Expected pay raise with P.E.? 1

[71corvette]

Hi All,

Well, It appears as though I'm one of the lucky ones who passed this past Aprils PE exam. The timing turns out to be quite good since my companies annual pay adjustments will be given out at the end of this month. I am planning to approach my boss about a pay raise to reflect my new liscence, but am unusure of just how much I should be trying for. I've heard widely varying numbers from numerous people and am curious to hear what others in similar positions recieved. I currently have 4 years experience and work primarily in bridge design. I don't curretly have many poject management responsibilities, but have been told that the higher ups in the company see a good amount of potential in me and to expect those responsibilites in the future.

I would think that one could expect AT LEAST 5%, but think that 10-15% might be more appropriate.

Thanks!

 

[TTK]

OK, I'll take a stab at this one....

I have spent my entire career in the Bridge Design industry and I currently manage a small group of talented bridge designers serving the State DOT market.

Some companies (including my current employer) have a policy where a nominal salary adjustment is made for all employees who sucessfully pass the PE exam. This adjustment is not large (say 2%) but it is also separate from any annual performance review.

I would recommend that instead of thinking about what % increase you can reasonably expect, think about it from your employer's perspective.

What additional responsibilities are you wiiling (and eager) to accept?

If a change in job title is appropriate, can your employer pass all of the salary adjustment on to your clients?

You are at a pivotal point in your career, and I strongly encourage you to control your own destiny by learning the "business" side of the profession and understanding how you can make your company a better organization (and more profitable).

Your salary adjustment may only be 2% or it may be 20%, but it all depends on you, and the additional value that you can add to the organization.

Congratulations on passing the PE, and best of luck to you in your salary adjustment, and remember....EVERYTHING in life is negotiable!

 

[dicksewerrat]

If you hvae had good reviews for the past few years, you may get 3-5%. If you want to go out and biuld a bridge you helped design you may be in line for more. Congrats, good luck. Just rermeber P.E.'s are the luckiest people. We get to play with the biggest Tonka toys in the world.

 

[LHA]

I am in hydrology, hydraulics, sewer and water. I got about 4% in direct pay raise, but the others are right on several more important issues:

1) This amount was separate from performance/review increase...I might add my percs where made more attractive, and they are impossible to put a monetary value on.
2) It did not seem like much at the time, but it positioned me to take control by allowing me to insist on direct control of bidding, contracting, design and implementation of my projects.
3) #2 allowed me in turn to renegotiate after proving myself at management tasks. I focused on the company increasing my billrate, and requested a proportional increase in that. They balked, so I went on the open market and got MORE than I was asking for.

Overall, I ended up with over 25% "increase" within no time...if "increase" is defined as starting from being an EIT under a PE until after #3.

Good luck and congrads! You have passed an exam most people could never dream of even understanding the problems on, much less passing. Your compensation will get better IF you can do all a PE has to do...and very little of that is text-book level problem solving.

 

[71corvette]

You all bring up some very good points. I completely understand that although I recieved my PE, my level of responsibility does not automatically go up and therefore my pay will probably reflect this.

But isn't there something to be said about being paid fair market value? It just doesnt seem right that I should have to quit my job and go elsewhere so that I can get a decent raise. I've heard this from many people - their current employer gives only a token raise, so they go out and get an offer from another firm for a sizeable increase. Granted, maybe I shouldn't expect the full difference of what I could be paid elsewhere, but wouldn't meeting somewhere in the middle would be a logical conclusion to this process?

Thanks again.

 

[IRstuff]

But "fair market value" has no real meaning in many instances.

In your case, what's the difference in YOUR job performance and value to the company between the day before and the day after you got your PE? Until they can carve out a niche that befits your exalted status, your worth to company may not increase at all. On the other hand, when you go to another company, the niche is presumably already carved out and the worth already assigned.

The sad reality that you're seeing is true even if you didn't have a PE. In many industries, you could go elsewhere and get a 10% or 20% increase, while your company only gives 5%. That's pretty normal. Most of the aerospace companies I've worked for have been doling out 4%-5% increases for the last decade.

TTFN

 

[gbam]

Let me add my 2 cents
First, once you become licensed and begin sealing plans and or reports you take on a portion of the liability. With that in mind your compensation should reflect that. If your company does not require you to seal anything then your compensation should not be increased. Remember, as previously stated, your level of compentency has not changed just because you have passed the PE exam. Give it some time and then if you ask for the raise you think you deserve and do not get it look elswhere for employment!

You are being paid the right amount if you are happy and/or content with that amount.

 

[cvg]

You should expect an immediate raise upon receiving the PE and 5% is very reasonable and realistic. The company does recieve an immediate benefit from your registration as a PE - they can now market you to clients as a registered engineer. In addition, you could expect that if you didn't pass that test, that your salary would level off well below that of the registered engineers.

You can shop around and possibly get a large raise / bonus etc. from another company. However, beware - the grass isn't always greener. These companies are also the ones that will lay you off as soon as the going gets rough.

 

[HgTX]

It all depends...in my lovely government job, the highest level EIT and the entry-level PE are at the same grade level (the highest EIT level is a recent addition to the system), and so when I got the PE it was considered a reclassification, not a promotion. They did toss me a little merit raise to make me feel better, but I was still pretty mad.

My job responsibilities have changed not a whit. What's different is where I can go from here: (a) I have a new ladder of salary steps I can climb (b) I could apply to management positions if I wanted to (c) my job search opportunities are greatly expanded if I want to leave here.

Hg