Okay, here’s the question with added context, assuming I’m the original poster:
# Where can I find reliable data on average starting salaries for engineers?
I’m graduating in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and I’m starting to look at job offers. I’m getting offers in different states, and I want to get a good sense of whether the salaries being offered are competitive for the location. I’m especially interested in comparing salaries in California (specifically the Bay Area and Southern California) to salaries in the Midwest (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio).
I know there are sites like Glassdoor and Salary.com, but I’ve heard those can be inaccurate. Are there any government resources, professional organizations, or university studies that provide more reliable data on average starting salaries, specifically for different engineering disciplines and geographic areas? I’m also curious if there’s a significant difference in starting salary based on the type of industry – for example, automotive vs. aerospace vs. consumer products. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!
Answer
Reliable data on average starting salaries for engineers can be found from a variety of sources, including professional engineering societies, government agencies, university career services departments, and private salary survey firms. Each source has its own methodologies and focus, so it’s beneficial to consult multiple sources to get a comprehensive understanding.
Professional Engineering Societies:
- National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): NSPE often conducts salary surveys and publishes reports relevant to its members, including data on entry-level engineers. Their reports may provide breakdowns by engineering discipline, experience level, and geographic location. Members often have access to more detailed data.
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): For electrical, electronics, and computer engineers, IEEE conducts salary surveys and publishes reports in IEEE Spectrum and other publications. These surveys often include salary data for recent graduates and entry-level positions, categorized by job function, industry, and location.
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): ASME provides resources related to career development and compensation for mechanical engineers. They may conduct salary surveys or provide access to relevant industry data.
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE): AIChE offers resources for chemical engineers, including salary surveys and career guidance. They often publish salary data for entry-level chemical engineering positions.
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): ASCE conducts salary surveys specific to civil engineers. These surveys often include data on starting salaries and compensation trends, categorized by experience level, location, and specialization within civil engineering.
- Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE): For petroleum engineers, SPE provides resources related to careers and compensation. They may conduct salary surveys or provide access to industry-specific salary data.
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE): SWE conducts research and publishes data on women in engineering, including information on salaries and compensation trends. While their data may not focus solely on starting salaries, it can provide valuable insights into the experiences of female engineers in the workforce.
- Specific Discipline-Related Societies: Many other engineering societies exist that cater to specific sub-disciplines (e.g., biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, industrial engineering). These societies often gather and publish data relevant to their particular field.
Government Agencies:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS is a primary source for occupational employment and wage statistics. While the BLS data doesn’t explicitly break down salaries for "starting" engineers, it provides data on the median annual wages for various engineering occupations. You can use this as a benchmark. It is important to note that BLS data may lag by a year or two. The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides information on job outlook, education requirements, and typical wages.
- U.S. Department of Labor: The Department of Labor provides various resources related to employment and compensation, including data on prevailing wages for different occupations. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) publishes wage data for foreign labor certifications, which can provide some insight into prevailing wages for certain engineering positions.
University Career Services Departments:
- University Career Services Websites: Many universities publish salary data for their graduating engineering students on their career services websites. This data is typically collected through surveys of graduating students and provides a more localized and recent view of starting salaries.
- Placement Reports: Universities often publish placement reports that include information on where their graduates are employed and their starting salaries. These reports are usually broken down by major and can be a valuable resource for understanding the starting salaries for engineers in specific geographic areas. Contacting the career services department directly can often provide more detailed data.
- Alumni Networks: University alumni networks can also be a good source of information. Speaking with recent graduates working in the field can provide valuable insights into current starting salaries and compensation packages.
Private Salary Survey Firms:
- Payscale.com: Payscale provides salary data based on user-submitted information. You can search for specific engineering positions and filter by experience level and location to get an estimate of starting salaries.
- Salary.com: Salary.com offers salary data for various occupations, including engineering positions. Their data is based on a combination of user-submitted information and data from employers.
- Glassdoor.com: Glassdoor provides salary information based on employee-submitted data. You can search for specific engineering companies and positions to get an idea of their salary ranges.
- Indeed.com: Indeed.com provides salary estimates based on job postings and user-submitted data. You can search for engineering jobs and see the estimated salary ranges.
- Robert Half: Robert Half is a staffing and recruiting firm that publishes salary guides and reports for various professions, including engineering. Their data is based on their experience placing candidates in different roles.
- Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, Aon Hewitt: These are large consulting firms that conduct comprehensive salary surveys for various industries, including engineering. Their data is typically used by employers to benchmark their compensation practices. Access to these surveys is often available to companies but may be expensive for individuals.
Factors to Consider When Evaluating Salary Data:
- Engineering Discipline: Starting salaries vary significantly between different engineering disciplines. For example, petroleum engineers often earn higher starting salaries than civil engineers.
- Location: Salaries vary by geographic location due to differences in cost of living and demand for engineers.
- Industry: The industry in which an engineer is employed can also affect starting salaries. For example, engineers working in the tech industry may earn more than those working in the government sector.
- Education Level: Engineers with advanced degrees (e.g., Master’s or Ph.D.) typically earn higher starting salaries than those with a Bachelor’s degree.
- Internship Experience: Prior internship experience can increase starting salaries.
- Company Size: Larger companies may offer higher starting salaries than smaller companies.
- Data Collection Methodology: Be aware of how the data was collected and the sample size. Surveys with larger sample sizes and more rigorous methodologies are generally more reliable.
- Data Age: Make sure the data is current. Salary data from several years ago may not be relevant to the current job market.
- Benefits: Consider the value of benefits (e.g., health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off) when evaluating salary data. Benefits can significantly impact the overall compensation package.
By consulting multiple sources and considering these factors, you can obtain a more accurate and reliable understanding of average starting salaries for engineers.
