Mechanical Engineers Salary?

JayMcD · 19-04-2010 09:39PM #1

How much would a Mechanical Engineer with 5 years design and manufacturing experience expect to get in Ireland, (disregardin the "R" )

Offy · 20-04-2010 01:32PM

JayMcD wrote: »

How much would a Mechanical Engineer with 5 years design and manufacturing experience expect to get in Ireland, (disregardin the "R" )

It depends on the industry. From about €30k (mech design in electronics industry) to €55 (Automation, etc.)

JayMcD · 20-04-2010 04:52PM

Thanks Offy,

What would be the best direction to head to try and earn more? To start up an engineering company? design and manufacture a product?
Has anybody heard of someone who have done this or work for someone who have done this?

Offy · 21-04-2010 02:15PM

JayMcD wrote: »

Thanks Offy,

What would be the best direction to head to try and earn more? To start up an engineering company? design and manufacture a product?
Has anybody heard of someone who have done this or work for someone who have done this?

I was involved in a start-up in '07, it takes a few years for that sort of thing to pay. Enterprise Ireland will support you if you can come up with a product that you can patent (to a certain extent). If you want to go down that road you will need perhaps €200k-€250k to start with. Dont expect profits for 3-5 years and expect to borrow of everyone you know. The rewards if you make it? Anywhere from €1M+ per month for the last chap I worked for. Enterprise Ireland wont take you on unless you can generate about €3M per year.
PM me if you want details.

lee_ · 05-05-2010 01:22PM

Offy wrote: »

It depends on the industry. From about €30k (mech design in electronics industry) to €55 (Automation, etc.)

Isnt €30k a pathetic salary for a Mechanical Engineer to earn after 9 years of investment into a career. Especially considering the course difficulty and the hours that were invested in Labs, Tutorials & Lectures.

JayMcD · 05-05-2010 02:29PM

Thats what I was thinking.
The education needed,
the originality and imagination needed,
and the responsiblity of a good design and standing by it,
creative manufacturing proccess's that could save a company a fortune,
it doesnt seem right to only get 30K,
hang around a bar long enough eventually you'll become a bar manager,
and get 30k.

And mech eng out there care to shed some light and insider knowledge?

judas101 · 05-05-2010 03:28PM

From 30k up to 50k was what was said.

30 is conservative I think as a few friends of mine who graduated 2 years ago are on 30k or more.

JayMcD · 05-05-2010 04:47PM

From a website:

You can expect to earn $60-$65,000 your first year. During years 1 - 4 you will be earning up to $75,000. In years 5 вЂ“ 9, you can expect to earn $75-$85,000. Up to year 10 you can expect your salary to go up to $90,000. And when you hit the 20 year mark, you can expect to be making $100,000/year at least. Most work weeks are going to be average, but if you are working on a special project that must be completed on time; you will be expected to work overtime. You will not be confined to an office environment. You will be doing a lot of work out on the different job locations.
You will utilize mechanical tools such as CFD, milling tools, FEA, robots, CAD/CAM, lathes and CNC's in your daily work. You have probably heard the most about CAD's, but there is much more to learn when it comes to your training as a mechanical engineer.

desertstorm · 05-05-2010 11:22PM

I remember reading on wiki a while ago it's the second highest paying graduate degree after medicine in the UK, and I think 7th in the US? It's there somewhere...

edit, here's the wikiwaffle

The total number of engineers employed in the U.S. in 2004 was roughly 1.4 million. Of these, 226,000 were mechanical engineers (15.6%), second only to civil engineers in size at 237,000 (16.4%). The total number of mechanical engineering jobs in 2004 was projected to grow 9% to 17%, with average starting salaries being $50,256 with a bachelor's degree, $59,880 with a master's degree, and $68,299 with a doctorate degree. This places mechanical engineering at 8th of 14 among engineering bachelors degrees, 4th of 11 among masters degrees, and 6th of 7 among doctorate degrees in average annual salary.[17] The median annual income of mechanical engineers in the U.S. workforce is roughly $63,000. This number is highest when working for the government ($72,500), and lowest when doing general purpose machinery manufacturing in the private sector ($55,850).[18]

Canadian engineers make an average of $29.83 per hour with 4% unemployed. The average for all occupations is $18.07 per hour with 7% unemployed. Twelve percent of these engineers are self-employed, and since 1997 the proportion of female engineers has risen to 6%.[19]

Mechanical Engineering is the second highest paid profession in the UK behind medicine. A Mechanical Engineer with a CEng Status earns an average of £55,000 a year.

