Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
(OP)
Hi, just a question for all of you engineers working in the construction industry (electrical, mechanical, structural).
What type of raise is typically given to individuals after obtaining their P.E. in the construction industry where their stamp is constantly being used (liability for all projects)?
Is there a typical per cent raise (ie. 30% increase) or an extra 10k-20k?
Also, what is the typical salary of a new P.Eng. in the construction industry?
Thanks.
What type of raise is typically given to individuals after obtaining their P.E. in the construction industry where their stamp is constantly being used (liability for all projects)?
Is there a typical per cent raise (ie. 30% increase) or an extra 10k-20k?
Also, what is the typical salary of a new P.Eng. in the construction industry?
Thanks.





RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
Unfortunately in the current economy, I know a fair share of engineers who just passed the October PE exam and received no raise or bonus whatsoever.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
KENAT,
Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
I think the P.E. is significantly more important in Structural than it is in other areas (perhaps civil as well) and thus Structural companies tend to reward this more than others.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
In the US however, if you are a PE you take reponsibility for the jobs you sign off. More responsibility should equal more pay otherwise what is the point of getting the PE.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
Additionally, as soon as you become licensed you become much more marketable, meaning that you could easily (maybe not so easily in today's market ;) ) bolt for another company that wanted you just because you have a PE.
It's in the best interest of the company that you're working for to give you a raise upon getting licensed.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
That said, you dont want to be the squeeky hinge that ends up getting removed and replaced. What I mean is, even though you deserve it, you may find that it is not worth fighting for at the moment. Only you can tell.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
If your firm values you, then they should increase your salary to keep you. The cost of searching for a licensed engineer is well worth the extra salary. SE's are in demand across the midwest...I have three standing job offers right now. Everyone is talking doom and gloom, but I just don't see it unless you're an undergrad with 1yr experience, or have pigenholed yourself into a particular niche market that has evaporated.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
So I left for a company who was looking for a PE and received a 15% raise (essentially).
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This is normally the space where people post something insightful.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
You are in grad school right now, right? How many years experience do you have?
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
It wasn't long before I cashed in by seeking employment elsewhere, at which point the PE probably added $20K to the offers -- in Tennessee, circa 1985.
Good on y'all,
Goober Dave
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
To quote myself from an earlier post ....
Update: I just got my review and raise. No Engineer 4 promotion. 3.5% raise. Times really are tough. At least I still have my job. I really felt like the PE would give me a shoe in for the Engineer 4. I guess not. I got my PE this year and this raise ties for my worst raise in my 7 years of engineering.
RE: Salary increase after obtaining P.E. or P.Eng.
I was just generally unhappy there. So, I put my resume out and found a great job doing pretty much the same thing, but with a 30% pay increase. The PE really did make a difference in my marketability, and luckily, I got out of there just before everything went downhill with the economy.
My advice is if you're unhappy with the place you're at, get out of there. You worked loooong and hard for your degree and your license, you shouldn't have to put up with sh** like pay raises that are more an insult than an incentive. The economy may be bad, but a PE license isn't something every Tom, Dick and Harry has. It's not like you're trying to find a job digging ditches. Someone will be interested.