How Much Do Engineers Earn?

Starting salaries for engineers range somewhere between $30,000 and $70,000 a year. Factors influencing the starting salary include the student's major and employment location. Chemical and Electrical engineers tend to start at the higher salaries. Engineers that work in Boston and New York will start at a higher salary than engineers employed in Fort Kent. Engineers that work in the Peace Corp will earn far less than engineers that work in the United States Navy Construction Battalions (CBs or SeaBees)

Experience gained during the summer or prior to entering college will also influence starting salaries. Skills learned during the first year in engineering studies will often attract employment offers for the summer. By the time an engineering student graduates, they have experience to couple with their education.

Over the last few years employers have offered signing bonuses of several thousand dollars.

One graduate reported that for the last ten years he has received a ten percent raise and ten percent bonus each year. At that rate, the engineer will be earning a six digit salary ten years after graduation.

Who's Making What... and it will make them happy? Salaries, growth projections, and job satisfaction data for a sample of 150 professions by Business 2.0 Staff, March 2003 Issue.

Note: The above table does not represent starting salaries.
From the March 2003 Issue
1 Indicates that salaries are for mid-Atlantic region; national salaries are likely 15% to 20% lower.
2 Indicates that majority of pay comes in the form of bonus.
3 Indicates projected starting salary.
*2001 data.
**Two-year change.
Notes: 2002 salary numbers are typical salaries. Three-Year change is an annualized figure. 2003 raise is projected.

For additional information on Engineering contact:
John McDonough, Associate Dean
College of Engineering
101 Barrows Hall
Orono, Maine 04469
207-581- 2217