r/financialindependence • u/fidgit86 • Aug 13 '21

What do you do that you earn six figures?

It seems like a lot of people make a lot of money and it seems like I’m missing out on something. So those of you that do, whats your occupation that pays so well?

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904

u/way2complex4me8 Aug 13 '21

Mechanical engineer

126

u/caffeinefree Aug 13 '21 edited Aug 13 '21

Checking in. Also mechanical engineer. But it took me 12 years to hit 6 figures - I was making $55k in my first job out of college. Starting salaries are definitely higher now, though, I think most kids are making like $80k starting.

Edit: Lots of people are asking about that $80k number. That's somewhat a guess on my part, but I know 6 years ago starting salary around me was around $70k. This is at Fortune 100 companies, meaning you need a 3.5+GPA and multiple internships to qualify for an entry level position. So yeah, my comment about "most kids" making that salary is likely off mark. If your grades are crappy and/or you didn't do any internships, you're not going to get one of those jobs out of school - but you might be able to get one after a few years of work experience elsewhere.

Also a note, lots of people are talking about location. Location doesn't matter that much for MEs in my opinion - I have friends on the west coast with similar resumes who are making maybe 10-20% more than me with 2x COL. I've been in the Midwest almost my whole career and have been making $80k+ for the better part of the last 7 years. I made a comment farther down detailing my career path and salaries if anyone is curious.

71

u/Dotrue Aug 13 '21

As a recent MechE grad can you direct me toward the jobs like that? Everything I see starts around $50-65k, with a few on the higher end around $70k.

28

u/Twin-Turbos Aug 13 '21

Try defense industry like Lockheed or Raytheon, I'm at $80k one year out of school and that was with no prior experience.

5

u/Wizard_Nose Aug 13 '21

Automotive is the same (some companies, at least)

10

u/ForceIndia98 Aug 13 '21

Can confirm, the Big 3 all have entry-level engineering jobs for over 70k

9

u/UltimateToa Aug 13 '21

Getting into the big 3 as a hire and not contract is easier said than done

2

u/ellWatully Aug 13 '21

I've worked at two of the big three and at least in the sector I work in, engineers were never hired on through contractors. Even our engineering interns were employed directly. What you're saying was only true for operations. Could be different in other business units i suppose, but not my experience.

1

u/1994M_Edition 29d ago

I work for one of the big 3 as a contract engineer. Trying to get direct hire but it is a pain in the ass right now. This is second Engineering job out of college.

2

u/Paksti Aug 13 '21

There shouldn’t be any issues getting in right now. I’ve worked for all 3. GM is hiring like crazy right now.

2

u/DoomKnight45 Aug 13 '21

Is 70k on the high end for a grad these days?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '21

[deleted]

2

u/jaypan_Derulo Aug 13 '21

Damn what type of engineer?

1

u/CWalston108 Aug 13 '21

5 years ago I received an offer of 75k with a 10k signing bonus from Raytheon. I ended up declining and accepting a lower paying job because I didn't want to move to Tuscon.

1

u/adamantitian Aug 13 '21

I work at that site and I love Tucson

1

u/CWalston108 Aug 13 '21

I really hate the heat and grew up in a coastal town, so the hot desert would be a huge change for me. Loved touring the facilities.

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1

u/ForceIndia98 Aug 13 '21

Somewhat above average for my school in the Midwest (excluding California)

7

u/Gerbal_Annihilation Aug 13 '21

Yall hiring?

3

u/Clutchcitybabay Aug 13 '21

Big time right now

3

u/TunaLobster Aug 13 '21

Lockheed, Raytheon, Kratos, and several others are constantly in my job posting alert emails right now.

2

u/Gerbal_Annihilation Aug 13 '21

Do you apply?

3

u/TunaLobster Aug 13 '21

Not right now. I'm in a good spot right now and I like what I do. Thankfully I can wait for the perfect job description to come up and ask questions for a friend that is working at one of the companies to see what it's like there. I'm having a great time job waiting rather than job hunting!

3

u/CFxRenaissance Aug 13 '21

Can also confirm. Especially if you’re willing to move to where new programs are at. You can make easily 70-80k starting with a 4 year Mech E degree.

2

u/awwwws Aug 13 '21

True, defense companies start their recent grads at around 80k these days.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '21

[deleted]

-1

u/triplexthrowaway Aug 13 '21

Keep in mind the higher pay positions will have much more competition.

0

u/Lahmmom Aug 13 '21

Not necessarily true. My brother just got a job at a defense company for about 66k. If you have a masters degree that can bump you up to 80k though.

