What's the best way to boost my career and salary in a different field?

[Billie_Jean]

Hi guys, I'm 10 years into civil engineering (geotechnical) but it's not paying much so now I am trying to course correct with the least amount of financial damage. What's the best thing i can do now to boost my career salary or go into a different field? I want to get an add on degree/certificate that'll set me ahead.

I feel like with covid, i have an advantage because most unis offer online degrees/programs that i could enroll in in the fall while holding down a full time job. I want to take advantage of location being irrelevant at the moment.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[PeterDonis]

Moderator's note: Moved thread to the STEM career guidance forum.

 

[gleem]

Are you telling the whole story? I do not know what geotechnical is about. Civil engineering it would seem as being pretty mundane but all discipline do have some form of advanced technology these days. With ten years of experience, one would expect to have advanced within any sector to a fairly high level. Are you keeping up with the technology making yourself more valuable? Is there no room for advancement (which seems unlikely)? Is your predicament indicative of the whole industry? Do you have a good idea of what you should be paid as for example from a professional survey? Low pay may be due to a saturated market or is it your organization in particular or is it you not taking advantage of opportunities within the sector? Are you bored with your work? Do you think you are undervalued?

Before you go off trying to make a radical change in your life be sure you cannot just tweak your situation a bit and make a significant advancement. For example, improving your skills, or relocating to a different geographical area where the labor market is better or your skills are in more demand.

 

[Locrian]

You didn't tell us where you are located - it will make a big difference. It would also help to get an idea of roughly what you're making now. 10 years in civ-e should probably put you in the 80's or 90's?

It's going to be hard to get into a field that will make substantially more without going back to school or taking a serious step down in salary. How big a sacrifice are you willing to make?

 

[berkeman]

Hi guys, I'm 10 years into civil engineering (geotechnical) but it's not paying much so now I am trying to course correct with the least amount of financial damage. What's the best thing i can do now to boost my career salary or go into a different field? I want to get an add on degree/certificate that'll set me ahead.

I feel like with covid, i have an advantage because most unis offer online degrees/programs that i could enroll in in the fall while holding down a full time job. I want to take advantage of location being irrelevant at the moment.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Welcome to PhysicsForums.

From your CE studies or your work since getting the degree, have you developed any special interests or skills? How much ME did you take in school, and have you been involved much with ME work since?

If you have an interest in ME work, you might be able to apply for a Master's program in ME to add that degree. That might make your career prospects expand a bit, depending on what the ME market is like near you. You likely will have to take a few extra bridge classes in ME that you didn't take in undergrad, but it seems like the transition from CE to ME is a lot more straightforward than trying to get a bew degree in an unrelated field.

 

[Billie_Jean]

You didn't tell us where you are located - it will make a big difference. It would also help to get an idea of roughly what you're making now. 10 years in civ-e should probably put you in the 80's or 90's?

It's going to be hard to get into a field that will make substantially more without going back to school or taking a serious step down in salary. How big a sacrifice are you willing to make?

i'm making just shy of 80k at the moment and based in Toronto Canada. I've worked in Australia as well and payscale is roughly the same with small adjustment for higher cost of living there. Based on my research I should expect the same pay in the US. I understand that Civil Engineering isn't a very lucrative career path compared to other disciplines such as computer or electrical eng. Heck even an HR person in a big firm is making more than me.

I'm okay to go back to school...ideally I would like to minimize the number of years I'll be going back so hoping to find a path that has a bit of overlap with Civil.

 

[gleem]

Obtaining credentials for a management position in any field will result in a boost in salary. You have to have a mindset and personal skill for such a position. Not everybody can be successful as a manager but it uses your technical knowledge. From what I have garnered from the web geotechnical engineering has may avenues from the core applications. Building on your current expertise would seem to be the most efficient way to go.

 

[russ_watters]

Obtaining credentials for a management position in any field will result in a boost in salary. You have to have a mindset and personal skill for such a position. Not everybody can be successful as a manager but it uses your technical knowledge.

This would be my recommendation, though the OP didn't say how much money, in what time frame or what their interests were. But a few years of night/weekend classes to get an MBA is a common path into management and higher pay in engineering.

It also could be better to go toward working for larger companies with more layers. A design firm may be a little flat and thought the pay is pretty good, true "promotions" are rare.

 

[gmax137]

You likely will have to take a few extra bridge classes

I saw what you did there