Offy · 14-05-2010 02:10PM

JayMcD wrote: »

Thats what I was thinking.
The education needed,
the originality and imagination needed,
and the responsiblity of a good design and standing by it,
creative manufacturing proccess's that could save a company a fortune,
it doesnt seem right to only get 30K,
hang around a bar long enough eventually you'll become a bar manager,
and get 30k.

And mech eng out there care to shed some light and insider knowledge?

I agree. Its not the mech engineers that set the wage, its the employers. In Ireland most small Irish companies are supported financially by a government department called Enterprise Ireland. When you sign up with them you no longer run your own company. In order to get the grant money required to start the business you have to do what they tell you. As a result wages are as low as you can make them. Someone will apply for the job. That someone is who keeps engineering wages at their present levels. This sets the lower limit seen on the Engineers Ireland salary surveys.

In the multinationals things are very different. A company that is expanding and building plants in different countries generally isnt dependant on government grants to run their business. They take whatever grants are available but now they are not dependant on them to survive. Now the IDA (Industrial Development Authority) steps in. The IDA deal with foreign companies in Ireland. The IDA has to compete with other countries whereas EI does not. EI have a monopoly on the Irish owned companies. So foreign companies offer more money to attract better people. At the same time the foreign companies set their wages by looking at what mech engineers in Ireland are currently getting paid. This sets the upper limit seen on the Engineers Ireland salary surveys.

The reason mech engineers wages are so poor in Ireland is because of mech engineers. If you put up with low wages from the start of a job you will find it hard to get a high wage from the same company no matter how long you stay with them. Employers are business people, they want to run the business as efficiently as possible to maximise profits so they offer low wages as a result. Engineers that accept these low paying jobs (recently I saw a job for a design engineer in Dublin offering €25k) lower the average for all other engineers. One of the engineers I worked with previously hadn’t got a pay rise in six years yet he continues to work there. He will never get a good wage from the company because they know he will do nothing about it.

JayMcD · 14-05-2010 03:25PM

It's ridiculous!!

A good Mech Eng can make a company €'sssss yet alone save a company €'ssss!!! yet they get paid peanuts!!
You pay your Mech Eng sweet F**k all, he/she is gonna be un motivated, couldn't give a sh*t, and actually cost a business alot of € cuz of poor efficentcey, poor design and over compensation (so the boss won't give out to me)of design, adding to extra cost.
No wonder manufacturing in this country is dying a slow death! and what every island nation needs, to be relient on forgeign imports!

judas101 · 14-05-2010 03:29PM

Most mech eng jobs have a low stater salary (under 25k) because experience is so important.

After a couple of years, good experience and chartership, there is a considerable payscale.

JayMcD · 14-05-2010 03:43PM

Here's my attitude towards "Experience"

I've been chatting up girls for 10 years, doesn't mean I'm any good at it, but some guys just woooo girls.
Now I've met Engineers who have donkeys experience, yet a child, building a lego set has more cop on then they do?
Just cuz you've been doing something for years, doesn't make you any good at it, just means you "Should" know what your at, that doesn't justify a higher wage pakage.
Look at footballers for eg.
The unbelievable ones are 18 - 24, the "Experienced ones are sold to the glue factory!! if ya catch my drift.
but in the land of engineering, you gotta be alittle senial, and have a big grey beard, before anyone takes you seriously!
yet all great inventions, are created by, not big multinational, not old guys, but young guys with energy, enthusiasim, and more importantly
"NOT INSTATUTIONIZED!
There not afraid of change, in fact thats what they do want, and aim for,
were the "Experienced" old man, wants to keep things the way they are,
cuz thats what they know!

Gurgle · 14-05-2010 04:15PM

JayMcD wrote: »

Here's my attitude towards "Experience"...

Wow, that chip on your shoulder has a chip on its shoulder.
Unemployed graduate are we?

JayMcD · 14-05-2010 04:24PM

Gurgle wrote: »

Wow, that chip on your shoulder has a chip on its shoulder.
Unemployed graduate are we?

no!