1

u/awwwws Aug 13 '21

We were bringing in new hires at 80-85k last year. Could be location and COL dependent. Also he must be an engineer.

2

u/optymus Aug 13 '21

The defense contractor I work for has Engineer I at $50-60k

2

u/Clutchcitybabay Aug 13 '21

Same, at $95k with 2 years out. Switching to a Systems engineer role was the key

-1

u/Ranovex Aug 13 '21

As long as you're comfortable building weapons, that is. If the problem you want to dedicate yourself to is the efficient killing of people terrorists thousands of miles away, you will love it.

9

u/Icy_Parker Aug 13 '21

Lol, Lockheed and Raytheon combine to employ over 300k+ people, many of them work on counter defense systems, many of them work on space systems, many of them work on simply things that aren't even defense related. What a generalization.

-1

u/triplexthrowaway Aug 13 '21

The companies themselves are assets of war. Justify it in your mind however you want.

1

u/Bidiggity Aug 13 '21

Tools pays good money too. I’ve got friends working for Stanley Black & Decker and they all started over $70k

1

u/Rock_it_Scientist 28d ago

Yeah, I am at Northrop and new kids are making 75k.

5

u/willsmath Aug 13 '21

Graduated ME a year ago and started at $80k/yr in a systems engineering role with a defense contracting company that I had interned at the summer before. One year later I got my master's in systems engineering and I got pushed to just over $90k/yr.

Probably not the type of answer you were looking for since I'm not actually working as a meche, but just showing it's definitely possible to pull $80k starting with an ME degree!

5

u/CFxRenaissance Aug 13 '21

That’s funny, also work in defense and also currently getting a grad degree in systems.

2

u/willsmath Aug 13 '21

Hell yeah haha we out here 🤙

3

u/CFxRenaissance Aug 13 '21

9x80 schedules rock. Love me some off Fridays 🙌🏻

4

u/willsmath Aug 13 '21

I actually switched my 9/80 up a bit so instead of an off Friday I work 4 hours every Friday, I start every weekend at lunchtime on Friday and I love it 👌

4

u/Few_Ad_5677 Aug 13 '21

That’s more realistic. Profs tell you 80k but it’s 80k in Southern California. If you’re there you should be able to land 75 most likely, but don’t focus on it for now. Take a job at a startup where you have to learn to do a little of everything and you’ll make a lot of money soon. Don’t focus on cash until you have skills. Then flex nuts and stack cash

2

u/RockTheDoughJoe Aug 13 '21

Wow those are similar starting salaries that we have in Michigan in the automotive industry, and cost of living here is pretty low.

2

u/Few_Ad_5677 Aug 13 '21

Yeah because it’s hard to get talent to move to michigan

1

u/RockTheDoughJoe 29d ago

The Detroit suburbs are a pretty great place to live so fine with me. Rather live here than Cali.

1

u/Few_Ad_5677 29d ago

Lol sure. Either way, pick up as much skill as you can while there because in a decade they’ll be running skeleton crews.

What positions are paying 80k though? Serious question

1

u/RockTheDoughJoe 27d ago

Pretty much any automotive industry engineering job that I’ve seen. Some start a little lower but I rarely see anything under $75k. I have a friend that just graduated and works for one of the big three now. Started at $85k being a safety engineer. I know lots of people making 6 figures that have been on the job for a while, and some people who moved into management after some time making $200k to $300k. There’s a shit ton of money to be made in the auto industry, and the Detroit area is its center in America. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of how bad Detroit is, but the suburbs, especially Oakland county, are pretty rich.

1

u/FckMitch Aug 13 '21

Where can one find start ups who hire ME with no experience?

2

u/Few_Ad_5677 Aug 13 '21

Everywhere. They generally hire based on being personable and breadth of knowledge. What projects/work did you do in undergrad?

1

u/FckMitch 29d ago

Not for me but my kid. Would prefer they work in a start up. Was hoping u could recommend some job sites w start up ME jobs.

1

u/Few_Ad_5677 29d ago

Ah, I see. Startups tend to not recruit through big sites because they have so few people. Better to peruse articles about new companies and then contact them direct. Be persistent because unstructured HR crews really suck

1

u/Few_Ad_5677 28d ago edited 28d ago

Also, what city? Or area if you’re more comfortable.

Can make suggestions based on that at least for what type of industry to check out, how to market themselves

1

u/FckMitch 28d ago

Thanks! New England. Definitely needs help marketing - that is the weak spot.

