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Engineering Salary: How much should I try to negotiate for?

E

electricJ

Senior member
Recently graduated with an B.S. in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accreditted university in southern Indiana. I co-oped while I was in college and gained 1-1/2 years of experience. Anyways, I seem to have finally found my first big lead in the job search after over 3 months of looking. My biggest question is how much of a salary should I even expect based upon the below description:

ENGINEER TECHNICIAN (PLANT ENGINEER) DANA A Fortune 500 Manufacturing facility located in Henderson, Kentucky, is seeking candidates for an Engineer Technician position. Responsible for installation and production readiness of Plant equipment, including but not limited to Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) equipment, conventional equipment, automated assembly equipment, Plant Electrical Distribution Systems and Environmental Control Systems.Candidate must have a solid working knowledge of plant electrical systems and be capable of maintaining our plant electrical distribution system. The candidate must also have knowledge in the field of programming, electrical interfacing and trouble shooting of PLC devices. Any working knowledge in hydraulics, pneumatics and mechanical design, and specification, would be considered a plus. POSITION REQUIRES: Degree in Electrical Engineering or minimum of 5 years technical experience in machine and automation control systems with emphasis on mathematics and electronics. Will consider a Mechanical Engineer with strong electrical background. Experience with programmable control systems, computer controlled machines, power distribution systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, and mechanical systems. Should be familiar with all aspects of major machine systems and their installation. Ability to instruct and coordinate various skill levels o people to accomplish a product or repair. Able to design control systems, draw blueprints and document systems. Make periodic written reports and present accurate evaluations of progress or problems. Maintain current knowledge of new developments in the applicable support industries and apply this when it is beneficial to our operation. Apply a flexible schedule to the job. If you posses these qualifications and desire a position with excellent pay and benefits, send or email resume

I have already had a phone interview with this company and am going in early next week for an in-person interview. Anways, I am just trying to get an idea for a salary expectation for this so I have an idea to work with.
 
anywhere from 45-60K though you will only get 60 if you already have a few job offers that you can use to barter with

I think if the ask say 45+ or 45-50K if this is your only job offer

I graduated with a BSEE and minor in comp sci.
had a co-op with the Army Research lab for 2 years as well

I got a job with the federal goverment and just started working this week
my starting salary is 54K
 
Originally posted by: nuonce
40k dont be greedy,
once you get some experience then negotiate for much more.
Click to expand...

Doesn't that seem like a low number? Also, I do have 1-1/2 years of experience thus far through interning/co-oping.
 
I was under the impression that a position like that (plant engineer) wasn't highly paid. They even call it an engineer technician and the requirements say you need a degree or just 5 years of technical experience.
 
sounds like a tech position for control systems.

notice the "requires 5 years experience." these are sometimes called "must requirements", good luck.

I'd say 65-70K.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
sounds like a tech position for control systems.

notice the "requires 5 years experience"

I'd say 65-70K.
Click to expand...

it is only 5 years experience if you dont have a degree
 
Perhaps you should see what they offer you?

Find out what others in the same field make in your area...
 
Originally posted by: mchammer187
Originally posted by: spidey07
sounds like a tech position for control systems.

notice the "requires 5 years experience"

I'd say 65-70K.
Click to expand...

it is only 5 years experience if you dont have a degree
Click to expand...

whoops!

In that case 45-55K. I thought MSEE +5 yrs.
 
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I was under the impression that a position like that (plant engineer) wasn't highly paid. They even call it an engineer technician and the requirements say you need a degree or just 5 years of technical experience.
Click to expand...

It could be, I just won't know until I go into the interview. The worst case scenario is that I end up wasting 4 hours (remember that I am jobless right now, so thats not that big of a deal) when they come up with a low offer or that they laugh at me when I try to negotiate for 47k. I'm really not expecting much with this though. Its only that this is my first nibble at all since I've been in the job search during the past 3-4 months. At this point though, I am really looking at cities within a 3 hour radius including Lexington, Louisville, St. Louis, and Indy. However, with my co-op experience and summa cum laude in EE, I am definately not going to allow myself to get stuck with quite a low compensation package.
 
