Salary of Engineer

<p>Within the career path of someone who gets an engineering degree it is possible to make 150K+, although it's far from probable. However, it's even less likely to get 150K+ as an engineer. In supervisory roles that sort of money will soon become the benchmark (simply from inflation).</p>

<p>Oh, and real money - as in virtually all fields - is at the top.</p>

<p>I talked about my freinds uncle, aunt and uncle and I never said they earned 150k+.</p>

<p>I was just saying everything depended on the person's capabilities.
I mean my aunt earns less than my uncle. My aunt has more experience yet she gets paid lower than my uncle. So, that shows everything depends on the person's capabilities.</p>

<p>and also Engineers with an MBA earn more than Engineers with out it.
I guess.</p>

<p>" my freinds uncle is a mechanical engineer, well kinda.
He has a BS in M E and an MBA.</p>

<p>his work or type of job isn't really engineering but i would say it invovles engineering, he is what we call an "engineering manager".</p>

<p>he's 48 and earns around 100k to 110k.</p>

<p>and my aunt is a materials engineer, she works in the good year tire company in Ohio.
she has a MS in engineering. she's also in her mid 40s.
i think she gets paid around 90k.</p>

<p>but another uncle of mine, who has a MS in software engineering gets around 120-130k. (he is a consultant)
and he's in his mid 30s."</p>

<p>Depends on location, your work/tax/employee filing status and the type of work you do within your field.</p>

<p>If you are in the Washington DC area and hold one of those security clearances from the 3 major intelligence agencies....you can be a consultant/contractor and easily clear $150-$180K and never have to supervise a single person. A lot of folks opt for that because supervisors would get no more than $10-15K more and have more headaches and responsibilities.</p>

<p>Hellooooooooooooo, Booz Allen!</p>

<p>I wish! :(</p>

<p>Let me tell ya....</p>

<p>There are I.T. directors of private industry firms QUITTING their jobs (once the get a security clearance) and going back to doing straight engineering or software development work for the big 3 intelligence agencies because folks are offering much more money....and they can work 9-5 and not be responsible for a soul.</p>

<p>What kind of engineerng jobs do intelligence agencies offer other than Computer Eng.?</p>

<p>Tom725...</p>

<p>Well you cannot forget the crypto folks, who are basically math majors. Physics/EE majors are hired for signals and communication stuff (real big). Strategic-type folks need Operations Research. And any engineering-type work needs folks to test the quality/reliability of anything...so Stats/Industrial Engineers are needed for testing.</p>

<p>so basically, M E, E E, Comp E, and I E.
(among eng. majors)</p>

<p>yes...those majors.</p>

<p>so there isn't any other then the 4 majors among eng.</p>

<p>( I mean for Chem E, Material E, Bio E, Civil E)</p>

<p>Tom725,</p>

<p>I have seen postings for almost all engineering fields. Now I don't know the specific jobs...but they were hiring all majors.</p>

<p>
[quote]
There are I.T. directors of private industry firms QUITTING their jobs (once the get a security clearance)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>True, but that's a pretty exacting condition you just put forth there. Security clearances don't grow on trees. In fact, unless you have military experience, they are some of the hardest things to get. </p>

<p>The major problem in getting a clearance is that you rarely can you simply can't decide one fine day that you want one and then get it. In most cases, you have to be first hired by an employer, such as a government contractor, who works with sensitive material, and then that employer has to sponsor your clearance process. But, ay, that's the rub. It can take months or even years to get a clearance (depending on the level of clearance), and during that waiting time, you can't do much for that employer because you won't be authorized to handle sensitive material. The employer also knows that there is a chance that you will be denied - for example, if it is discovered that you lied about something in the past, like a bankruptcy or a criminal conviction. </p>

<p>But the point is, to get that clearance, an employer has to first hire you and then have you cool your heels doing non-sensitive work while your clearance is being processed, knowing full well that you may not get it. It's obviously far far easier for that employer to simply hire somebody who already has his clearance. </p>

<p>So, sure, I agree that if you can get that clearance, you're golden. But that's a very big 'if'. Most employers would prefer not to have to sponsor anybody for clearance if they don't have to.</p>

<p>Actually, I am one of those who was pulled from the private sector. True, employers no longer pay for you to "sit the bench" while processing your clearance. Now they tell you (well at least me) to stay at your current job while we process you.</p>

<p>Employers DO have you now go through their own "internal background investigation" to give some level of confidence that you will be granted a clearance.</p>

<p>...but they are golden to have.</p>

<p>
[quote]
But the point is, to get that clearance, an employer has to first hire you and then have you cool your heels doing non-sensitive work while your clearance is being processed, knowing full well that you may not get it. It's obviously far far easier for that employer to simply hire somebody who already has his clearance.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You have no idea how hard I'm kicking myself for letting my TS expire after getting out in '96. Sigh... :(</p>

<p>Hey, GT, I don't suppose you know companies hiring with the conditions you describe, would you?</p>

<p>Clearance? What's that? ;-)</p>

<p>how high does clearance go above TS-SCI?</p>

<p>A TS/SCI + Polygraph allows you access to the "big 3" intelligence agencies. You must have the poly. Here's the kicker. The "big 3" intelligence agencies refuse to accept each other's polygraph. The TS/SCI will transfer....but you would have to retake the polygraph if you were to switch agencies.</p>

<p>There are a few other clearances higher than TS/SCI + Poly....but you gotta be REALLY on the "need to know" list.</p>

<p>the best path to security clearance for a civilian (i think) is getting summer internships at national labs (MIT Lincoln, Los Alamos, LLNL, etc). </p>

<p>they all have decent summer programs so shop around. they also usually sponsor you for clearance.</p>

<p>then you have the clearance when looking for jobs as a senior and the labs, defense contractors, etc will all recruit you (raytheon, lockheed, boeing, BAE, northrup, etc)</p>

<p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/08/pf/college/lucrative_degrees_winter07/index.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/08/pf/college/lucrative_degrees_winter07/index.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>2007 salary offers</p>