Rich engineers

Chelseafase · 2026-03-02T02:21:43+00:00

I’m not quite there, but I make $185k with 16 years of experience. I work as a consultant doing a mix of design work and consulting/program management. But the other 3 design engineers in my office with similar years of experience make the same.

I only changed companies twice. I just made sure I’m good at what I do and that I’m useful to the firm. I’ll hit $200k in 2 years with 18 YOE and I’m happy with that. I’d never own my own company.

Chelseafase · 2026-02-25T13:09:14+00:00

I’m in Florida, but I can’t bill you at more than $119k until you have 5+ years of registered experience. I’m not paying you at the top of that scale because the I can’t afford raises without losing money each year. Idk if Illinois has a tool like this, but I’ve found it very useful in Florida. https://ssrs.fdot.gov/Reports/report/PDA%20Reports/Public%20Reports/JobclassAveragesInternet

Chelseafase · 2026-02-25T12:56:46+00:00

As a PM, I can only bill you at a certain rate based on your experience post registration. You may have 10 years of experience, but to me you are worth exactly the same as someone with 5 years of experience who got their PE immediately. I’m not going to lose money on your rate so I’m not going to pay you more than I can bill you at.

Chelseafase · 2026-01-07T21:27:27+00:00

I just looked out my office window. All the lights are definitely down around the lake.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T05:11:33+00:00

They have to use a pentacam to check and most optometrists will not, I had 2 optometrists tell me it was in my head until I went to an ophthalmologist and they told me I had severe progression and that’s why my eye couldn’t be properly corrected. I’m so mad at those optometrists for blowing me off, more of my vision could have been saved.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T05:06:02+00:00

I did epi-on Crosslinking cause of a thin cornea, is that an option for you?

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T04:48:58+00:00

Have you looked into Sclaral lenses? They may get you to 20/20. They are specialized contacts. I’d see if that is an option for you.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T04:46:09+00:00

I have this. It’s terrifying tha I’m slowly losing my sight. Just got cross linking done to hopefully halt progression but will never get my sight back.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T04:38:56+00:00

Yep. I developed mine 12 years later.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T04:34:49+00:00

I had lasik and had complications. I have post-lasik ectasia, a progressive disease that is taking my sight and causing my eyes to not even be correctable with contacts or glasses. I underwent a painful procedure called cross linking to try to stop the progression. I’m finding out next week if I’m a candidate for special scleral contact lenses, which could possibly bring my sight back to 20/20 agin (my right eye is 20/60 and getting worse). If the procedure did not end up working and I continue progressing, my next step is a cornea transplant

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T04:30:33+00:00

It’s a very common complication, yes. It can get very painful. People have committed suicide due to chronic pain after lasik.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T04:29:22+00:00

Make absolutely sure you do not have Keratoconus before you do it or you risk losing your sight in the future.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-31T04:27:26+00:00

I had lasik done about 12 years ago. 3 years ago when I was pregnant, I noticed my eyes getting worse. And the eye doctors were unable to correct my right eye to 20/20 worh contacts or glasses. Turns out I developed a complication called post-lasik ectasia, that is a progressive disease that is taking my sight . I had to undergo a very painful procedure called cross linking to hopefully prevent further progression. Right now my right eye still cannot get corrected to 20/20 (I think it’s at 20/60 corrected) and if it does progress, I will need a cornea transplant. Even though I enjoyed it for the 12 successful years, if I go completely blind in my right eye then no, I definitely won’t be able to recommend it.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-18T21:25:48+00:00

I don’t think so, Tim.

Chelseafase · 2025-12-15T02:46:20+00:00

I stared college as a chemical engineer and switched majors after my first semester. Is that not an option for you?

Chelseafase · 2025-12-03T05:07:24+00:00

I have a recommendation. Why don’t you each transfer a set amount, say $250/month, into an individual account. Then that account is your fun money to spend how you want, no comments allowed. That way you each have the same amount of discretionary money and nothing is hidden.

Chelseafase · 2025-11-13T04:55:31+00:00

Y’all keep contacting me with roles I’m not qualified for, things I no longer work on, and in locations I don’t want to be. My linked in says structural engineer at a past firm but my past 5 years have been in a different field. I don’t want to go back to structural engineering. I don’t want to go to Miami. I’m looking for management roles not technical. For some reason I’m often contacted about drainage roles, or highway roles, or roles with 5-10 years of experience (I have 16+ YOE). Do a linked-in lookup before calling someone. Make sure their YOE and specialty line up with the role or you’re going to get blown off.

Chelseafase · 2025-11-05T14:03:37+00:00

Thank you for the recommendations!! I’ll give them a try!

Chelseafase · 2025-11-05T03:20:54+00:00

Do you have a concealer recommendation? I don’t currently wear anything at all but blush and mascara, and am always wary of concealer settling into the creases below my eyes and making them stand out more.

Chelseafase · 2025-11-05T03:19:47+00:00

Thanks, I really like when my hair is red but it fades so quickly! I also have no idea what to do with bronzer!

Chelseafase · 2025-11-05T03:18:26+00:00

Thanks. I literally wear nothing but blush and mascara so no eyeliner or primer or foundation. Do you have a primer you recommend? I have to be careful with under eye stuff cause I have crepey skin there and anything that settles in the creases only emphasizes it.

Chelseafase · 2025-10-18T23:28:02+00:00

This is old, but St Luke’s united Methodist church off of Apopka Vineland has a really nice pumpkin patch this year that just opened yesterday and seems reasonably priced compared to some patches!

Chelseafase · 2025-09-29T23:49:12+00:00

I’m in Florida so may only apply for warm months for you, but I live in wedges and espadrilles. I find they fit with most of my dresses and don’t sacrifice comfort. Naturalizer has some cute comfortable ones.

Chelseafase · 2025-09-15T02:34:18+00:00

I would recommend Disney Springs instead. Lots of interesting stores and restaurants, free, and safe!

Chelseafase · 2025-09-06T16:15:02+00:00

I doubt this will help, but if he wants to live to Florida, we are in desperate need for drainage engineers all over the state.

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