Originally posted by: electricJ
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I was under the impression that a position like that (plant engineer) wasn't highly paid. They even call it an engineer technician and the requirements say you need a degree or just 5 years of technical experience.
Click to expand...

It could be, I just won't know until I go into the interview. The worst case scenario is that I end up wasting 4 hours (remember that I am jobless right now, so thats not that big of a deal) when they come up with a low offer or that they laugh at me when I try to negotiate for 47k. I'm really not expecting much with this though. Its only that this is my first nibble at all since I've been in the job search during the past 3-4 months. At this point though, I am really looking at cities within a 3 hour radius including Lexington, Louisville, St. Louis, and Indy. However, with my co-op experience and summa cum laude in EE, I am definately not going to allow myself to get stuck with quite a low compensation package.
Click to expand...

summa cum laude , I don't see how you wouldn't have a job by now
 
I meant to also add, that during the phone interview, the gentleman spoke that the position would require the candidate to design future additions to the plant's electrical system as well as future control systems they are wanting to integrate into new lines (but do not have anyone at the moment who can do it). Thus, I am gathering that there is a good amount of "design" work involved. Why they are also opting for someone without a degree but with 5+ years of experience, I do not know...
 
Originally posted by: mchammer187
Originally posted by: electricJ
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
I was under the impression that a position like that (plant engineer) wasn't highly paid. They even call it an engineer technician and the requirements say you need a degree or just 5 years of technical experience.
Click to expand...

It could be, I just won't know until I go into the interview. The worst case scenario is that I end up wasting 4 hours (remember that I am jobless right now, so thats not that big of a deal) when they come up with a low offer or that they laugh at me when I try to negotiate for 47k. I'm really not expecting much with this though. Its only that this is my first nibble at all since I've been in the job search during the past 3-4 months. At this point though, I am really looking at cities within a 3 hour radius including Lexington, Louisville, St. Louis, and Indy. However, with my co-op experience and summa cum laude in EE, I am definately not going to allow myself to get stuck with quite a low compensation package.
Click to expand...

summa cum laude , I don't see how you wouldn't have a job by now
Click to expand...

Sometimes, I don't know how much that matters. I graduated at the University Of Evansville (it is ABET accreditted) with a 3.97/4.00 GPA. I have sent many, many resumes throughout the local area, but have yet to have had an official interview (not counting this). Thus, I am giving up on this area for jobs.
 
Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm really firm about what I'll accept and am confident enough in my abilities to justify my worth. I guess I see my minimum being about 47k for this area.
 
Originally posted by: electricJ
I meant to also add, that during the phone interview, the gentleman spoke that the position would require the candidate to design future additions to the plant's electrical system as well as future control systems they are wanting to integrate into new lines (but do not have anyone at the moment who can do it). Thus, I am gathering that there is a good amount of "design" work involved. Why they are also opting for someone without a degree but with 5+ years of experience, I do not know...
Click to expand...

because 5+ years experience means they have fvcked up many times before and will try their hardest not to do so again because they have been through that pain.
 
didnt bother to read it, but as a rough estimate, ask for $1.3mil

mind you it's only a rough estimate. you may go a little higher or a little lower.
 
ALWAYS AIM HIGH. The worst they can tell you is that they're only willing to pay you so much.

When they offer, say to them that other firms are willing to pay you more. Tell them that you want to work for them if they only bumped it to a certain amount. Painfully make them aware of your past experience and achievements. If they still don't bite. Say you'll think it over. Then come back a few days later and accept their offer.

My wife and I always have been able to get more money using this system. The fact, that we were Ivy Leaguers with good experience prolly helped us as well.

It's all about tactfully marketing yourself. 😉
 
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