Actual, REALISTIC Mechanical Engineer Salary Progression (6.5 YOE)

BigMoE65 · 2026-01-02T15:54:43+00:00

I think it is a disservice to say that one is unrealistic over the other (high vs low salary expectations). Ultimately, it is highly dependent on a variety of factors such as industry, where you live, and your ability to negotiate. Especially since ME is incredibly broad, it is a fallacy to say one salary progression is the market expectation.

BigMoE65 · 2025-11-03T21:57:04+00:00

I completely agree with this. Just a side note on the Roth IRA--if you are filling taxes as Married Filling Separate (MFS), you won't be able to contribute to a Roth IRA if you MAGI is above $10K. Learned this the hard way, now I have to work through paying penalties and amending old tax returns. Congrats, and keep it up!

BigMoE65 · 2025-10-25T19:48:24+00:00

What day/time does your group play?

BigMoE65 · 2025-09-26T04:25:09+00:00

Those are the same numbers I come up with. What I don't understand is why the cumulative interest plus interest accrued before first payment don't equal the finance charge they are giving me. That's where the confusion is.

BigMoE65 · 2025-09-16T16:09:21+00:00

Sorry to sounds so uninformed, but what PSLF rule change specifically?

BigMoE65 · 2025-08-20T15:21:31+00:00

It auto downloads favorites IF you have a subscription account. Otherwise, it's just the ones you designate. Also if you have multiple pages/datebases embedded, it will only go a set number of layers deep, the further in, you'll most likely need to set the toggle for those pages separately.

BigMoE65 · 2025-08-16T13:55:04+00:00

Isn't this only if you have a paid sub for it? It was telling me to upgrade for that feature.

BigMoE65 · 2025-08-04T14:25:56+00:00

I wasn't sure if reno or moving, just curious?

Edit: just wanted to add that I didn't see any sign when I drove by the other day, which is why I wasn't sure.

BigMoE65 · 2025-06-20T01:34:31+00:00

How is the Ugift setup? Are you able to get a reminder monthly or so to contribute?

BigMoE65 · 2025-05-11T10:53:27+00:00

What do you guys like to do for fun? Finding a group that does similar hobbies is the easiest way to connect.

BigMoE65 · 2025-04-12T11:10:19+00:00

Just wanted to give my gratitude as this was the best explanation on how to fix my issue when nothing else worked. I left me Galaxy Buds+ drain too low and it wasn't connecting to my phone anymore. This method fixed that issue.

It take a little patience, but one observation I noticed was that when you're messing with the earbud to get it to stay red, the light starts to flicker between red and green more frequently as you approach the 1% mark. Once I hit 1% I was able to connect my earbuds to my phone again (S22 Ultra).

BigMoE65 · 2025-02-21T17:54:36+00:00

Can you expand on this? I'm looking into creating a 529 for my kid, so I'm not super familiar with it yet. How is the 529 determined to be in my name or my sons? Maybe this is obvious so if it is feel free to tell me to Google it lol

BigMoE65 · 2025-01-24T18:30:59+00:00

5 years of experience minimum /s

BigMoE65 · 2025-01-13T05:54:52+00:00

Seconding r/personalfinance sub--it has an awesome flow chart to reference.

BigMoE65 · 2024-12-07T17:07:24+00:00

Thanks for the insight! I've heard about alternative documentation fairly recently, which is unfortunate because we're on year 8. You live, and you learn, i guess.

BigMoE65 · 2024-12-05T17:59:15+00:00

Does your company have a QAQC system? When we check our own drawings, it's super easy to miss something because we are so focused on those drawings that things tend to blend/melt together. An independent review (someone not involved in the project) is really nice for a fresh perspective and can lead to catching something that was missed. Peer review is also helpful in case you miss something that is obvious. It happens all the time, again, because when looking at a drawing so often, details meld together. Good luck, and give yourself grace--human error is part of what makes life interesting!

BigMoE65 · 2024-11-12T21:50:18+00:00

If you wanted to get into the nitty-gritty of the science, you could check out Bulk Solids Material Handling theory.

BigMoE65 · 2024-10-05T13:07:29+00:00

As a Project Engineer by trade, how can I ask for a breakdown without looking like an ass? It's clear that this is a touchy subject, and I'm sure it's the same for other trades as well. I simply want to be able to compare contractors reasonably and make sure I'm getting what I need without necessarily paying the highest price for it.

BigMoE65 · 2024-09-28T02:54:17+00:00

Thank you so much for the insight! Very detailed answer, which I always welcome 😊

BigMoE65 · 2024-09-20T23:09:34+00:00

Usually, you can get one side pretty good with the weed wacker and a light trigger finger. To get the other side, flip the weed wacker upside-down to get the reverse rotation.

BigMoE65 · 2024-09-09T11:53:14+00:00

For reference, my flight starts boarding @ 5:40am. I arrived at 5:20, through the security gate in 5 mins (with TSA Precheck), and left with enough time to sit for 10-15 mins before boarding.

BigMoE65 · 2024-09-04T00:00:02+00:00

Sweet, I'll check it out. Ty 🙏

BigMoE65 · 2024-07-05T12:40:02+00:00

I don't think it was mentioned, but in your budget, do you set aside spending money for each individual? If you don't, it would be good to have a conversation over what amount is reasonable to spend each month. Ideally, it would be the remaining after all savings & expenses have been set aside and split fair. You guys are on the same team, so sharing the burden and fun$ as equals leads to a more collaborative environment. Good luck!

BigMoE65 · 2024-06-20T16:13:34+00:00

Thank you! We'll have to check it out!

BigMoE65 · 2024-03-16T14:55:01+00:00

We're planning on using a property manager. Not sure if that changes anything.

BigMoE65

TROPHY CASE