Generally, ME and EE typically make about the same rate. However, it can vary depending on the exact specialty one is woking in. An expert in fluid dynamics may make more than a guy designing mechanical enclosers for products. An expert on very unique types of systems, where there are few world experts, can also make a lot of money. It also depends on where one lives. Some areas seem to provide a little higher pay scale - for example 80K in location X, versus 70K in location Y. That's all within the same ballpark.I have a friend who is a mechanical engineer. He is 24 years old, 2 years out of school, and working his first engineering job. He said that he has the option to sit behind a desk and work a straight 40he week or go out into the field and work long hours away from home. If he stays behind the desk, he makes 80k. If he goes to the field he can make around 200k. He does a mix of both and brings home around 130k. He made this sound fairly normal and said the electrical engineers should make comparable pay but wasn't sure. Is his pay normal for a mechanical engineer? Do mechanical engineers make more than electrical engineers?. He graduated from baylor, which is a good school, could that be the reason he makes so much?
I haven't monitored the comparison recently, so there could also be a short term trend. But, over the long haul, these things average out. I could look it up, but I expect you have already done that, as I'm writing this.
Clearly, the field work must either be hazzardous, very stressful, or requiring very specialized expertise (maybe even all of the above) to more than double one's salary. Field work can mean so many different things. Is he stuck on an oil rig for 3 mounths at a time? Or, is he traveling continually? If you tell us what it entailes, perhaps more can be said.
I used to work with a EE, who had very moderate ability, that worked for a company that put him out in the field for long stays. That is, he would work 3 months in the Arctic, and then 4 months in Texas, and so on and so on for year after year. He was single and young, so it was no big deal for him. But he put away a lot of money. His salary was high because of the stress of living like that, plus they paid for his room and board, and all expenses whereever he was.
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