5

u/wannabecpa93 Aug 13 '21

Yeah was gonna day one of my buddies is in ME and he started at like 60k.

5

u/PlantChem Aug 13 '21

Yeah take salaries, especially starting, you see on the internet with a big grain of salt. Location is by far the biggest factor regarding them.

3

u/wannabecpa93 Aug 13 '21

But also where we live 60k starting out is still pretty insane when rent is like 1k or less a lot of the time.

2

u/realmastodon2 Aug 13 '21

People lie on the internet. I don't know why but it happens a lot in salaries threads.

4

u/praise_jeeebus Aug 13 '21

I started at $80k total out of college and most of the other job offers I got ranged from 65-75k in MCOL areas. My mech E friends who graduated with me ended up making about the same amount.

7

u/caffeinefree Aug 13 '21

Big companies pay more. I've worked at multiple Fortune 100 companies and they pay 10-20% more than the little guys, easily. Aerospace also tends to be higher in general, which is where I started my career.

I don't know for sure that starting salaries are $80k, but I know they were around $70k like 6 years ago, so I assume they're higher now.

5

u/314JimBob Aug 13 '21

What do you do at those big companies? I am at a small company and I think I get paid fairly for my region (~$75k, 4 years out of school), certainly not 6 figures. But I get to design things which I really enjoy and occasionally play on the manufacturing floor. A few friends who have gone to the local branches of some large companies get paid better but they just push paperwork and sign procedures, sounds dull. Do you find that to be the case in your area?

4

u/yaoz889 Aug 13 '21

All the large companies have a huge amount of paperwork. Hell, I was doing 100% paperwork at one time, lol. Now it's like 30-40%, but still. Basically, they want everything to follow a process, which is good to a degree, but then there is processes for processes, which get kind of tedious.

1

u/Im_Old_In_Town Aug 13 '21

So many procedures to follow.

1

u/sadpanda___ Aug 13 '21

Did you get the memo? I heard you forgot your TPS report cover sheet...

1

u/Im_Old_In_Town Aug 13 '21

Made a minor error on that cover sheet….good luck tracking everyone down again to get them to re-sign off.

3

u/way2complex4me8 Aug 13 '21

I worked at a small company for 9 year. Got to wear a lot of hats. Got to touch everything at the company. I definitely miss the freedom. But you don't get paid what your worth. Big companies, like you mentioned, you have less freedom. Takes longer to find a spot you like. But much easier to move positions and make a lot, a lot! more

small companies = sandbox

big company = glassbox

3

u/caffeinefree Aug 13 '21

I've done a pretty wide assortment of things. When I first started working ($55k - 2008 post recession) I was basically copy-pasting 30yo test procedures into word documents and signing off the work the technicians did - mind-numbingly boring work. That was for the government. Then I got a job doing finite element analysis at a Fortune 100 company ($65k). Worked there about 6 years ending at $85k and got laid off (also got my M.S. in Engineering during this time). Went into sales engineering at a small family owned company making $75k to start (pay cut), lots of working with customers and wearing different hats and I ended up working my way into a management role ($90k+bonus) after 3 years. I enjoyed the work, but not the family politics. Then took my current job ($110k+bonus) at another Fortune 100 company where I'm basically a project manager for supply chain.

1

u/adamantitian Aug 13 '21

After 1 year I got to go flight test stuff as a systems engineer

2

u/verydumbhiker Aug 13 '21

Same here, most I know of from my graduating class was ~$75k with awesome benefits

2

u/zhansen24 Aug 13 '21

Change jobs every couple years and you will be there in no time at all. I’m 3 years in and changed jobs once and am closing in quickly on 6 figures.

2

u/Adept-Zebra-1107 Aug 13 '21

Oil and defense. The big Petro companies generally pay better than 90% of other ME jobs. It’s gotten even very competitive due to low oil prices but when I interviewed in 2008 the manager told me people on his group were making $125k after 5-6 years of work. I signed at $71k/yrand made over $80 with overtime and signing bonus. You can definitely make $100k if you’re willing to work overtime in either industry.

2

u/Skurploosh Aug 13 '21

Yeah, I started at 62.5, and just recently got bumped to 67ish. But just about everyone at this company has a lake house, a boat, 3 kids.... So.. there's gotta be more coming in the next few years, right?

1

u/World_Traveling Aug 13 '21

I just graduated in December of 2020. I started at $70k at my job I found in may, and just last week got a raise and now make about $120k. My advice, don’t apply to specific fields, apply to some Civil jobs too, and get your EIT.

