right now? yes take it. Lower than how I started in 2007 however that is still decent in this economy so if it is a good company in an industry you are remotely interested in it is worth taking. Trying to get a raise at a job you have down the road is a much better position to be in than trying to find a job right now imo. Esp as an ME in Raleigh atm.

[Edited on March 7, 2010 at 3:56 PM. Reason : ]

3/7/2010 3:54:52 PM

.

[Edited on March 7, 2010 at 3:56 PM. Reason : ]

3/7/2010 3:56:28 PM

yea, 50k seems very good for entry level in this economy. congrats.

3/7/2010 4:53:01 PM

Thanks. I also graduated last May..I was trying to stick in Raleigh and it took a good while to find a company that wanted to hire me locally..

Lots of engineering jobs seem to be in the middle of nowhere (ie: sanford, rocky mount etc) even when their job postings imply Raleigh.

3/7/2010 8:38:18 PM

good luck euro tir toss, jCK POTTTTT

3/7/2010 11:15:37 PM

I think Mechanical Engineering salaries seem to vary a lot depending on industry. For example, from what I know of the HVAC field, entry level pay is significantly lower than the industry average.

3/9/2010 12:44:47 PM

well, even within that it varies a lot. Commercial HVAC for spec built hotels, restaurants, etc. yea, but in the industrial, energy, and biotech side, the salaries can be very competitive.

3/9/2010 2:13:56 PM

Two calls from two different recruiters from the same staffing company for the same position. Oh and the position pays $15/hour. What a winner.

3/10/2010 6:23:41 PM

^from my experience, staffing companies are miserable. you could prolly get a dollar or two more than what they initially offered you if you asked.

3/10/2010 11:11:25 PM

Just accepted an offer. The position is in Salt Lake City and is for mechanical design/analysis/testing of electronics packaging for a DoD contractor. Offer was good ($68K) and the relocation package is quite comprehensive. Felt like the offer was fair for my qualifications, although I was anticipating having to take something lower due to age the recession.

Here are my qualifications if you're interested:
-- BSME, NCSU, 12/06
-- MSME, Michigan, 12/09
-- 3 summers internship (pharmaceutical project engineering), 3 semesters undergraduate research assistant (laser material processing), 3 years graduate student research assistant (structural vibrations and control)
-- good credentials (4.0 at NCSU, multiple small scholarships, NASA fellowship at the end of my MS)

3/12/2010 2:07:05 AM

Oh yeah? Well I sayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

3/12/2010 4:38:48 AM

^^Damn, dude. I don't see how you could have better qualifications than that (outside of going to better schools). Not really surprised you had a short job search.

3/12/2010 7:01:27 AM

^^^

If you like to party, SLC kinda sucks.

but if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in one of the best places in the country. I'd love to live in SLC for a few years.

3/12/2010 8:13:49 AM

from what i've seen, a high proportion of morman chicks are hot.

3/12/2010 8:24:45 AM

http://www.naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Top-Paid_Majors_Among_College_Class_of_2010.aspx

still surprises me that the job market has not gotten saturated in the computer area and the salaries go down for those programmers. but at least ME is still on the list.

3/12/2010 1:27:54 PM

Major                                                        Average Salary Offer
Petroleum Engineering                                           $86,220
Chemical Engineering                                            $65,142
Mining & Mineral Engineering (incl. geological) 	        $64,552
Computer Science                                                $61,205
Computer Engineering                                           $60,879
Electrical/Electronics & Communications Engineering 	$59,074
Mechanical Engineering 	                                        $58,392
Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering                        $57,734
Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering 	$57,231
Information Sciences & Systems                             $54,038

3/12/2010 7:58:57 PM

It's sad and funny that Petro engineers are making all the money.

3/12/2010 8:22:18 PM

i am in sales and currently have the lowest salary that i have had since graduation and it is still better than anything i have seen here. sales ftw.

3/12/2010 8:26:11 PM

Oh? You make more than 86k?

cool story brah

3/12/2010 10:51:14 PM

^^ notice those are average starting salaries, not "average salaries with a bachelors and 7 years of experience." Those are certainly not anything close to average salaries of those majors 5-10 years into a career.

Only saying that because that list plus the only other salaries listed in this thread were almost exclusively for starting salaries or new position salaries during a recession which you really can't compare at all to someone who has been holding a job and has experience (just going off of your listed age in the profile).


[Edited on March 14, 2010 at 3:30 PM. Reason : ]

3/14/2010 3:22:29 PM

I only make about 40 grand, but I have a lot of job security in my position and get by just fine. I'll try and find a wifey who has a nice job and can be my sugar mamma

3/14/2010 3:54:07 PM

I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow for him to tell me my raise this year. The problem is if the raise is between 2.75% and 4% it ends up being a net loss for me due to how our healthcare plan levels work. We've been told raises would be between 1 and 6 percent this year so its possible mine is in the net loss range.

Is this something I bring up to my manager? I'm assuming that our HR dept. has already figured who would lose out but if not, is it something I could possibly ask for a lower raise so I end up in the lower healthcare cost level? Or is this just a big faux pas.

3/19/2010 1:15:59 AM

I recently started a new job which I am loving. Base pay is actually higher, but bonus will probably be a lot less. I should make roughly the same (I'd estimate +/- $2k), but I'd really rather have more per check with less of a one time bonus when it comes down to it. More importantly I'm working fewer hours for a much, much, much better company.

[Edited on March 19, 2010 at 1:39 AM. Reason : just FYI, my degree is in English Lit., from NC State.]

