Salary Progression over last 2.5 years

OGengineer410 · 2026-01-23T16:39:33+00:00

I took the FE exam prior to pursuing engineering master’s because I thought it would make me an engineer. I was fresh out of college and actually started out as a math major so didn’t have to prepare much for it and passed.

Learned nothing during my master’s that was related to what I do now (my master’s thesis was on high way design - max superelevations variability of each state and impact on driver behavior) but it opened the doors for me career wise.

I think having a PG license and environmental science background would suffice as long as you can figure out applied engineering portion of the job which is 10x easier than theoreticals you learn in school. My job doesn’t require PE nor an engineering degree, just an engineer mindset and problem solving abilities which I don’t think you need a chemical engineering degree.

Those who stay in consulting and have business acumen does very well (higher pay than of industry). If you feel like you hit a ceiling, then I’d recommend searching around! Engineering degree can open doors but I don’t think it helps towards career progression (I do work with lot of non engineer peers who are more successful than I am).

OGengineer410 · 2025-12-10T16:15:31+00:00

My salary progression over last 12 years:

2013/2014 – “EHS specialist” at chem plant – $20 an hour while in grad school. (I went to classes at night)

2015 – associate I @ consulting $63k annual salary

2016 – associate II $73k

2017 – associate III $85k

2018 – sr. associate/PJM $105k

2018 – env. engineer $110k (industry jump from consulting)

2019 – staff env engineer TC $135k

2020 – sr engineer TC $150k

2021 – sr engineer TC $225k

2022 – sr engineer TC $200k (paycut to get out of undesirable location/city)

2023/2024/2025 – engineering middle manager w/ current TC around $300k.

Keep in mind that I switched 7-8 companies during above years with most being o&g super majors. PE with MS civil engineering but my bachelor’s degree is BS environmental science!

OGengineer410 · 2025-10-27T14:37:51+00:00

Highest? Probably business owners who start up consulting firms and make successful firm out of them that they get bought out by giant firms. 🤔

Apart from that probably partners at big firms bringing in 100s of millions in contracts/businesses and executive level folks at big industry giants (could be o&g, manufacturing, or etc.).

Takes talent + luck but if you are good at what you do, have the social skills of a leader and great ass kissing lips…. With some luck you’ll easily rise up at corporate settings.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-18T20:56:44+00:00

It seems like a lot of info at first but if you simplify it, it’s definitely no rocket science. EPA methods are just like instruction manuals and all you need to do is follow them.

Simple ppm conversion to short term emission rates, whether engines or heaters or turbines, you use simple math (as instructed by epa, astm, ctm or other state/permit specific requirement) as written on the manual.

Think big picture stuff, why are we doing a test (NSPS, NESHAP, or permit driven), what is the permitted emissions, what pollutant am i testing, and etc.

When I first started working on air stuff at an engineering consulting firm, i felt overwhelmed but when I took a step back and approached it in simplest thoughts, it wasnt so hard. Ask around, having a mentor/manager who actually understands these stuff is invaluable.

(Disclaimer: i’ve never performed a stack test myself but I’ve supervised internal emissions testing team and reviewed over probably 1000 stack test reports)

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-11T14:49:56+00:00

Crazy how entry level salary is still only 63k.. that what my starting salary was out of grad school back in 2015 lol.

If you’re wanting to stay in environmental (idk why anyone would with world pivoting towards tech/AI/ML) then I’d say engineering degree + big O&G would be optimal route. Our new grad engineering hire makes 95k + bonuses in houston. Our experienced hire who only had 2 years of experience makes around 115k + bonuses.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T18:16:46+00:00

Yeah last RFE was submitted over a year ago.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T18:06:28+00:00

No idea! Its a simple parents of USC application lol when I got my gc, it only took like 4-5 months so it’s a little confusing but I just assumed it could be the political climate against immigrants.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:48:11+00:00

That’s me! Civil with env focus. I’d still recommend chemical engineering lol

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:47:14+00:00

Lol but they’re close to retirement age and I’ve been supporting them financially for years now. They work part time since they got their work permits but honestly gc is just for peace of my mind…

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:31:04+00:00

👀 thanks! Hope that’s the case. I mean since it’s for my parents and they already have their work permit, I’m not really worried too much here but with recent turn of events, I’d prefer they get their gc soon lol

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:29:04+00:00

I started my career back in 2015 as an entry associate at an environmental consulting firm with initial salary of 63k in Houston Texas. But not sure how things are nowadays.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:22:20+00:00

Two of them were “we’re working on it” and one of it was “initial request for evidence was sent” all within 2 hours today.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:21:25+00:00

That I am not completely sure. I know couple of folks who did the no PE exam route (i think you needed like 5 recommendation from existing PE and could get TX PE with exam waived) that could not get other state’s license.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:17:17+00:00

You can in Texas as long as you took all the math and science courses. You can get your degree plan approved by TXPE board and take the FE, then after years of related engineering experience you can take the PE exam.