14

u/MikeyCyrus Aug 13 '21

Your company gave you a 70% raise 7 months into working?

1

u/World_Traveling 29d ago

For the first 3 months at my company, everyone is set at a 70k salary. After that, we are given the option to change to a performance base scale. Which from doing the same amount of work I was doing in the first 3 months, came to $120k a year.

2

u/garlic_bread_thief Aug 13 '21

What keywords should I search for? What's the positions I should look for?

2

u/World_Traveling 29d ago

If you have your EIT, search for that on Indeed or other job search websites. Other than that, I would search for Entry Civil Engineer, Entry Mechanical Engineer, Entry Engineer, etc. I would mix up the words and it would come up with different jobs because search engines aren't perfect.

1

u/NHLdegenerate Aug 13 '21

Where do you work/live?

1

u/World_Traveling 29d ago

I live in the DFW, Texas area and work at a foundation inspection company.

1

u/AlternativePear Aug 13 '21

Yea somewhat close, I got a 50% raise 2 years out of school, expecting another 15-25% within the next 8 months, should get my PE license in a couple of months.

1

u/EddieMoneyBurner Aug 13 '21

Automotive should get you there.

0

u/sadpanda___ Aug 13 '21

Automotive is going to crash in about 5 years... I’d recommend staying out of that field...

1

u/shizbox06 Aug 13 '21

Specialize in something solid that'll be around for a while, and get paid hourly.

1

u/Raveen396 Aug 13 '21

Where do you live? Salaries are very different across the country, engineers in Missouri tend to get paid less than engineers in California.

1

u/PM_ME_WHATEVES Aug 13 '21

Probably depends on where you live

1

u/ThinVast Aug 13 '21

In the college I go to in nyc, the average entry level salary of a mechanical and electrical engineer of our undergrad students is $73k and $95k respectively. It's a relatively high entry level salary but I think the salary is offset by the high cost of living and the fact that tuition is $50k+ a year.

1

u/MerlinMcBoofshroom Aug 13 '21

It’s location dependent too. If your starting salary is 20% higher than average out of college it’s probably in a state or area with a 20% higher cost of living too.

1

u/LogicMonster8 Aug 13 '21

Move to CA the low end pay of a ME is 66k

In ca started 80 and was able to bump to over six figs after 1 year

1

u/MSUconservative Aug 13 '21

Auto industry in Michigan will start you out around 75k.

1

u/RockTheDoughJoe Aug 13 '21

Where do you live? I’ll be graduating and I live in the Detroit area. Everyone I know getting their first jobs make between $75k and $90k in the automotive industry (Chrysler, GM, Ford, and all their suppliers).

1

u/Im_Old_In_Town Aug 13 '21

If you want to work in power generation/power plant you’ll start off at around 65-70k but after three years you’ll probably cross 100k plus most still have pensions and a lot of other great benefits.

Edit: new hires probably make a little more now. This is what I made out of college 10 years ago.

1

u/big_deal Aug 13 '21

Large industrial employers generally have better salaries than small manufacturing shops. But you have to be willing to move to them.

1

u/The-Confused Aug 13 '21 edited Aug 13 '21

The car company I worked at in the Midwest had a starting salary right out of college of around 60-70k in a location where cost of living was tiny ($600 month for rent for a nice 2 bedroom apartment or $800 for a 3 bedroom house mortgage). I would have been in the 6 figures if I had stayed for 6+ years. The trick is to also be bilingual and focus on new model development as you will be fixing issues before mass production where parts are manufactured, many of which (for the USA) will be in Mexico.

My issue with the company was not the work, but the way the company was run, it was a Japanese company and was a watered down version of the usual "Japanese salaryman" culture.

One thing I did appreciate about the company though was that people working the line could apply for an office job where their experience building cars on the line would help them update manufacturing practices and manage suppliers for the mass production environment. A lot of those transfers became very successful and valuable mass pro engineers/managers. The company had a better chance of hiring a quality person from the line than right out of college.

1

u/minimarlo Aug 13 '21

Try hardware engineering at a tech company. They all start new grads over six figures.

1

u/crzycav86 29d ago

Good starting salary has more to do with location (CoL) and mainly the industry. Oil and gas pays well when they’re hiring, tech industry pays well but it’s very competitive, defense and aerospace can have pretty good pay, etc… in general hvac industry and most manufacturing engineering jobs have lower pay for ME’s.