Do you make as much as you deserve?
Do you make as much as you deserve?
(OP)
This may be a sensitive topic, but feel free to share if you'd like. Open to anyone and no judgment here. Hopefully myself and others can benefit from your answers.
Question: do you believe that you make the an adequate salary considering your training and experience (don't have to say the amount)? If not, why not?
Question: do you believe that you make the an adequate salary considering your training and experience (don't have to say the amount)? If not, why not?





RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
A lot of people feel they are underpaid, regardless of experience and education.
I feel I am paid where I should be based on my experience and education.
I was underpaid last year when I was laid off.
Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Now don't get me wrong, if I were offered a big raise or a bonus tomorrow, I'd have no problem finding my way to the bank to cash the check
But that being said, I have to admit that when I left engineering school in 1971, the salary I was paid for my first full time professional position was very fair (and about $50-$75 per month more than that year's average for our class), however, it now takes only a bit more than a day to earn what I did in an entire month back then (and I was already married with 2 young sons and 6 years of student loans to pay off).
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
I had a beer with a former boss last week. He was moaning about tax changes in the UK and how he's having his personal allowance taken away this year. Tough eh?
- Steve
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
In overall compensation terms? Quite satisfied, thanks.
I don't know for sure what the other engineers on my street make, but I have a clue. None of them work as engineers. Yeah, in total compensation terms, I'm even OK with that.
The non-salary part of my overall compensation dries up if the business stops making money. That's VERY motivating!
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
As I have stated in other posts in this forum, I believe that this is due to the fact that engineering lacks a definiative certification board that everyone must pass and periodically recertify to.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Do I make as much as I deserve? No, not relative to this boondoggle!
Here's more:
http:
Good luck,
Latexman
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
My coworkers make a lot more money then me (At least 10 to 15k more per year), but that is probably why they never leave (not one of them seems happy). Their salary is far beyond what our field will support. Not that I would complain if I made that much!
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
I consider myself to be underemployed.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
TTFN
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RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Back then - project manager with a Fortune 500 corporate engineering department - salaried with good benefits but put in lots and lots of hours to keep all of my projects going.
Three jobs later since being downsized out - the last two being hourly - I make a lot less but also work a lot less hours.
Still, it affects security, retirement planning, etc.
gjc
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
I'm at the top of my game.
In a just universe, I'd be making as much as a star athlete, although that whole "perform at your peak in the middle of a stadium while watched by 90,00 screaming fans" bit might be bothersome...
Okay, yeah, I'm fine...
old field guy
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Only 9000 fans? Then, you definitely don't deserve that megabuck salary
Or, is it only 9000 that are screaming?
TTFN
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RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Now if I worked for the government, I could not state that I earned anything, but instead would say that I take money from tax payers to put into my pocket.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Even if I didn't have the cut and freeze, I think engineers, generally speaking, are underpaid and underappreciated.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
To answer the basic question, I'm self employed and make as much as the traffic will bear. If I ever feel under-compensated I can work harder. Only problem is the boss is a jerk.
David
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
For the location though, and if I'm silly enough to compare it to what I think some of my colleagues may be earning, no where near enough.
If I take into account some of what I actually do it varies by day.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
However, I have to say that after looking at all of the numbers and the breakdowns, I've come to the conclusion that I should be even more satisfied with my current level of 'compensation' as I was not aware that I had already achieved such a lofty status (perhaps my wife should read it as she might think twice the next time she asks why I don't make more than I do
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
My particular case for pursuing engineering as a major currently at my local community college (New Jersey)stems from being laid of as a network technician from Verizon. Before that I was an electrician. The electrical trade is very difficult and only gets harder through the years, and the pay scale is good for those who can weasel their way into a comfortable situation. A contractor makes significant more money at a huge cost to physical stress and aggravation.
Three years as a network technician on telephony and fiber optic circuitry has shown me the light. The work is clean, indoors, and working for a company like Verizon as a union member is a great paycheck for someone like me who never went to college (until now of course).
I was laid off in November 09' and every job available for optical networking or network engineers required an engineering degree or a slew of certifications, that which I had none. As a tech in a union for Verizon I made $79k in 09' from Jan-Nov 20th, including appx 200 hrs ot. The ot hrs are not all real hours worked since working holidays and Sundays count as ot.
Do engineering firms pay comparable to $65k-80k per year?
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Entry level EIT pay is nowhere near that. Even having 4 years experience that pay is significantly above what I make. You might make that out on the costs in a major market, but the cost of living is way higher out there.
I'm happy with what I make. I can pay all my bills and still have money to do what I want for the most part.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
I am happy with what I make. But, (there is always a but) I only make a coupel percent more than the guy that sits next to me; and I can do the same project twice as fast & more technically correct & with better constructability. So either, I make what I deserve, or he makes more than he deserves. I am happy with what I make, so I think that I make what I deserve.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
One guy makes more than me, can't pass the PE, and does nothing but striping on roads.
One guy makes more than me and is a drafter with very little drafting ability or work ethic.
One guy makes twice what I do, sleeps in his office, has no technical ability, and has not brought any work in since he's been here.
On the other hand, I make double what one of the guys makes with a Masters in biology or something. I really felt bad for him.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
As a native of the Copper Country I had little choice as to where to go to school.
gjc
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Note that I graduated from 'da Tech' in 1971 with a BSME. Perhaps we've crossed paths before, in the Student Union or even at the 'Library' (and I don't mean the one with all the books
As for your lack of 'choices', I was from 300+ miles away and felt that despite perhaps wider choices, that I still made the correct one.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
I see it as "is the glass half full or half empty?" I really don't care as long as the bottom half is mine.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
gjc
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
I make enough, but think I could do better. I'm (generally) happy where I am though and things could be worse. There are other things that could make work more enjoyable that would go as far or farther than a strict pay raise as well.
-- MechEng2005
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
I feel I'm compensated about where I should be for the short number of years I'm out of school. My first job after graduating with a BSME was for $54000. I think I was overpaid for this first engineering job. After 6 months I was kicked to the curb.
I now earn less then this, but I like my job much better, it's in the field I want to be in and I have a good boss. My compensation will catch up as the economy recovers I hope. If it doesn't I'll put the pay scale in high gear by returning for a masters in engineering.
-Kirby
Kirby Wilkerson
Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Does Yo Yo Ma (one of the highest-paid classical musicians in the world) deserve to make a small fraction of what Madonna does? Is it 'yes,' because his music appeals to a much smaller number of people, or 'no' because his musical talents and work ethic are similar or greater? (Rhetorical question only. I don't want to face an angry mob of Madonna fans.)
Me? No complaints. I'm way better off than most Americans. I don't actually deserve to make as much as 8 McDonalds burger friers, but I can while doing useful work I like, and I'm not so altruistic that I'll turn it down.
drg
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
We're too dumb to do the same.
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
It is a supply and demand world, but how many engineers are brought into the USA on H1B visas? They are not illegal aliens, but the big companies keep posturing that there is a shortage of technical workers and Washington keeps greasing those wheels.
I do know that structural engineering is not the trade where most H1B workers are being employed - but undoubtedly some are. And those that are are like indentured servents, somewhat captive to the corporations that sponser them.
Every firm I know has had either layoffs, or reduced hours, or both. Yet I bet a lot of foreigners are here still here working, and helping to keep our wages down.
gjc
RE: Do you make as much as you deserve?
Cheers
Greg Locock
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