Engineering Jobs & Wages

chopper666

I am in my first year of a Mechanical Engineering degree in DIT and am trying to find out what kind of jobs and wages are out there for first year graduates.

ned14

I did Mechanical Engineering in UL. A large number of graduates from my year are working in Medical Device companies throughout Ireland. I would estimate the average salary you would expect in that industry as a graduate would be €26-32k. Those who move off the graduate programmes can expect to earn about €30-32k in their first year. (Speaking from personal experience in that industry).

mawk

Yeah, I'd agree with that. 25-35k depending on the industry and dumb luck.

Unfortunately we're respected more for competence than wealth..

Dermighty

chopper666 wrote: »

I am in my first year of a Mechanical Engineering degree in DIT and am trying to find out what kind of jobs and wages are out there for first year graduates.

Depends on what level of qualification you leave with.

If it's a level 7 it'll be lower than level 8 graduates (typically) and will never really get as high.

bradyle

I graduated with a Masters in Mech from DIT a year and a half ago. On a grad programme at the moment working in Europe and I started on €36,500.

Got extra because of the Masters and becuase I live in one of the more expensive cities around.

Dermighty

A friend got a 1.1 in level 8 mech eng last year and started on €40k in the pharmaceutical industry...bastard! :P

longhalloween

Dermighty wrote: »

A friend got a 1.1 in level 8 mech eng last year and started on €40k in the pharmaceutical industry...bastard! :P

F*cking hell. I'm on the road to a 1.1 in Elec eng. Must give Pfizer a call.

Dermighty

longhalloween wrote: »

F*cking hell. I'm on the road to a 1.1 in Elec eng. Must give Pfizer a call.

It's good to see that there are companies paying that kind of money

Dermighty

mawk wrote: »

Yeah, I'd agree with that. 25-35k depending on the industry and dumb luck.

Unfortunately we're respected more for competence than wealth..

There's no problem that can't be solved with lawyers, guns and money! *

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGhd53hV0Z0

*untrue

ned14

Dermighty wrote: »

A friend got a 1.1 in level 8 mech eng last year and started on €40k in the pharmaceutical industry...bastard! :P

I'm sure he felt like this when he landed that job...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFX4do2eslU

spideog7

longhalloween wrote: »

F*cking hell. I'm on the road to a 1.1 in Elec eng. Must give Pfizer a call.

Wouldn't hold your breath, I graduated with a 1.1 in EE and had to emigrate. Still not earning that kind of money 5 years later!

longhalloween

spideog7 wrote: »

Wouldn't hold your breath, I graduated with a 1.1 in EE and had to emigrate. Still not earning that kind of money 5 years later!

I think things have picked up in the last couple of years. There's a good few high end companies (mainly medical) recruiting and I'll be putting CVs into all of them. Fingers crossed!

Dermighty

spideog7 wrote: »

Wouldn't hold your breath, I graduated with a 1.1 in EE and had to emigrate. Still not earning that kind of money 5 years later!

I suppose mechanical has a broader range of applications than electrical.

npeplow

I found that there are plenty of decent jobs out there, however unless you really look specific for graduate schemes you might stumble at the experience hurdle, many want a few years experience which is impossible for a student in your position. Try taking a look at some of the graduate specific sites like milkround.com or the engineering section of Engineering Graduate Jobs , they have a few listed there you would be suitable for

Sarz91

Graduated with a 1.1 this year in mechanical engineering(level 8). Couldn't get a job in Ireland. Emigrated to England and I'm on £27,000 a year.

ned14

When I went for interviews as a graduate, very few asked about my results and focused entirely on my work experience to date. Going to UL, you have to do 8 months placement in industry, and that was all they would ask me about.

1.1 degrees are often sought after in R&D at the research end where some go on to complete Phd's as part of their work. After that, a 2.1 is often a requirement on graduate programmes to make the list of applicants shorter (And has anyone noticed nearly ALL UK grad programmes ask for a 2.1?). But when it comes down to it, Engineering companies want someone with a level head and good people skills. They will also ask for your experience in group projects and reports, which is what matters since that's what you'll generally be working on.

krustycustomer

I did the ordinary degree in CIT and then the honours in Edinburgh, went to the middle east starting on 25k and then was on 33k 18 months later. But as you will later on realise its all relative, it was tax free, and free apmt, car, phone and flights.

chopper666

Plenty to think about, I have a brother-in-law working in Intel so I hope to get work placement there. Hope this lead to full time employment. Any know what money is like there ?

Beargrylls01

Dermighty wrote: »

A friend got a 1.1 in level 8 mech eng last year and started on €40k in the pharmaceutical industry...bastard! :P

What bloody pharma plant was this Eli lilly have pretty big wages ?