I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
(OP)
Hi,
I am a mechanical engineer. Last summer I took a job (at the recommendation of engineers on this forum) as a fire protection sprinkler designer. I like the job, but the possibilities for advancement are not there.
Well I have recently got an offer to become a plumbing engineer. The new company will be paying me as an entry level mechanical engineer. So the pay increase is very large. They will also help me get my PE, which is important to me.
What I am concerned about is the future of a Plumbing Engineer. Im having a hard time finding people with alot of knowledge as to where this career could lead. Also, I have no idea as to how much a Plumbing Engineer with a PE could make.
I have the opportunity to take a job as a manufacturing engineer for another company as well. I think I would enjoy the plumbing engineer job more, but im concerned that I wouldnt be able to make as good of a living in the long run.
If anyone has any experience with plumbing engineering, or any knowledge about it at all... PLEASE help!!!
Is it a good career? Is the top-end pay comparable to other fields?
Thanks in advance guys.
-Des
I am a mechanical engineer. Last summer I took a job (at the recommendation of engineers on this forum) as a fire protection sprinkler designer. I like the job, but the possibilities for advancement are not there.
Well I have recently got an offer to become a plumbing engineer. The new company will be paying me as an entry level mechanical engineer. So the pay increase is very large. They will also help me get my PE, which is important to me.
What I am concerned about is the future of a Plumbing Engineer. Im having a hard time finding people with alot of knowledge as to where this career could lead. Also, I have no idea as to how much a Plumbing Engineer with a PE could make.
I have the opportunity to take a job as a manufacturing engineer for another company as well. I think I would enjoy the plumbing engineer job more, but im concerned that I wouldnt be able to make as good of a living in the long run.
If anyone has any experience with plumbing engineering, or any knowledge about it at all... PLEASE help!!!
Is it a good career? Is the top-end pay comparable to other fields?
Thanks in advance guys.
-Des





RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
What I am saying is that the future is fine, as long as people keep eating that is.....
As for the pay, I think 50K is average, I'm a 1st year and I am at 48K, was supposed to be at 50K in November but....
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
----------------------------------
I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
They want me to get my PE, so I imagine it is a bit more technical than simply installing pipe.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
I would recommend at some point early in your career, establishing a "baseline" of reasonable longevity within a position. Someone who jumps from employer to employer every few years tends to find fewer positions becoming available and are likely considered only for short term contracts. Decide soon what path you want to take and let your career evolve from there.
Regards,
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
PSE, I agree with you about establishing a "baseline". That is why I am asking these questions. I really want to start a career that I will stay with for a long time.
My fear is that I will be picking something that will limit my income. I have seen alot of high paying HVAC engineer jobs listed, and alot of high paying manufacturing engineer jobs listed... but not very many plumbing engineering jobs listed.
I guess Im afraid of spending the next 5 years getting my PE at this company, only to end up pidgeon holed into a low paying position for the rest of my life.
I will be trying to start a family with my fiance in the next year, and I really want to make enough money for them to have a better life than I had growing up.
Hopefully I can get some feedback from this, so I can start a long term career.
Thanks guys
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
The Mechanical Contractors Association of America has a good reference called the Model Plumbing Code. See if your company has it. PLumbing Engineering is also sometimes called "Sanitary Engineering" and if I remember right there is a professional society for it (like ASME).
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
From what I understand piping engineers are in demand right now, as for plumbing engineers....well... people are breeding like rabbits and those fuzzy critters need places to work, play and sleep along with all the amenities, so I definately see a future in plumbing engineering.
Worst comes to worst piping design in waste water could translate to hazardous service, or you could branch into underground piping and get some civil experience.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
$50K in Milwaukee seems to be average - I'm not from that area, but it's good for where I am - for 1 year experience.
If you like what you do, you will probably become really good at it. If you don't like what you do, you can still become really good at it, but it takes more effort.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
Thanks again.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
I think your industry is called MEP or Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing. Not sure if this is a real field (sorry for my ignorance) but check out this thread thread731-151521.
Good luck!
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
Don't worry about pigeon-holing yourself, there's more advantages in specializing than in generalizing. Plus, once you get really good at something, everyone will know that picking up something else will be easy for you and the doors will open.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
Trying to do that in the manufacturing world would be much more challenging I suppose.
Its wierd where I am ending up. In college, I had seen myself designing fully automated machines and robot arms. So working with fire protection, and potentially plumbing, is still an idea that is growing on me.
I suppose alot of college grads don't end up doing what they thought they would be doing in college. Heck my cousin is a civil engineer that delivers pizzas....
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
However no matter how much outsourcing occurs, an engineer in India will have a hard time justifying a site visit to North America, which I would assume are required in plumbing engineering, but a product can always be made in India and shipped over.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
They are the leading professional society for plumbing engineers in the USA. They could probably give you guidance on the nature of plumbing engineering. They also have a cerification program, CIPE (Certified In Plumbing Engineering). You can subscribe to their magazine as well.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
Of course they are much more well known for their plumbing fixtures. While visiting their office at Kohler, WI, I was surprised to find that they had a very active engineering department for their various products. Perhaps there are meaninful plumbing career posibilities with that type manufacturer.
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
I imagine there are alot of fixture manufacturers out there though, and that is one venue I had not concidered lately. I will look into it, thanks again!
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
I have been working with Kohler on a project for the last few months and all of the engineers I have met have been quite nice. (And their facilities are great too.)
So, Desdichado, don't let your experience with those three engineers taint Kohler for you of another job opens up in the future, I think they look like a very good company to work for.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
They seem like a great company to work for! Maybe I just met a few bad apples.
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)
Thanks for that link too EddyC
RE: I need advice on a new career (Plumbing Engineer)