Salary 5

[BigRy]

I'm not sure if this sort of discussion is allowed, but I am trying to figure out where I fall in the industry for salary for my level of experience and qualifications. Its a taboo topic that many don't feel comfortable discussing for obvious reasons, but it's also critical to career development.
There aren't many sources for this kind of information. Websites like Indeed and a couple anecdotes are all I have for reference.

So if you feel comfortable doing so, please share what you get/got paid at my level OR if you are a hiring manager, please share what you would reasonably offer to a new employee at my level. Ballpark figures, considering the lack of specifics. Though I am a Bridge Engineer, it is my understanding that all Civil Engineers typically earn about the same amount. So I assume anyone in CE could reply. I am in the US too by the way.

8-9 year mid-level
fairly typical design & inspection experience
Single-state PE license
MS Civil Engineering (Structures)

 

[JoshPlumSE]

The structural engineers association does a salary survey every few years. That's probably your best bet. I'll see if I can find a link to their published results.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

http://www.ncsea.com/downloads/committee/docs/se3_2016_survey_report1.pdf

https://6051d912-ed55-49bc-bc85-80d...d/9158d2_71ba1aaeea164a2d87bf4f4b2e25343a.pdf

 

[BigRy]

Thanks. I had no idea this even existed!

 

[DaveAtkins]

BigRy,

In my experience, you are in the "sweet spot" of your career. You are no longer a green, inexperienced engineer, but you are not too expensive yet. This is the time in your career when you have some leverage to ask for a raise, or if you are willing, to make the jump to a different firm where you can get a big pay raise.

DaveAtkins

 

[STrctPono]

BigRy,

I have your same level of experience and perform similar duties. The only difference is that I am a licensed SE since I work in a full practice act State.

See the linked thread for lots of good information that might help you.

Link

 

[BigRy]

STrctPono, thanks. That was a good read. I do not envy the OT you work!

DaveAtkins, I'm actually on my 3rd job. My first two jobs were the first 2.5 years of my career. The rest has been at my current firm. The reason I asked about salary was actually because I suspected that I have been getting overpaid, or rather that I fall in the top pay bracket for my experience. My base salary is $99.7k, and I get straight time for any OT worked. I don't really get a bonus, just a Christmas bonus ($750 this year). In my current position I started getting profit-sharing, but that's been inconsistent and is basically peanuts anyway. My company gives raises every 6 months, which I'd never heard of in transportation until I started at this firm. The cumulative annual raise I've received started at over 9% and has tapered down to 3-4% now. I also live/work in a relatively inexpensive city, making my compensation seem all the more unusual.

It was my understanding that CE's salaries general range from 60k-120k over the course of their career, except for executive/partnership/ownership positions. I have been tracking my raises in a spreadsheet, and I'm projected to hit $120k by 2022. Though the pandemic has put a damper on things a little, with nobody getting interim raises this past summer, I still find that this puts me oddly in the upper echelon of the industry at an unusually young age. I attribute this to job jumping earlier in my career and my current company's pay structure. I've gone up $30k since I started at my current firm. This presents two problems for me now. First, should my firm need to make cutbacks due to the pandemic, I would think I'd be the big fat they try to trim first. Second, I'm trying to position myself for a permanent move to a different state to start a family with my new wife, but I need to convince my company to go along with it. To even attempt this, I need a counter-offer at the ready. I fear that my salary will scare off all other employers. I anticipate needing to take a significant pay cut if I leave my current firm.