PHD Question

[Cogman]

Ok, so I was reading up on the salaries for computer engineers and was pretty interested in how the starting salaries vary. For a bachalors, it is ~55K, for masters about 60K. However, for a PHD it is ~96K. I was thinking "My goodness that's a big jump for 2 extra years". So is it worth it?

What kind of job growth is available to those with PHDs in computer engineering?

 

[vrbaba]

PhD is not really 2 extra years for computer engineers.

It really depends on what you do with your masters. But usually takes 4 extra on average after masters. However, if someone is smart and into research while doing their masters, they are get a dissertation topic and start work on it right away and may be able to finish it in 2-3 more years.

 

[vrbaba]

Plus, if you are just looking for a job, PhD is not worth it for you - trust me. Those stats seem very skewed to me.

 

[Bignate603]

PhDs almost invariably take longer than you would normally think and in engineering most people with PhDs work teaching. I work with one PhD mechanical engineer and he doesn't get any more pay or status than the guys with masters degrees.

 

[sjwaste]

PhD's are largely for when you're passionate about a field and want to stay with the research aspect as a career. That's why most teach, and that's also why it's usually called a "research degree". Most people don't get one for the job market, because PhD's are universally underpaid for the time they put in and expertise acquired.

But if you love something and aren't looking to get rich doing it -- basically foregoing money to have the opportunity to keep learning and creating new research, academia is a solid destination.

 

[vshah]

those stats are way lower than what i've seen...i know people who were offered 80k after bachelors and 90 after masters. but yeah, PHD is if you want to research or teach. I don't think it is too applicable in the job market for computer engineering. those 3-4 years, in my opinion, would be better used gaining more experience.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: vshah
those stats are way lower than what i've seen...i know people who were offered 80k after bachelors and 90 after masters. but yeah, PHD is if you want to research or teach. I don't think it is too applicable in the job market for computer engineering. those 3-4 years, in my opinion, would be better used gaining more experience.

Those numbers he quoted didn't seem too far off. While there may be a few jobs in a few areas available for $80k for a bachelors that is the exception, not the average. For a skilled technical bachelors degree the normal starting salary is $50k-60k with some spread on either side of that range. $80k is way past normal, unless it is in an area with a very high cost of living or has very little benefits.

 

[Tiamat]

Its 2-3 years, it is writing 5-15 archival papers, it is a lot of extra work.

It is worth it if you want to get into the R&D industry for one.

The numbers are not too far off for many industries. Whether or not the respective industries are actually hiring at each position level is another story though...

In my experience, I have seen BSChe: 55-60k$, MSChE: 60k$-70k$, PhDChE: 80k$-90k$

 

[zinfamous]

PhD in 2 years? wtf...

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
PhD in 2 years? wtf...

Maybe he meant two years more than a Masters?

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: vshah
those stats are way lower than what i've seen...i know people who were offered 80k after bachelors and 90 after masters. but yeah, PHD is if you want to research or teach. I don't think it is too applicable in the job market for computer engineering. those 3-4 years, in my opinion, would be better used gaining more experience.

Those numbers he quoted didn't seem too far off. While there may be a few jobs in a few areas available for $80k for a bachelors that is the exception, not the average. For a skilled technical bachelors degree the normal starting salary is $50k-60k with some spread on either side of that range. $80k is way past normal, unless it is in an area with a very high cost of living or has very little benefits.

you're right, i just checked my school's averages and they were close to what he said:

bachelor's:
Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$100,000 $42,000 $68,459 $65,000

master's:

Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$112,500 $50,000 $81,556 $80,000


PHD:

Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$135,000 $80,000 $99,286 $95,000

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: vshah

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: vshah
those stats are way lower than what i've seen...i know people who were offered 80k after bachelors and 90 after masters. but yeah, PHD is if you want to research or teach. I don't think it is too applicable in the job market for computer engineering. those 3-4 years, in my opinion, would be better used gaining more experience.

