Structural Engineering Salary 1

[StructCA]

Hello,

I am a licensed SE in San Diego with 8 years experience as a structural engineer. Recently I have been hunting around the internet for salary information. I work for a fairly small company which I have felt does not pay that well, but does have great flexibility, typically 40 hour weeks and average benefits but nothing special. After passing my SE about 2 years ago I received a raise and I'm making around $81.5K or just under $40/hr. Since then I've seen no movement in salary and no bonuses, though my responsibilities have increased quite a bit. I'm wondering if that is a reasonable wage for my area or should I look elsewhere?

 

[wtxhorsman]

Hello StructCA,

Have you checked sources like payscale.com, salary.com, and glassdoor.com? All of them have salary information for your area based on salaries others have reported. Another thing to consider is does the company have the means to increase your pay, after doing a little research and seeing where you fall in terms of pay for your area it may be worth having a conversation with your management and/or HR depending on your relationship with them.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I'd say it's low to average. Don't know how much being in the San Diego area would bump that up. ASCE also does a great engineering salary survey and you can find that kicking around the internet sometimes; slightly out of date though so some adjustment is required.

Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH, MA)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[oldestguy]

What is the competition like there? How about backlog of work? What level of importance are you to the company? Have you impressed management at how valuable you are? Many factors go into what can be paid to employees.

 

[StructCA]

I have reviewed Payscale.com and various other sites for information and I've found the problem is structural engineering and an SE license is more specialized and not clearly covered. As for my current company, it is small but typically very busy. I'm feel that I'm seen as a go to engineer and a value to the company, this is based off discussions with the principals and how they have tried to involve me more in company aspects beyond just design. I do know that San Diego is notoriously low paying as compared to LA, but I do not want to move.

 

[Backcheckrage]

I feel of all my engineering peers, the structural engineers always feel they are not getting paid enough. The next step-ups in payscale are in my opinion marginal. Because you're a structural engineer for 8+ years now, you have a bit of insight into AEC industry and you could do quite well renovating or building small commercial and residential buildings. Do this as a side hustle and you will be pulling in more than your boss (if you're not the boss already).

Source: Structural engineer 11+ years wage slave.

 

[JAE]

Salary survey from ACEC found here




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[JedClampett]

My gut feel is you're underpaid. We start out new grads at about $60,000 in a much lower cost of living market. Plus a California SE is a rare commodity.
I'd start looking for a new job. But if you take it and they counteroffer, you need to stick to your guns. And if you can't get more somewhere else, maybe your pay is right.

 

[SteelPE]

YMMV

Do you bring anything else to the table? Do you bring work into the company? I remember seeing a graphic someone posted a long time ago from a major engineering company (might have been Thornton Tomasetti) where after some time an engineers responsibility transfers from engineering to management to sales.

I don't believe I was paid well at my last job, but I was able to survive. I was even forced to take a cut during the recession. My company was not managed right and went out of business in 2012. I was forced to go out on my own. It has been a long journey, but I do make much more now than I did than I ever did with my previous company, but then again, building is going crazy here right now.

 

[Terratek]

You're probably at the low end of average. Interestingly, you'd probably make about the same in Texas or somewhere comparable with likely a much lower cost of living.