structural engineer salary survey 1

[ampersand]

I was a self-employed structural engineer for five years, and after the business failed, I have finally received an offer from a company. I have ten years of structural engineering experience (residential and educational), a PE license, and a BSCE from a top university.

I've been offered $27 per hour, plus basic benefits, and a few paid days off per year. Feels low. But maybe that's just wishful thinking.

I dunno guys (and gals), is this my market rate nowadays? What are y'all earning? I can't find a decent salary survey online...

 

[KENAT]

It's low, as others say, whether it's too low for you personally depends on how 'hungry' you are.

I got $33 as a contract designer/drafter in 2005 in Santa Barbara in scientific instrumentation - so not remotely comparable to a structural PE but still, makes $27 look pretty bad.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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

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

 

[delagina]

that's too low. sigh. if you're willing to relocate, o&g pays good. my basic pay is $120k/yr, +OT of say 20k to 40k/yr.

 

[Latexman]

OT? What's that?

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[Xera]

delagina - Relocate to where?

 

[delagina]

texas

 

[KENAT]

Just another thought. Our place is desparate for more staff, we're completely slammed and looking at increasing the engineering dept something like 50%.

However, they are being ridiculously picky about who they'll give offers too and they're also low balling them based on the low end (20 or 25 percentile I believe) of the Radford salary survey.

(Sidebar, if all we're doing is reading the number off of some industry survey which may not truly address our somewhat niche industry and pricey location (Santa Barbara) then why do we need a full time compensation analyst (or something like that) in HR?)

Strangely enough, not too many takers, but lots of wasted time on interviews with half a dozen people each for 1/2 hour or so.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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

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

 

[ampersand]

Hi all, thanks for the many responses- threads about money always get a lot of attention.

So, the outcome is that we negotitated the salary and agreed to $32/hr. The benefits are also above par, in that medical premiums are paid for the whole family. I can be happy with this for now.

The 50 mile commutes, however...

Cheers!

 

[brandonbw]

That does seem low. I know someone with same experience and PE making over $100k in SoCal and good benefits. I keep hearing how things are better in SF. But it doesn't sound like it if that's the going rate.

I have my own business and it is harder to start out in this environment on your own. Especially since others are so willing to take peanuts for jobs with high risk.

I am sure it's similar in the construction field, but my friend was applying for architecture jobs, and he would call back and the HR department said they got swamped with over 5000 applications. He kept getting that line. Lowballing everything sounds about right in this Super Depression.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil and Structural Engineering

http://bwengr.com

 

[MacGyverS2000]

It's unfortunate, but all lowballing does is guarantee your employees will find something that pays more when the economy picks up. There is value in retaining employees (or at least there should be).

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com