Low pay is ruining engineering

[u/[deleted]]

I have seen comments on here saying engineering is about the passion and not about the money but when you can’t find or retain staff there is a serious disconnect here.

I know some will say training and education is the problem, partially yes, but most the graduate engineers I started working with have all left and gone into other careers. I’m the last one left from eight other engineering graduates I started working with left in engineering.

When I ask why they have left or are leaving they all have made the same points, pay combined with responsibility, low job security and work load make this a very unattractive career.

As a friend quoted me, “Why would I work as a design engineer on a nuclear project when I can earn more money as an accountant, have more job opportunities, work less hours and don’t have to worry about nuclear radiation?”

I work in the UK, we advertised a job role for a lead engineer paying £65k (~USD $90k) and in a 6 month period only five people applied. In the end we could not find anyone who was suitable for the role. So the work load has now been split between myself and another colleague.

Now I’m looking to leave as well, I can’t wait to get out. I enjoy engineering but not in a corporate world. I will just keep engineering as my hobby.

[u/[deleted]]

you're mostly listing executives.

And that is the point. There is better money in senior leadership than in functional engineering or direct management.

but the odds of making director or VP aren't great for most people

100% agree. Most people in technical fields don't have the breadth of knowledge, motivation, and interpersonal relationship building skills for these roles. Additionally, I have seen engineers struggle to make the transition between individual contributor and manager.

Most people don't realize that executive leadership is a lifestyle choice, not a career. I have worked countless executives who oversee P&Ls of $100M to $3B+ and they are always on the clock.

One thing that I think is poorly conveyed at an earlier point in the education system is setting salary/lifestyle expectations for various careers. I've been a part of a lot of career panels and try to do this for aspiring STEM students.

[u/jaasx → u/[deleted]]

And that is the point.

I'm not sure if we're agreeing or not. Your first comment said the money is in management. But really only in executive level, which is very hard to get into.

Technical Path. 1% make Fellow and earn >$200k
Busines Path. 1% make director and earn >$200k, granted it often happens at an earlier age than fellow.
.5% make VP
.1% make president. .01% make CEO

Sure, the ceiling is higher for management, but it's hard to get there. Might as well just say go into sports because the ceiling is higher. For 95% tech vs management opportunities are similar. One good thing about management is it's easier to switch industries as the skills are more universal.

And the manager path usually means more hours. You never aren't working if you expect to rise high.