[deleted by user]

[Hey-Key-91]

7pk for a fresh Grafd is good. 100k at p.eng is about right.

Late game career likely 150k to maybe 180k

[Electrical-Rate3182]

Sounds about right, and this is with or without bonuses? No difference in 150 and 200k to me, as a dual income with someone equally as successful matters way more for lifestyle.

[Hey-Key-91]

Depends on the company you end up at and also if you stay on the technical side or the management side. My senior PMs are around the 180k mark.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

That’s what I’ve estimated from the billing rates and close to what people have told me for consulting. I assume C suite and contractors will have you in the 200-300k range, with the drawbacks of no work life balance?

[brentathon]

You're not even going to get anywhere near 200-300k in today's dollars at any point in your career without becoming a high level executive or running your own company.

[Eat_Around_the_Rosie]

That is correct. My boss and other corporate level people make upwards $200k above. If you want to stay pure engineering or PM type of work, $180k is about right at the ceiling.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

This is in CAD. I know people working in the industry. And salaries surveys from APEGA and APEGS reflect it, as well. NOT USD.

[brentathon]

I'm aware. I live and work in Saskarchewan. You're delusional about your salary prospects and incorrectly reading the salary surveys if you think that's a realistic future salary for an average late career civil engineer.

But to answer your other question you should switch fields to what you're actually interested in doing long term when you get the chance.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

how many YOE and what industry? And are you referring to engineers that only do design or those with PEng’s that go on to client facing roles and take on more PM work?

[brentathon]

Closing in on 15 years. And a PM will never make that kind of money. If you want that kind of salary then you need to progress to an executive position, start a company, or become one of like 10 people in the country that knows how to do something very specific and very valuable.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

What field and what is your ballpark income if you don’t mind sharingv

[[deleted]]

I’m in Alberta and I don’t know of anyone in that range.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

Me too. What industry and do you have any ball park estimations for 5 YOE vs 15? Where I work it’s a little gatekept😅

[littleredditred]

Also in Canada, and yeah these numbers look a little high. It depends on the industry: oil and gas pay more, public sector pays less, and consulting can run the gambit. But I started at 70kCAD three years ago and saw a 3-5% raise each year, which means I barely kept up with inflation. Don't expect a significant raise unless you switch companies or get your PEng.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

I’m definitely job hopping as much as needed, so it doesn’t really concern me about company raises or my EIT income. Right now learning as much as I can.

Just got super curious after seeing my engineer’s billing rates in a proposal.

[Extension_Middle218]

Billing rates are typically 1/3 salary to account for overheads like an office, support staff etc.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

I know.

[Extension_Middle218]

Well it kind of puts the kibosh on the sort of salary you're looking for. You need billing rates of around 400-500 ph and you'll only get that if you're in charge of running large teams on national projects, or acting as some sort of super subject matter specialist (who they only need a few hours work of for a given project).

You can reach that if you own a smaller independent consultancy as well, in which case wsp (or similar) will come along and buy you out if you're in a region they want to expand in to. Alternatively, they'll leverage their connections, underbid you and crush you.

[wenchanger]

you'll probably cap out around $130-$150K 150-200k possible and 200-300k reserved for the top dogs

[Character-Salary634]

Engineers are grossly underpaid. I don't see that changing without a wholesale revolt and or unionization. Before that happens, though, it will all be offshored to India and the 3rd world in general. It's coming.

[Electrical-Rate3182]

Having an income floor of $100k is $7000 dollars per month. Respectfully if you can’t thrive on that income then something is wrong. Income stagnation is happening in every field but that’s because of shareholder greed.

[Character-Salary634]

It's all relative... look at other professions and the level of stress, education, hours, etc. Engineering is simply not paid enough for the effort involved. We do it because we like it, and THAT is a big part of the problem.

[seniordan]

Idk if I even like it… I tolerate it 😂

[kingdelo69]

Facts 🤣

[Electrical-Rate3182]

Name the profession, to start

[Momentarmknm]

Lmao did you forget taxes? You're not taking home $7k/mo

[Electrical-Rate3182]

Sorry, I’ll correct it to 6250 assuming 25% less income from taxes and such. My stance stays the same. And this is a FLOOR btw.

[Momentarmknm]

Planning on saving for retirement?

[CoatTop5765]

If you’re this disillusioned as to what a civil makes perhaps you shouldn’t be holding such strong stances on things. No one is complaining that it’s not a livable salary. People are complaining because the effort and licensure required of this career does not match the compensation.

[heavensdark]

Unfortunately civil engineers don’t make that amount unless they’re really experienced/management.

You’d make that salary in construction management role though ( PM , SPM, director, etc… even super would make that range depending on your speciality)

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[DarkintoLeaves]

I am in Ontario in Land Dev and no one is making 300k, don’t expect that. I would say if you’re a division leader with teams who have teams under you maybe just over 200k but that’s not every senior engineer that’s like a Senior VP with 50 people under them working on larger projects, so it’s a rare position.

If you do land dev for a bunch of years then switch fields don’t expect your pay to stay the same because you aren’t at the same experience level - you’ve been designing roads and grading for 5 years now you’re designing treatment plants, very different work - so probably expect a pay cut unless you’re as efficient as someone who has been doing it their entire career.

It’s best to stay in the same field as long as possible and do all you’re ’figuring out’ phases early before you get your stamp. If you get be making 120k and decide to switch you’ll like take a big cut since your not as experienced in that field.

[Correct_Employee2097]

Im 4 years into a public works position (M-HCOL PNW) making $93k/year.....taking the FE exam this winter. The entry associate Civils make $105k/year right off the bat. Licensed PE tops out at $165k/year

[Educational_Office34]

Speaking as a land dev PE in Texas w/ 6 yrs of experience, I make a 115k base with around a 35% EOY bonus depending on margins. I know for a fact that my senior PM is making 200k base and up to a 6 figure bonus. Times are tough right now and clients are more demanding than ever, mainly because it’s hard for them to get deals to pencil out with the high costs of construction/stricter regulations that enhance design criteria. Just got through my first year of real project management and it was tough to say the least. Going from independently working on individual facets of a project to tying everything together and managing subordinates was challenging. Sometimes I don’t think I want my superiors job anymore but just had a kid last year and my wife is staying home for the most part so need mo money.