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Forum » misc engineers, what's your career pay high?
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Thread: misc engineers, what's your career pay high?

post 1649383003 10-21-2021, 04:14 PM
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misc engineers, what's your career pay high?

I am looking at management gigs that are paying about $140k in florida, and that just seems low. New grad hires are coming in at low 90s. Imagine working for 15 years just to get to $140k. Not the endgame I had in mind...

What engineering jobs are out there that pay $200k+? Do I have to start my own firm?
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post 1649383263 10-21-2021, 04:20 PM
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Invest your money, ****git.
post 1649383333 10-21-2021, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted By mesobuild⏩
Invest your money, ****git.
Of course, already do. I have an MSEE but I think I'm going to try to get a PE cert then start something.
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post 1649383593 10-21-2021, 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted By TugOfPeace⏩
Depends on your industry in EE but in my field (power consulting) my manager was charging $205/hr which puts his salary at $142-150k on the high end, but keep in mind that's for a 45ish hour work week.

VPs clear $200k on average IMO.
205/hr. is about 400K annually....

and OP the engineers that make the real money are Electrical/Computer Engineers.
post 1649383693 10-21-2021, 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted By TugOfPeace⏩
In consulting you don't take home 100% of what you charge the client. 1/3 goes to overhead expenses, 1/3 goes to the company profit, and the remaining 1/3 goes to the employee. Sometimes more than 1/3 is given to the employee if they bring enough value.
That's basically how every engineering contract works from what I've seen.

Unless you work in defense. In that case, the company charges the gov't like that then keeps even more of the engineer's pay.
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post 1649383703 10-21-2021, 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted By TugOfPeace⏩
In consulting you don't take home 100% of what you charge the client. 1/3 goes to overhead expenses, 1/3 goes to the company profit, and the remaining 1/3 goes to the employee. Sometimes more than 1/3 is given to the employee if they bring enough value.
ahh okay got it. Thanks for clarification
post 1649383753 10-21-2021, 04:29 PM
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I'm in my first year managing in Denver and started at 125, it has a high range so if I stick around I should be able to grow and get more. It's not too demanding and I get really good benefits and a pension. I think it all evens out.
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post 1649384203 10-21-2021, 04:36 PM
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bout 350k
post 1649384343 10-21-2021, 04:39 PM
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If you want real money, you are better off going out on your own that trying to climb to the very top of the ladder.

Start an LLC and contract out as a freelancer, then take anything above your living expenses and use it to hire a couple of juniors that you can use on the majority of projects for high utilisation figures.

You can then start bidding on small jobs where you personally project manage and you subcontract in whatever skill gaps your team has for that project.

After that it depends on how good you are (growing beyond a small team is a different skill set) and how many hours you want to work (as you will still be personally billing).
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post 1649384483 10-21-2021, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted By TugOfPeace⏩
Doesnt managing suck though? Im being scouted internally for some managerial positions that opened up but even with a 10-15% pay increase, idk if I want that. Right now I work alone remotely and can go days without doing anything if I wanted. That would go away with the managerial position (the freedom, not the remote work)
I have friends in higher level technical roles that turned down manager positions with larger pay increase due to the large increase in workload and responsibility.

Basically in many manager roles you are answering to them (senior leadership - VPs and C-level) around the clock. That will never be worth it to me.
post 1649384613 10-21-2021, 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted By lolatpaniccels⏩
I have friends in higher level technical roles that turned down manager positions with larger pay increase due to the large increase in workload and responsibility.

Basically in many manager roles you are answering to them (senior leadership - VPs and C-level) around the clock. That will never be worth it to me.
Yeah, I'll start my own firm before I do that chit for $140k/yr. If I'm gonna get ripped off, then I wanna rip myself off lmao.
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post 1649384913 10-21-2021, 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted By rectifryer⏩
Yeah, I'll start my own firm before I do that chit for $140k/yr. If I'm gonna get ripped off, then I wanna rip myself off lmao.
he's around the 160K range right now in his role and they gave him 210K in a manager role and he said its still not worth it lmao
post 1649385173 10-21-2021, 04:57 PM
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I’ve seen $95-130/hr for good people working in the more senior roles of what I do, which is consulting on the project controls/management side for O&G and mining projects

Bringing in like $250-300 right now with seven years of experience but not for 40hrs/week
post 1649386013 10-21-2021, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted By lolatpaniccels⏩
I have friends in higher level technical roles that turned down manager positions with larger pay increase due to the large increase in workload and responsibility.

