Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
(OP)
I am new to this forum and reposting this topic because my initial posts were deleted for cross posting and posting in the technical Mechanical forum.
I completed the first two years of the MEM curriculum and two coop cycles at Drexel University before switching to Audio engineering. I handle audio for bands and meetings now and am tired of the 60 hour weeks, physical labor and am no longer interested in what I do. I am also concerned about my job prospects and income as I get older.
I have a few questions that I would appreciate any input on:
Are there Mechanical Engineering jobs that pay over 100k/yr with a 40 hour work week?
(I know there is work out there where you can make that kind of $ but what are the hours typically?)
Do I need to get a MSME and/or and MBA to make over 100k with 5-7 years experience?
Which specialty has the highest starting salary?(I make about 60K now and own a house,and I am trying to not take a loss in income if I were to complete my MEM)
Which specialty is the highest paying in general(I hear R & D is pretty good pay)?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!
I completed the first two years of the MEM curriculum and two coop cycles at Drexel University before switching to Audio engineering. I handle audio for bands and meetings now and am tired of the 60 hour weeks, physical labor and am no longer interested in what I do. I am also concerned about my job prospects and income as I get older.
I have a few questions that I would appreciate any input on:
Are there Mechanical Engineering jobs that pay over 100k/yr with a 40 hour work week?
(I know there is work out there where you can make that kind of $ but what are the hours typically?)
Do I need to get a MSME and/or and MBA to make over 100k with 5-7 years experience?
Which specialty has the highest starting salary?(I make about 60K now and own a house,and I am trying to not take a loss in income if I were to complete my MEM)
Which specialty is the highest paying in general(I hear R & D is pretty good pay)?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!





RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
We have some $100k + jobs for Engineers with I believe just BS (actually one may even be a designers without the BS) but...
They occasionally work more than 40 hours a week.
They sometimes travel including over weekends.
They have to sometimes perform light physical labor on trial fits etc.
They have been with the company a while and are considered almost indispensible.
They have some kind of technical leadership and/or management functions as well.
This is in the high tech field (nanotechnology) in Santa Barbara.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
I figured it would probably take at least 7 years out of school to be making over 100k, but that is OK. I just want to know that I am going to get there eventually.
Would a MSME speed this up?
I have heard that getting a technical sales job with a BS in MEM can be high paying. Does anyone know anything about what those technical sales jobs are like? I am assuming lots of travel.
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Assuming it'll take you about 1-2 years to get your BS ME then we're looking at the 2014-2017 time frame that you want to be earning 100k.
Assuming you don't want that 100k adjusted for inflation, and assuming you're very good, and that you're willing to move to a reasonably high paying area, have some management or technical leadership responsibility etc.
Then yes 100k is realistic with limited travel etc.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Thought about just getting a MBA with a finance concentration but I am not sure that I wouold like working with finance or in the straight business world.
senselessticker, what are some of the other options out there where I could get a graduate or second undergraduate degree and make over 100k? Just curious
I am highly considering Mechanical engineering because of the diverse amount of jobs and types if jobs I could get with the degree
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Is there any particular gographic location you want to work in?
This will make a big difference.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
I know money is just money, but I want to live comfortably and be able to support a family someday. I figure that I need to be able to have a career where I can make between 100-150K in this day and age to do that.
Money is not the most important thing, so I want to make it and LOVE or at least frequently enjoy what I do.
Using my mind with what I do is very important to me. I no longer feel challenged with my present career.
I considered law, but dont think that it is for me and sure as hell dont want to work 70-80hr weeks for the first 10 years out of school(the market is flooded anyway and there arent many great law jobs anymore.
Also considered being an actuary like my brother. All you need to do is pass the 8 exams and it pays very well and mostly only requires you to work 40 hour weeks. I am not sure that I want to work with just numbers all day.
I dont think that working with straight finance or business is very appealing either and a lot of those jobs require 60 hour work weeks as well
Any other suggestions on possible career paths? I am really leaning towards Mechanical engineering. It is just the way that I think and I love science and design
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
ht
For Mech Eng IV "5-8 years of experience"
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So you might hit 100k, however in my opinion Salary.com tends to be a little on the high side though it will vary.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Therefore you would need to be in the sort of position that is charged out at $200 ph.
I know of two engineers who charged out at that rate or more, both were older than 35, I am not sure that either would regularly command such a figure.
In the defence industry such charge-out rates are less unusual due to the cluelessness of the government when it comes to contracts, but I am not convinced that that gets reflected back into the employee's pay.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
You might find an engineering job paying $100k in the Northeast, but it will not be easy to find and you will have to job hop to get it. Fresh grads are getting in the $50-60k range and you might get a bit more due to your past experience, but anything not engineering related will not count for much. Figure 3-5% yearly raises, maybe even less if the economy is not doing well, if you stay at the same company. Switching to a different company might give you a big pay raise, but only if you have something to offer them. If you are focused on a 40 hour workweek, then I doubt you have the proper attitude to have what they are looking for at the higher pay rate. High paying jobs go to the guys that are willing to travel, put in extra hours when not asked, spend their free time keeping updated in their industry, etc.
If you do not enjoy what you are doing, it will show and you will never get the higher salary you desire.
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
"I know money is just money, but I want to live comfortably and be able to support a family someday. I figure that I need to be able to have a career where I can make between 100-150K in this day and age to do that."
Move to the right city and you can live comfortably, support the fam., on $40k.
Could you try to get a pay raise and move to a less expensive place?
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
just trying to figure out what I want to do in the future. 2 years of school with little to no income is a hard thing to figure in when I am already making 60K. I just realyl dont like what I do anymore.
I want to like it and get paid well. I wouldnt mind working longer days if I were being paid really well. I think I would like a lot of areas of engineering. Design in particular
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Seriously, I think if you choose the right field, pay your dues (ie: work hard, network etc), get OUT of the technical side and into management and are sufficiently good at dealing with people this is not unreasonable in 5-7 years.
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
OK people, as they used to say at school, learn to read the question.
OP is not talking about 100k straight out of school but after 5-7 years and whether extra qual is needed.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
but pretty sure they put in much more than 40 hrs/week (that is the nature of being on the business end)
good luck!
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
If you want the dime, you have to do the time.
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
______________________
^^you have the wrong idea. I just want to know if that is possible with an MEM degree within 7 years or so of experience. Just want to know where Ill be headed.
also, Already make about 60k and wanted to know if I could start around there.
Thanks for all of the positive responses
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
"All the world is a Spring"
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: Mechanical Jobs: 40hr/wk, salary over 100k?
"A" schools will net you a much higher paycheck. You'll also probably owe $150K in loans by the time you're done. You will NOT work a 40-hour week...probably much closer to the 60-80 hour range. But you'll make good money. All depends on your priorities. I've found that the 60 hour weeks become normal after awhile (as long as you have an understanding significant other).