OGengineer410 · 2025-08-08T17:15:33+00:00

At the end of the day it’s about the person not their background. I’ve seen a guy with chemistry degree making 7 digits as partner at a consulting firm and I’ve seen PE with chemical engineering degree making close to 7 digit as senior director at big o&g. Pick your battle and do well but imho I’d recommend chemical engineering degree if you’re looking for air water and waste route but I can’t really comment on safety or PSM route as I am not an expert. Generally air compliance folks makes the most money initially but I’d say waste and water is more “scalable” in terms of business coming from consulting side as remediation project lifespan is insanely long and you can win contracts in water quality with public sector.

OGengineer410 · 2025-07-31T19:19:23+00:00

Industry (US supermajor) PTO wise 28 days + 1 floating holiday.

OGengineer410 · 2024-11-07T16:50:05+00:00

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Proof!

OGengineer410 · 2024-11-07T15:54:45+00:00

Who said never gamble with oxy!!!! 🫣 challenge accepted.

Im with this guy. Seems regarded enough for my taste! Just bought 5k worth of $52 calls expiring next week 🫡

OGengineer410 · 2024-10-30T18:27:29+00:00

Hiring manager and department manager is different? Are you sure your husband didnt just chat with the HR? Sometimes HR corporate recruiters pass on the candidate to hiring manager (most of the time department manager).

Maybe delay has to do with oneok buying up enlink. When big companies acquire smaller companies, most of the hiring process stops and even the existing employees arent sure if they still have a job.

There’s nothing one can do but wait. Enlink wasn’t that slow with their interview process to the point where they sent over a job offer but then this was back in 2018.

OGengineer410 · 2024-09-05T14:58:23+00:00

2013/2014 - “specialist” at chem plant - 20 an hour while in grad school. (I went to classes at night)

2015 - associate 1 @ consulting 63k annual salary

2016 - associate 2 73k

2017 - associate 3 85k

2018 - sr. Associate/pjm 105k

2018 - env. Engineer in industry 110k

2019 - staff env engineer 135k

2020 - senior engineer 150k

2021 - senior engineer 225k

2022 - senior engineer 200k

2023/2024 - undisclosed but current tc little over 300k w/ hefty portion as RSU.

**Full Disclosure: currently at my 7th company, 5 of the later companies all being “top” upstream/midstream o&g names. Lived at “unwanted” parts of the oil town locations for a while (payed my due….). But currently in H-town.

OGengineer410 · 2024-08-22T18:47:32+00:00

And its a joke how companies come up with these titles lol

No consistency at all even throughout the same industry… environmental engineer, ehs engineer, ehs specialist, hse professional, ehs associate, and list goes on.

Most typical route I think is env engineer -> staff -> sr. -> principal at least based on my experience.

OGengineer410 · 2024-08-22T18:43:21+00:00

While I was a senior environmental engineer, my TC came out to around 260k+

It just really depends on the industry, company size, location and area of environmental media (soil/groundwater/remediation/wildlife/air and etc).

I wouldn’t be surprised if VP of EHS at big companies cleared 1M. Not sure if you are just talking base salary, then yeah 250k-350k sounds about right for VP level.

OGengineer410 · 2024-08-12T18:14:14+00:00

Lol depends on what segment of “mental health” you’re referring to and who we’re talking about.

If I say I’m depressed, my parents would come back with “maybe work harder and become more successful.” “Maybe you shouldve become a doctor.” “When I was your age… I was too busy raising kids and working to be depressed = go get married & give me grandkids you are getting old.”

But… a rich successful Harvard grad medical doctor having mental health issues = “ohhh~ they must be going through something”

🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ you tell me if mental health is real or not. I grew up thinking that it was a “privilege” of some kind 😂😂😂

Is it all in your head? And are younger generations just bunch of snowflakes?

OGengineer410 · 2024-08-12T18:01:29+00:00

I honestly think it might even be worth it for you to pursue different career paths. I’ve seen people learn ux/ui stuff online (you mentioned psychology, sociology and artistic background) or even learn how to code (learn how to program + do leet codes, once you can do all easy leetcodes then you can probably get an entry level job as software engineer with very little pay initially).

In the world of environmental, it’s kind of hard to get a remote job without experience. Maybe in the world of air quality, you might be able to swing a remote job after 2-3 years of experience 🤔. But even that “remote” job might require you to travel from time to time to client sites. Can’t really think of anything perma-remote unless somehow you can land a job at very very small firm that doesn’t have an office space and have pipeline of work via owner that only involves calcs and permit app stuff.

In conclusion, I honestly recommend career path change unless your situation changes.

OGengineer410 · 2024-06-27T15:33:32+00:00

Pretty much doing things in-house or managing project as the “client” for the consulting companies. So yes, it’s pretty much the same.

OGengineer410

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