I've got about a year and a half left and was wondering what routes people have taken for engineering (most relevant to me is mechanical). I saw that there's around a 9-10k difference for starting salary for MEs with M.S. compared to just the B.S. But how does the PE factor into this?


I guess my question is: Is there a greater earnings/opportunities potential for doing FE+PE or just going straight to grad?

1/13/2008 11:06:44 PM

why cant you do both

i am

1/13/2008 11:22:31 PM

well, the 4 years of relevant experience was throwing me off. I guess you can't get more relevant than grad school...

anyone else want to give their 2 cents?

1/13/2008 11:31:48 PM

Quote :

"well, the 4 years of relevant experience was throwing me off. I guess you can't get more relevant than grad school... anyone else want to give their 2 cents?"

actually you can get a lot more relevant than grad school depending on what you do when you graduate. also, the difference in starting salaries for people with MS compared to BS compares GREATLY on what field you work in.

my company pays MEs very well, but theres essentially barely any difference in pay for getting your MS, its all about the PE, thats where the difference comes in and thats what looks good on your resume in my industry/at my company. mainly because getting a MS doesnt better prepare you for our industry.

furthermore in a majority of the ME careers you should be getting your PE regardless of whether you have an MS or BS

[Edited on January 13, 2008 at 11:41 PM. Reason : ]

1/13/2008 11:40:48 PM

It really all depends what you are planning to do. For consulting type jobs (buildings design) a MS in mechanical is not that relevant and all career advancement is dependent on earning your PE. In an industrial R&D setting, the masters is worth something and the PE is worthless. If you are going to be a manufacturing engineer, an MBA as a route to management is probably your best bet. From what I've seen, starting salary is more a function of the the sector you choose than anything, and it all levels out mid-career anyway.

Two pieces of advice: take the FE during your senior year regardless of what you intend to do after your graduate because you never know when you'll need it down the road, and don't us grad school as a tool for indecision. Grad school can make you less marketable for some types of positions, and long term it is more helpful to work, find your niche, and then let your company pay for your schooling if you need it.

1/14/2008 7:33:36 PM

Quote :

"take the FE during your senior year regardless of what you intend to do after your graduate because you never know when you'll need it down the road, and don't us grad school as a tool for indecision. Grad school can make you less marketable for some types of positions, and long term it is more helpful to work, find your niche, and then let your company pay for your schooling if you need it."

sound advice, take it

1/14/2008 8:00:56 PM

I agree, I emailed someone in industry who noted that they're all just qualifications and seen as 'hard work' by hiring managers. MS will just allow you to specialize on a particular field (overall, similar to what NCSUDiver said)

Thanks for the help!

1/14/2008 9:38:35 PM

First, I am not an engineer. Second, hasn't engineering gone to a 150-semester requirement for PE certification similar to what the NC CPA exam is now? I mean, the work you all do is potentially much more hazardous to humans and property than, well, accounting. Hell, even pharmacists have to be PharmDs now. Third, I found a link that may be helpful:

http://www.graduatingengineer.com/articles/feature/11-2-99.html

Just FYI links:

Accounting:

http://www.nccpaboard.gov/Clients/NCBOA/Public/Static/subchapter8f.htm#EDUCATIONAL

Pharmacy:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm#training

1/15/2008 1:02:36 AM

honestly college classes / semester hours have no real impact on what is important to be a PE (at least in my field). all the important knowledge, including safety practices was learned AT my job. Sure I use a few formulas etc. I used in school but more class hours wouldnt help me out here. If they were going to do anything they would probably make you work longer beforehand.

1/15/2008 7:52:07 AM

Quote :

"the difference in starting salaries for people with MS compared to BS compares GREATLY on what field you work in."