I give credit where credit is due, but presuming that someone is good cuz they've been doing it for years, doesn't mean, thier any good.
If all it took was for ppl to spend years doing something to make them "Great" we'd all be great!

but your right, I should of said "My opinion" to be PC about it.
but thanks for pointing out a strong opinion as "A chip on a chip on my shoulder"
bet your one of those guys who's been in the industry for years but hasn't accomplished anything, even though you got years of experience,
don't worry, you'll have your day, cuz Experience is allll you need.
but again,
thats just my opinion, and actually, my experience too!
Dumass + time, does not = Brilliant
you either got it or you dont,
all the practice in the world wont change that.
"My Opinion"

Gurgle · 17-05-2010 12:19PM

JayMcD wrote: »

bet your one of those guys who's been in the industry for years but hasn't accomplished anything, even though you got years of experience

Nope, I'm in a similar industry - electronics engineer.

JayMcD wrote: »

don't worry, you'll have your day, cuz Experience is allll you need.

You need qualifications, skills and experience.
No 2 of these 3 will ever see you on a top salary.

JayMcD wrote: »

you either got it or you dont,
all the practice in the world wont change that.
"My Opinion"

If you think you know everything you need to know when you've finished college, then your opinion is naive in the extreme. It takes a decade to learn the real-world stuff after your 4 years in classrooms & labs.

If you can't accept that you have a lot to learn through experience, then you'll never learn it and in 10 years you'll still be complaining and getting nowhere.

Turbulent Bill · 17-05-2010 01:24PM

Gurgle wrote: »

If you think you know everything you need to know when you've finished college, then your opinion is naive in the extreme. It takes a decade to learn the real-world stuff after your 4 years in classrooms & labs.

If you can't accept that you have a lot to learn through experience, then you'll never learn it and in 10 years you'll still be complaining and getting nowhere.

Couldn't agree more. I'm only a few years out of college, highly qualified (PhD) and with lots of technical knowledge. However, the teams I work on simply wouldn't function without the input of guys with 20 or 30 years experience. Note that this is a cutting-edge technology company, not a traditional firm, and if anything the experience is all the more valuable here.

In some companies the more experienced people might be an obstacle to innovation and change ('This is the way we always do things...'), but in my experience this isn't the case. Lots of experienced people have changed jobs and even careers, so they recognise the need to be flexible and move with the times.

Stacks Mad · 17-05-2010 07:26PM

In respect to experience older engineers are quite backward and traditional in my findings working under them and I have met quite a few so I am learning bad habits from them by bull sxxxxxxg my way out of problems .Why because that's how my seniors gets out of there problems. I work with three people all more qualified then myself and come to the same thoughts .
Our theory is that out dated "experienced engineers" are afraid to give us a chance because they are fearful of being pushed aside by fresh thinking people.
After two years experience I am able to find more efficient faster and cheaper solutions to our problems and I once voiced my idea and the engineer used it as his brilliant vision so I keep my mouth shut and am waiting for my OH to finish college and were gone out of this so called great innovative country.
Now thats a chip on my shoulder!!

JayMcD · 17-05-2010 09:15PM

Gurgle wrote: »

Nope, I'm in a similar industry - electronics engineer.

You need qualifications, skills and experience.
No 2 of these 3 will ever see you on a top salary.

If you think you know everything you need to know when you've finished college, then your opinion is naive in the extreme. It takes a decade to learn the real-world stuff after your 4 years in classrooms & labs.

If you can't accept that you have a lot to learn through experience, then you'll never learn it and in 10 years you'll still be complaining and getting nowhere.

Try reading the OP, 5 years exp. both in design and manufacturing.
I have all practical certs with regards skills, ie. CAD, welding, turning, milling, electronics, PLC etc.
I went back to college,

I was also doin this stuff since I was a kid, ie. pre teens,
as I said, you either got it or you dont.

JayMcD · 17-05-2010 09:18PM

Stacks Mad wrote: »

In respect to experience older engineers are quite backward and traditional in my findings working under them and I have met quite a few so I am learning bad habits from them by bull sxxxxxxg my way out of problems .Why because that's how my seniors gets out of there problems. I work with three people all more qualified then myself and come to the same thoughts .
Our theory is that out dated "experienced engineers" are afraid to give us a chance because they are fearful of being pushed aside by fresh thinking people.
After two years experience I am able to find more efficient faster and cheaper solutions to our problems and I once voiced my idea and the engineer used it as his brilliant vision so I keep my mouth shut and am waiting for my OH to finish college and were gone out of this so called great innovative country.
Now thats a chip on my shoulder!!

Thats the exact same S**t I had to deal with,
and guess who were the Genius's?
all the experienced experts,
yet if I called in sick my phone wouldn't stop ringing cuz these genius's couldn't do sh*t.

