Changing work fields

[Omar8]

Hello all, first time poster here in need of some direction from fellow engineers.

I currently work at an MEP firm doing HVAC design for commercial construction and making 50k (started at 47.5K). I graduated in 2013 (BSME, I also have my EIT and plan on acquiring my PE) so I'm still early in my career. I've been seriously considering making a move into a more industrial field such as oil and gas. Knowing that I started out at 47.5k, now making 50k when I had friends starting out at 70k is really messing with my mind, especially now that I have a growing family and would love for my wife to stay home with the children more (which was a factor in getting into engineering). I know money isn't everything, but at the same time I almost know for a fact that I don't want to be doing HVAC for the rest of my life, in commercial at least. I feel like 75% of my work is drawing ductwork, I've recently started doing central plants (chillers, pumps, cooling towers, hydronic piping, etc.) which has really curbed my frustrations since it is more of an industrial setting and requires more engineering to do.

So I've been on the job hunt online and pretty much all oil and gas/ industrial jobs require experience in said fields, which I have none of. All of the entry level oil and gas jobs are geared towards recent grads so I find myself in this limbo between recent grad and early/mid-engineer. I've also looked for Mechanical HVAC Engineer positions for industrial/oag AND those positions require experience in those fields. Surely everybody has to start out somewhere right?

My question is if anyone on here has had similar experiences and how you went about it? Any input/suggestions would be great and thanks for reading my semi-rant, actually feels good typing it out.

 

[KENAT]

Is the Oil & Gas field still looking so tempting with the drop in oil prices?

I moved from Aerospace/Defense to scientific instrumentation/tech sector, but that was out of necessity rather than plan and was pretty much happenstance.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Kinda similar, recently moved from consulting at a diverse structural/mechanical/industrial engineering firm making a low end salary but great experience. Moved to a new job 2 weeks ago doing 100% precast concrete manufacturing and in-house engineering with much more average pay. Greatly enjoying the new job, the higher salary, and the new challenges. If you can make a career switch to a job you know you'll like and the income/demand/work/lifestyle/etc matches what you want then I'd do it, if only just for the increased salary and the change in day-to-day work.

It's also worth re-mentioning some advice I saw on here; your biggest raises will almost always only come from switching employers.

Maine Professional and Structural Engineer
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[SlideRuleEra]

I know money isn't everything...

Follow up on that by evaluating all aspects of the complete compensation package for a prospective job. This would include benefits like health care plans, vacation policy, sick leave, educational opportunities, promotion policy, retirement plans, profit sharing, subsidized investment in employer's stock, etc.

and potential job obligations such as, required travel, extended work at remote locations, work under hazardous conditions, etc.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net