Those numbers he quoted didn't seem too far off. While there may be a few jobs in a few areas available for $80k for a bachelors that is the exception, not the average. For a skilled technical bachelors degree the normal starting salary is $50k-60k with some spread on either side of that range. $80k is way past normal, unless it is in an area with a very high cost of living or has very little benefits.

you're right, i just checked my school's averages and they were close to what he said:

bachelor's:
Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$100,000 $42,000 $68,459 $65,000

master's:

Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$112,500 $50,000 $81,556 $80,000


PHD:

Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$135,000 $80,000 $99,286 $95,000

For what major? That's pretty high for engineers

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: vshah

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: vshah
those stats are way lower than what i've seen...i know people who were offered 80k after bachelors and 90 after masters. but yeah, PHD is if you want to research or teach. I don't think it is too applicable in the job market for computer engineering. those 3-4 years, in my opinion, would be better used gaining more experience.

Those numbers he quoted didn't seem too far off. While there may be a few jobs in a few areas available for $80k for a bachelors that is the exception, not the average. For a skilled technical bachelors degree the normal starting salary is $50k-60k with some spread on either side of that range. $80k is way past normal, unless it is in an area with a very high cost of living or has very little benefits.

you're right, i just checked my school's averages and they were close to what he said:

bachelor's:
Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$100,000 $42,000 $68,459 $65,000

master's:

Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$112,500 $50,000 $81,556 $80,000


PHD:

Maximum Minimum Mean Median
$135,000 $80,000 $99,286 $95,000

For what major? That's pretty high for engineers

electrical & computer engineering, that's what the OP was talking about

and what i just finished

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: zinfamous
PhD in 2 years? wtf...

Maybe he meant two years more than a Masters?

true.

but 4 years is still pretty quick. What kind of research is involved in an engineering PhD? I'm not too familiar with that field; but in molecular bio, genetics, et al. fields the project for a PhD candidate takes ~5-6 years to complete (including 2 years of Grad level classes), and up to 6 months or a year of thesis work after your defense.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: zinfamous
PhD in 2 years? wtf...

Maybe he meant two years more than a Masters?

true.

but 4 years is still pretty quick. What kind of research is involved in an engineering PhD? I'm not too familiar with that field; but in molecular bio, genetics, et al. fields the project for a PhD candidate takes ~5-6 years to complete (including 2 years of Grad level classes), and up to 6 months or a year of thesis work after your defense.

It also depends on your advisor. Some are known for moving students through the system quickly, others have been known to keep grad students around for 5+ years after their masters just to extract cheap work out of them. The professors I spoke with all quoted me at least 3 years after the MS to complete a PhD in EE.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: zinfamous
PhD in 2 years? wtf...

Maybe he meant two years more than a Masters?

true.

but 4 years is still pretty quick. What kind of research is involved in an engineering PhD? I'm not too familiar with that field; but in molecular bio, genetics, et al. fields the project for a PhD candidate takes ~5-6 years to complete (including 2 years of Grad level classes), and up to 6 months or a year of thesis work after your defense.

5 years for engineering if you work at it at my school (Cal). I've seen people take longer, but there's no reason why you shouldnt be out after 3 semesters with a masters. I've had friends at UCLA get out in 4 quarters for their masters. Another friend at UCSD staying 4 extra quarters after his BS. Very doable.

Trust me, as an EE, you want that MS at least. BS degrees don't get very far, and you won't get very far in R&D, especially if you want to be designing stuff. There's a lot of room for QA, testing, etc because honestly, those are lower level positions. Manufacturing and Process and Equipment engineering can usually use BS, but it helps a lot by getting a MS.

As for PhD, it's not so much worth it in software, but if you go into hardware, it's useful. My boss (a PhD himself) was talking about how when you sit down to talk with TSMC engineers, they don't talk to you unless you're a PhD yourself also. It helps if you want to do technical stuff. It's not for everyone, and if you're not willing to get your hands dirty with engineering (like too many people nowadays who want to pursue "consulting" and have a businessy side to engineering), then don't bother with a PhD.