3/19/2010 1:31:25 AM

Quote :

"I, too, received a substantial increase in salary, improved work environment, better benefits, and better job during the worst recession since the great depression. Sometimes individual effort pays off despite a general downswing."

3/19/2010 6:02:05 AM

I really am looking for jobs in Greenville, but I feel that's pretty much a lost cause.

I found one promising company out there, but they are not hiring right now. So I did something I never do: I just sent a cover letter and resume to the general manager. Surprisingly, she responded back and said, AND I QUOTE TAG,

Quote :

"Currently, we are not hiring, but as soon as the economy improves, we will be contacting you for an interview."

At first I was like

But then I was like .... "as soon as the economy improves"

So I guess I might be waiting a few years....

3/19/2010 7:33:05 AM

+3.5% raise here :-)

3/19/2010 9:13:28 AM

I only make about 40 grand
I only make about 40 grand
I only make about 40 grand
I only make about 40 grand
I only make about 40 grand
I only make about 40 grand
I only make about 40 grand
I only make about 40 grand


die in a theme-park accident

4/26/2010 3:08:52 PM

yet another year will go by without a raise, i'm sure

i'm not complaining...i'm paid well and i'm happy enough...but i admit that i expected to get the 3% minimum raise each year as i was promised when i took the job, and it's disappointing that i'm not...again

4/26/2010 3:10:58 PM

If it makes you guys feel worse, I got a 2.1% raise on my 6th official day on the job.

4/26/2010 5:57:30 PM

Quote :

"Supposedly, this will be addressed in the next quarter. However, I have this sinking feeling that I'm going to be screwed badly. "

Bobby, I know the feeling...

4/26/2010 6:30:19 PM

any CE's/EE's want to give me a base range? I'm about to get my MSBAE and am looking for jobs. I have a general idea of what my non-recession salary should be... of course you can throw out both salaries (recession & pre-recession)

Degrees:
BSCE
MSBAE

Certificates:
E.I.

Experience:
1 year (internships)

[Edited on April 26, 2010 at 6:36 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on April 26, 2010 at 6:36 PM. Reason : EE as in environmental]

4/26/2010 6:35:52 PM

2nd quarter meeting is coming up this Wednesday. I expect this to be another boring power point presentation with a bunch of charts and graphs that says "Good Job Everyone, Sales are UP!!! Keep up the good work!!! But about that paycut...well, times are still tight and the board didn't get rich by giving money away, so they have decided they would rather keep that money for themselves. In fact, just to be on the safe side, they are going to keep a little more for themselves. Thanks for you support!"


The beatings shall continue until moral improves.

[Edited on April 26, 2010 at 6:38 PM. Reason : .]

4/26/2010 6:36:58 PM

Love that I don't work in a commodity engineering position

4/26/2010 7:16:46 PM

Heard from an ex-coworker that young PEs (CE) have been looking for jobs at $35k. fack. I'm going to hate any offers, if I get them.

USACE or Civil Service here I come!

5/4/2010 3:38:55 PM

Just got a promotion + raise last week

5/4/2010 3:50:48 PM

me too, but yesterday.

woop woop

5/4/2010 3:54:10 PM

this thread is making me depressed

fuck all of you and your raises

5/4/2010 7:35:41 PM

no worries guys

I just got a cushy state job that includes a little salary bump from my last one

5/4/2010 8:34:45 PM

at the quarterly last week they said if things continue on the current trajectory they'll "start thinking about doing something about the paycut" in the third quarter, whatever that means.

I did get recognized in front of the whole company by name for my successful leadership in a major project that has basically carried the company for the last nine months. So that was nice.

5/4/2010 9:37:31 PM

started a business this year so I took a significant pay cut, but hopefully it will pay off in the long run.

I do think construction executive salaries have def. fallen though...probably 10-20%

5/4/2010 9:42:56 PM

^^sounds like an awesome place to work

5/4/2010 9:57:27 PM

i start a new job next monday. last 3 jobs i had ended with no replacement job set up. first time i've been specifically recruited to join a new company, plus the biggest percentage raise since i graduated college

5/4/2010 10:07:24 PM

^^its actually not bad, they do what they can to make it tolerable. I just like to bitch (and have a healthy distrust of upper management in general).

There's actually been discussions about reinstating the full pay retro-actively, but I'm not holding my breath (again with the cynicism).

5/4/2010 11:08:17 PM

just got word they are retracting the 5% pay cut and re-instating full salaries starting 7/15!

We are also initiating a quarterly bonus system where everyone receives 1-3% prorated salary bonus based on total revenue hitting 90-110% of the quarterly projection. Has anyone else worked in system like this?

6/26/2010 10:09:48 AM

Quote :

"Computer Science $61,205"

is this skewed by northern salaries (i.e cost of living up there, etc).

I am CSC and only making 40k. Good job security though.

6/26/2010 10:40:24 AM

doesn't look like i'll get a raise this year.

6/26/2010 11:59:59 AM

http://tinyurl.com/37cljvf
for general entry mech e
http://www.glassdoor.com/
for specific company but you have to post your salary to see others...


Yea I made the mistake of not taking account of location in salary so when I got my first offer from the company I was like but countered and asked for more than the average engineer salary in the area and felt I got a decent salary and the company has a much better training program than most other companies..

[Edited on June 26, 2010 at 2:22 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on June 26, 2010 at 2:31 PM. Reason : .]

6/26/2010 2:16:36 PM

my raise this year was 30 cents an hour.

6/26/2010 2:25:25 PM

I was hoping for ~5k bump this year... didn't get quite that - but should be made up for in stocks

6/26/2010 3:45:34 PM

Up for promotion in December.... I will get it but not the 5%

6/26/2010 5:14:30 PM