CAREER FOCUS
Pathways to a Salary Boost
There are more ways than one for engineers to unlock better pay.
Written by Robin L. Flanigan
JUST BECAUSE MECHANICAL ENGINEERS ARE—and will continue to be—in high demand doesn’t mean they will automatically get the paycheck they want or deserve.
“It really comes down to how specialized you are in your role, and where others can see value,” said Mark Saltrelli, vice president of Kelly Engineering. “Where the premium pay comes in is when you stand above the rest in a certain field of engineering or technology.”
Saltrelli offers the following tips for making more money on the job:
Become a Professional Engineer
Given the great demand for professional engineers, this designation can come with a 10 to 15 percent salary bump, according to Saltrelli.
“But it’s only in a certain number of industries,” he said, such as construction, architectural, and engineering, procurement, and construction, Saltrelli explained. Only recently has demand for P.E.s been increasing in data center construction.
To become licensed, engineers must complete a four-year college degree, work for at least four years under a P.E., and pass two competency exams.
Transfer to Another Industry
To get that same bump in salary without becoming a P.E., consider shifting to a different field.
“The automotive sector is probably one of the leading sectors when it comes to mechanical engineering [pay], and after that is advanced manufacturing and automation,” Saltrelli noted.
Become a Consultant
An ME who specializes in making sure self-driving cars operate consistently and safely—a highly distinctive type of expertise—could become a consultant for even bigger bucks.
And that’s just one example.
ME consultants are competitively sought-after and “you can demand a lot higher pay, as well as how you want to get paid,” Saltrelli said.
Options include getting paid an hourly wage, when reaching agreed-upon milestones, or upon completion of a project.
Instead of the typical 15- to 20-percent salary boost often associated with changing jobs, wages tend to increase between 30 and 40 percent once an ME becomes a consultant, Saltrelli estimated.
“The more you’re wanted, and the more unique your specialization, the higher your pay,” he added.
The best consultants are made for project-based work. “These people love getting their hands dirty—getting in and out and finding their next thing. They’re not looking for a forever home,” Saltrelli continued.
“It really comes down to how specialized you are in your role, and where others can see value.”
—Mark Saltrelli, vice president of Kelly Engineering
Assume a Leadership Position
This trajectory may take some time and can depend both on your experience and the type and size of the company. While each step along the leadership chain may come with bonuses and stock options, it comes with its own salary ceiling as well.
Partners can go on to create their own consulting or design firms.
Assess Your Comfort with Sales
Sales engineering can be lucrative. And employment of sales engineers is expected to grow 5 percent through 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
But unless you’re adept at bridging both technical and soft skills—having an in-depth scientific understanding of a product while being able to communicate that understanding in simple terms to customers—this may not be a good fit.
“We’ve seen engineers try to make that jump to sales engineering, and then they move quickly back,” Saltrelli said.
That said, there is a layer of sales acumen required when it comes to consulting, Saltrelli continued, because you have to “sell yourself and your own expertise.”
Understand Your Value
Be able to put your worth into words. This isn’t about financial worth, but about what you bring to the table that most people don’t.
“How do you differentiate yourself from the others?” Saltrelli asked. “If you can answer that confidently, the more your network will expand, and the more opportunities you’ll have.”
Be Honest
Once you know your value, have transparent conversations with leaders about tying additional responsibilities to higher salaries.
Saltrelli recommended being upfront about regular cost-of-living adjustments not being enough to retain you.
While such conversations may be uncomfortable, there’s enough demand for engineers to make this a valid request. “A lot of what we hear from engineers who jump ship,” he said, “is that their base salary hasn’t changed for years or has increased in small increments.”
Pay Attention
Engineers who are “comfortable in their bubble” should expand their knowledge base by exploring trade shows, which exhibit new technologies and offer a covert peek at how different companies treat their employees, Saltrelli said.
Getting a new perspective while “staying under the radar” is a smart business move. “As much as there’s a high demand for engineers, there’s still an accountability piece for engineers to seek further value for themselves,” he added.
Robin L. Flanigan is an independent writer in Rochester, N.Y.
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