spending on aerospace makes civilian aircraft cheaper and thus a bigger industry than it otherwise would be, all other factors aside.</p>
<p>I do not understand the logic here: civilian aircraft and millitary aircraft are two different things. How can one affect the other. More millitary spending would make the industry more profitable, but how would it make commercial aircraft cheaper?</p>
<p>There are multiple possible ways. For example, technologies and developments (either in aircraft design itself or in business & management practices, engineering practices, or manufacturing practices) developed from military projects could then be used on civilian aircraft projects. Not to mention various economies of scale and economies of scope.</p>
<p>Everybody needs to study economics. I suggest starting with Basic Economics by Sowell, or Economies for Dummies, or Economics in One Lesson by Hazlitt. Ya gotta learn to think economically, it might remind you of engineering in many ways.</p>
<p>Millitary spending has increased for the past 20+ years. It isn’t decreasing. Millitary spending is playing an even more vital role in our nation’s GDP. I think there must be other reasons for “lower salaries” than millitary spending. </p>
<p>By the way, I am studying economics right now. Fun class. Just got done learning fiscal policy. </p>
<p>And to the OP, if you love what you are learning, then you will probably have much success down the road. If you see it fit to get a minor, then by all means do it. It can’t hurt.</p>
<p>Yikes, don’t tell me they fed you that fiscal stimulus crap. Go read some Friedman and Hayek for a reality-based view of fiscal policy.</p>
<p>As for aerospace spending, I can’t find any figures, so I can’t really talk about it, but I can speculate that employers may reign in on hiring if they anticipate the political climate is heading in a contractionary direction as far as defense spending goes.</p>
<p>Advances made in the government sector are carried over to the private sector all the time. Just look up any list of technologies we got from the space program that are now used in our everyday lives.</p>
<p>But this still does not say that government spending is down as implied in prior posts. And sure if technology carries over then that would be a good thing. Why would it cause lower salaries and cheaper goods?</p>
<p>Actually, I implied that aerospace spending might be down or heading towards a downish area. I was offering it as a possible explanation. As I said, I can’t find any figures.</p>
I suggest starting with Basic Economics by Sowell, or Economies for Dummies, or Economics in One Lesson by Hazlitt. Ya gotta learn to think economically, it might remind you of engineering in many ways.</p>