Very true, coming in to my job, I would have had a starting salary ~$9k higher than what it was, but I am on an accelerated promotion plan so I got that $9k raise after only 6 months of working here (I only have a BS)

1/15/2008 9:57:09 AM

Quote :

"First, I am not an engineer. Second, hasn't engineering gone to a 150-semester hour requirement for PE certification similar to what the NC CPA exam is now? "

that wont start until 2015 or so

you cant just throw something like that on people that are still in school

[Edited on January 15, 2008 at 10:32 AM. Reason : 

1/15/2008 10:31:29 AM

^ Okay, I was just curious. And what kind of "hours" are they if not semester? OJT or the like?

The CPA, by the way, is semester hours. So, in other words, the board appears to be attempting to make it so that mostly master's degree holders can sit for the exam. Obviously, one could still have 150 semester hours with only a bachelor's degree or degrees for a number of reasons.

I was just wondering if the PE was going to do or has done something similar. I'm not trying to cause a stir among the engineers.

1/16/2008 12:35:59 AM

^Earlier you wrote

Quote :

"gone to a 150-semester requirement"

that Aficianado fixed for you because 150 semesters terminology-wise is just a little bit different than 150 hours. As in credit hours, in school. Your job wont be rated in credit hours. Currently for ME's it's about 126 or 128, depending on old or new curriculum. So they're advocating approximatley another years' worth of classtime on either more indepth study or even more varying topics.

1/16/2008 2:01:44 AM

^ Um. . .yeah, I simply posed a question:

Quote :

"Second, hasn't engineering gone to a 150-semester requirement for PE certification similar to what the NC CPA exam is now?"

1/16/2008 2:55:15 AM

^^ problem is taht unless you know what you want to do specifically (which many do not) only a few the extra classes youll take will apply.

im so glad i didnt go to grad school right now because even tho im in a classic ME position (HVAC design for lifesciences and clean room industrial stuff) im only utilizing probably 12 hours of ME classes. It would be a waste for me to be taking more when the stuff im learning here at my job is 10x more applicable and useful in me carrying out a safe design.

school was too broad, you pretty much just need the certificate saying you passed and the real learning comes from the job. so adding hours is kind of stupid imo

[Edited on January 16, 2008 at 7:49 AM. Reason : ]

1/16/2008 7:48:37 AM

I've been hearing about these programs that boost your salary within the first 2 years of working at a company. Def can't wait for something like that!

Thanks everyone!

1/16/2008 8:38:28 AM

What industry are you looking at getting into?

1/16/2008 9:25:51 AM

Quote :

"^ Um. . .yeah, I simply posed a question:"

well your question had terminology that doesnt apply

and if youd actually have read my post, i answered your question

150 semesters is a hell of a lot different than 150 credit-hours

you should know this if you are on a college messageboard

1/16/2008 11:49:56 AM

^ I was simply making a comparison to the requirements for certification in another field, you dolt.

Quote :

"The 150 semester hours required shall include a concentration in accounting. . . ."

http://www.nccpaboard.gov/Clients/NCBOA/Public/Static/subchapter8f.htm#EDUCATIONAL

I didn't come here for an argument--please stop riding my nuts. Thank you.

1/16/2008 12:38:20 PM

i still dont understand why you are being a douchebag after i answered your question

[Edited on January 16, 2008 at 4:05 PM. Reason : a ≠ i

1/16/2008 4:05:08 PM

^ Because you're being thick, dolt. Get back on topic.

1/17/2008 12:09:23 PM

Quote :

"I've been hearing about these programs that boost your salary within the first 2 years of working at a company. Def can't wait for something like that! Thanks everyone!"

you still havent told us what industry youre planning on going into which makes a decent difference on the weight of a PE etc.

1/17/2008 12:48:24 PM

Quote :

"Because you're being thick, dolt. Get back on topic."

i guess you are just pissed off because you were wrong

sucks to be you

1/17/2008 7:43:32 PM

^ I'm not wrong.

1/17/2008 9:32:22 PM

again it depends on your field if you plan on doing anything like hvac its not worth it cause i don't know any place that has a masters in hvac. Get paid for your first 2 years of experience rather than paying for your first 2 years.

1/18/2008 7:49:40 AM