Basically in many manager roles you are answering to them around the clock. That will never be worth it to me.
I am an engineer manager and for my next role I will be looking at non-management positions. I found myself enjoying the technical more than the emails, scheduling and budgets.
Originally Posted By DuracellBunny⏩
If you want real money, you are better off going out on your own that trying to climb to the very top of the ladder.

Start an LLC and contract out as a freelancer, then take anything above your living expenses and use it to hire a couple of juniors that you can use on the majority of projects for high utilisation figures.

You can then start bidding on small jobs where you personally project manage and you subcontract in whatever skill gaps your team has for that project.

After that it depends on how good you are (growing beyond a small team is a different skill set) and how many hours you want to work (as you will still be personally billing).
This is my observation too after 7 years in the field. I deal with some smaller engineering companies and it seems like the QOL is pretty good and they try to avoid growing too big. One I deal with is maybe 7 engineers and they all have their specialty within industrial automation. The owner does very well and they ensure retention by adding generous profit incentives and good time off. Id say the typical engineer is making close to 200k at the end of the year.
Originally Posted By rectifryer⏩
I am looking at management gigs that are paying about $140k in florida, and that just seems low. New grad hires are coming in at low 90s. Imagine working for 15 years just to get to $140k. Not the endgame I had in mind...

What engineering jobs are out there that pay $200k+? Do I have to start my own firm?
Im with others in this thread, 65-75k to start is typical with 100k at around 5ish years of experience in a typical engineer role. In hindsight, if I took a 140k job out of college in a lower cost area, I would have probably been fired or not able to perform to that level and look like a fool. Took a few years in the trenches to really get ahold of the softer skills that are required to be an effective engineer. 200k is getting to directors/VP/super specialized fields which take many years of experience to get to in a more traditional role. Starting your own firm is going to be a grind too. What I would say is get into an industry you like and make contacts and get experience, once you have proven yourself an effective and good engineer then you can start to think about going on your own. We have a person who was with us for a few years who was awesome, broke off from us and started his own firm and now I cut PO's for his services. He had decades worth of experience at that point and he wasnt just a young buck, he had proven beyond any reasonable doubt that he can **** gold so we payed the price. That should be the goal OP.
post 1649386083 10-21-2021, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted By TugOfPeace⏩
Doesnt managing suck though? Im being scouted internally for some managerial positions that opened up but even with a 10-15% pay increase, idk if I want that. Right now I work alone remotely and can go days without doing anything if I wanted. That would go away with the managerial position (the freedom, not the remote work)
I have a good team so I don't have to do much, I have meetings and they get the work. I haven't done much in the last 3 days
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post 1649386723 10-21-2021, 05:27 PM
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G10 education making over half a million a year checking in fukken lol @ engineers.
One day scientists are going to kill us all.
post 1649386963 10-21-2021, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted By Steveyblack⏩
This is my observation too after 7 years in the field. I deal with some smaller engineering companies and it seems like the QOL is pretty good and they try to avoid growing too big. One I deal with is maybe 7 engineers and they all have their specialty within industrial automation. The owner does very well and they ensure retention by adding generous profit incentives and good time off. Id say the typical engineer is making close to 200k at the end of the year.
20-30 people is a good place to be. Utilisation starts to average out and you don't have to give it every waking hour.

If people want to get in to the 100s of employees they end up with 3 choices i) no longer actually work as an engineer, ii) work 80 hours a week or iii) hire somebody else to run the company.

