1230wc

I've heard that, on average, chemical and electrical engineers earn about 20k more than mechanical and civil engineers in regards to starting salary.

Is this true? If yes, why is this so?

Thanks!

ken285

Engineers

It's closer to 12k, with petroleum being the highest and environmental being the lowest.

When you look at statistics, scrutinize the data carefully. Cost of living is probably one of the most influential factors in determining salary. Some jobs tend to be concentrated in expensive areas, such as Silicon Valley (CS). Some can be found in every city and town in this country (civil). Most are employed in the private sector, but approximately 1/3 of all civil engineers are employed by a government agency, which really brings down the average salaries.

If you take cost of living and private/public employment into account, the difference probably won't be as much.

oldelecdude

Personally I'd rather be above average in my major of choice, than choose a major with the highest average salary.

chuy

I'd rather do something I liked than make an extra 10k, but that's just me.

Dr.Horse

Id eat **** for a living if you paid me enough. people all seem to say you should want to work to be happy and money means nothing. Thats great and fine, but that doesn't apply when you grew up broke. Money can and does make me happy.

coolweather

Be careful with the above stats. It may not represent the market. It does not make sense when starting salary for petroleum with a BS is 60,718 and with an MS is 57,000.

I have the impression that Bureau of Labor Statistics did not do a good job. Some job descriptions are obsolete.

ken285

Yes, definitely something to consider. It might be the case that only one or two people reported a starting salary for MS in petroleum engineering. I can't say BLS did a bad job though; they got this statistic from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

What job descriptions are you looking at in particular?

UCLA Band Mom

The type of industry that you work in is a big factor in determining starting salary, no matter what type of enginner you are. For example, Aerospace Companies hire not only aerospace and mechanical engineers, but also chemical process, materials & process, facilities, electrical, computer and environmental engineers. All are on the same pay schedule with respect to engineering rank and promotion.

coolweather

ken285:

The descriptions about Computer Hardware Engineer, Computer Software Engineer, Electrical Engineer, and Electronic Engineer are not really correct. Compter hardware engineers don't design computer chip (that is the job of an electrical engineer with micro-electronic specialty). People don't call Computer Software Engineers Computer Engineers. In the industry, people don't really differentiate Electrical Engineers and Electronic Engineers (they did that probably 10-20 years ago. Now everyone is Electrical Engineer).

Now, take a look at the description of software application engineer. "The programming languages most often used are C, C++, and Java, with Fortran and COBOL used less commonly. Some software engineers develop both packaged systems and systems software or create customized applications." This is obsolete. The programming languages most often used these days are in the following order: C#, java, C++,...


The salary distribution of software engineers are probably not correct.

I guess people make highest salary in SW are people who develop SW for communications, online transactions,...

ish718

lol dr.horse

seesys

What kind of engineer are you Dr. Horse?

steevee

Just curious, what do chemical engineers have to do with aerospace engineering?

rkbgt

So would you recommend becoming a doctor instead of an engineer then? The anesthesiologists make like $300k - $400k.

oldelecdude

Really? I wouldn't sell my respect for any salary a shit eater could make.

Dr.Horse

Cs ---------------