In most cases, the best person to start the company isn't the best person to run it when it reaches a certain size. Not many people have both skill sets and resort to working crazy hours to make up for it.
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post 1649387013 10-21-2021, 05:31 PM
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Been in engineering 10 yrs. Never met an engineer who made over 120 who wasn't running his own business.
post 1649387853 10-21-2021, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted By dannyg1217⏩
I have a good team so I don't have to do much, I have meetings and they get the work. I haven't done much in the last 3 days
When I hear a Grown man say he doesn't do much at work for a high salary, it always makes me chuckle.
It sounds ****ing juvenile as hell if you believe you're getting away with it.
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post 1649388083 10-21-2021, 05:55 PM
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post 1649388193 10-21-2021, 05:57 PM
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post 1649388293 10-21-2021, 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted By DuracellBunny⏩
20-30 people is a good place to be. Utilisation starts to average out and you don't have to give it every waking hour.

If people want to get in to the 100s of employees they end up with 3 choices i) no longer actually work as an engineer, ii) work 80 hours a week or iii) hire somebody else to run the company.

In most cases, the best person to start the company isn't the best person to run it when it reaches a certain size. Not many people have both skill sets and resort to working crazy hours to make up for it.
when you say 20-30, do you mean engineers or just overall company size? If its the latter than I can say that the place I referenced before probably has 25 people if you include techs and other staff.

I have also dealt with some bigggg engineering firms (AECOM, Parsons, ect) and while they can be resourceful, sometimes they cant get out of their own way when when trying to move anything quicker than a snails pace. I figured out that I get a good amount of job satisfaction out of the technical roles where as managing people I dont find very engaging/rewarding, I had to learn by doing both so I am happy that I tried it but as of right now I dont think management is for me. I seriously love getting dirty in the field, designing machines, testing new ideas,, ect. I dont mind designing a machine for 6 months in the office, just so long as I get to see it come to fruition at the end is what I look forward to. Life's pretty sweet when work isn't work, you get paid decently and never work over 40 hours. Basically OP, you can take many paths, you just need to figure out what exactly you want from your career and then you plan accordingly.
post 1649388643 10-21-2021, 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted By TugOfPeace⏩
How do you cover the cost of insurance though, if you go on your own? In my field I was told that for our firm it costs $200k/year for liability insurance

Also isn't it true the larger companies would rather pay the premium for someone that belongs to a firm so that they have that firm as a "backing" to the person?
Insurance varies depending on what you are doing. If you are doing office based roles, PL and PI together should be under 10k for half a dozen people.

Larger companies are used to taking freelancers. While a company is still very small you are basically a few freelancers all working for the same LLC, which nobody will bat at eyelid at.

When you put in a bid, you include the named project personell and their resumes. Instead of selling it on the company name, you sell it on the strength of the individuals.

Additionally, if you are subbing to the prime/main/general contractor, the insurance is easier, due to acting at their direction.
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post 1649388793 10-21-2021, 06:05 PM
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My job is considered engineering support and I’m making nearly $150k.
post 1649389253 10-21-2021, 06:16 PM
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Software hits 200 easily
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post 1649389483 10-21-2021, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted By SaviorSelfJT⏩
Software hits 200 easily
this. especially in high COL areas
post 1649395933 10-21-2021, 08:18 PM
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FW Engineer here, 7 years experience. Base salary~165k working remote in a location way cheaper than tech hubs. Total comp over 200k.
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post 1649428323 10-22-2021, 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted By TugOfPeace⏩
Depends on your industry in EE but in my field (power consulting) my manager was charging $205/hr which puts his salary at $142-150k on the high end, but keep in mind that's for a 45ish hour work week.

VPs clear $200k on average IMO.
$205/hr even on just 40 hours is $416k/yr.


Math, how does it work
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post 1649429223 10-22-2021, 11:35 AM
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Cost of Living >>>


As soon as my engineer friends start bragging about their $1XX salaries in New York or California I stop paying attention
pls do not associate my personalities in misc and sports misc
post 1649429233 10-22-2021, 11:35 AM
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$205/hr would be fukn sweeeeeet

I'm invoicing $115/hr on good days right now when you consider the portion that's tax exempt
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