Experience = Tradition

Tradition is the enemy of progress

Offy · 18-05-2010 01:51AM

JayMcD wrote: »

Try reading the OP, 5 years exp. both in design and manufacturing.
I have all practical certs with regards skills, ie. CAD, welding, turning, milling, electronics, PLC etc.
I went back to college,

I was also doin this stuff since I was a kid, ie. pre teens,
as I said, you either got it or you dont.

12 years exp. both in design and manufacturing.
I have all practical certs with regards skills, ie. CAD, draughting, IT, automation, electronics, SCADA & PLC's etc.
I went back to college,

I was also doin this stuff since I was a kid, ie. pre teens,
as I said, you either got it or you dont

hehe I couldnt resist, nicely said!
In the last twenty years Ive spent 8 years hoping in and out of education. Ive meet few brilliant engineers, a lot of ok engineers and a few totally useless engineers. Some engineers Ive meet do BS a lot but most know what their doing. Without the old engineers/experienced engineers/20+ years experience we would all be re-inventing the wheel. Never underestimate them, they are the seasoned pro's after all and they have seen a lot. In saying that Im not claiming that any engineer with 20+ years experience is talented but most Ive meet are.

JayMcD · 18-05-2010 12:34PM

Without the old engineers/experienced engineers/20+ years experience we would all be re-inventing the wheel.

That may of been true in the past, but in this day and age, ie. easy accesible global knowledge, you dont need to fill your head with a vast knowledge of previously learned lessons taught through experience.
its all out there, I guess who's gonna use these resources more, the old experienced, "I've been doin this since you were in nappies" narrow minded, unimaginative, do it this way cuz thats the way its always been done, or,
the young, arrgesive, wont accept that it can't be done, doesn't have a morgage/kids/wife to keep housed and fed, who'll take risks, push the bonderies, think outside the box, ask the most important questions, like, why not? why cant it be done, and who grew up with this access to an ever growing source of knowledge from millions of people/experience, at their finger tips, and they know how to use it.
Theres a reason, advancement of technology is growing expoentially,
The old experienced man may of been priceless in the days of yor, where he was the knowledge, in this day, in this world, its the young bright eyed, soaking up every bit of info, and has the freedom and energy to push it forward guy who's gonna take it to the next level.
they deseverse better than 30k and need better to encourage them and push them more and more.
not give it all to the old fart who thinks hes knows and has seen it all.

Gurgle · 18-05-2010 01:20PM

JayMcD wrote: »

That may of been true in the past, but in this day and age, ie. easy accesible global knowledge, you dont need to fill your head with a vast knowledge of previously learned lessons taught through experience...

Seriously, have you ever worked as (or even with) an engineer?
You claim 5 years experience, but this doesn't ring true with the crap you're spouting about the 'old guys'.
"welding, turning, milling"

there are workshop / semi-skilled jobs, this isn't engineering.

Everything you say on the subject sounds like someone who took a lawnmower apart once and thinks he's a mechanic.

JayMcD · 18-05-2010 01:40PM

I used to build RIB's for the miliarty,

semi skilled?

it takes skill to operate a machine to 0.001mm toloerance,
so I call that skilled, not half skilled,
and where would engineers be with out "semi skilled" guys making there genius designs into reality???

And if you know how to machine it, you know far far far far far far more than anyone with a degree designing it, like I said in previous posts, a better mech eng can design better more cost efficent things, ie, cuz he knows what goes inot making it, anything can be draw on a comp, its a different story when you actually gotta make it, and how much material you use, and how long its gonna take etc. etc. etc. understand?
if not, its the difference between something costing A to actually, costing B, and at the end of the day regardless, its all about the money. Who can make it Cheaper, faster, and therefore viable.

I'll disregard the last comment with regards fixing lawnmowers, cuz
I'm not gonna get into an argument with an idiot, as they only bring you down to their level, and win, with years of experience.

but if you were smart, not intelligent, just basically smart, you'd understand all of this,
but guess it takes a young inexperienced guy to teach you,

ya i worked with a, I know everything engineer, who, when I left said, "he's never learned more since he meet me, than he's learned in all of his years, cuz I challenged him, he had to think outside the box just to keep up and compete"
I've also worked with specialist engineers,
Army Engineers,
Medical engineers
and several so called engineers, like youself.

The secert is in the name "Engineer" ie. one who uses there "inngenuity"

enda1 · 18-05-2010 01:59PM

JayMcD wrote: »

And if you know how to machine it, you know far far far far far far more than anyone with a degree designing it

That's a particularly stupid thing to say.
They are different knowledges that are incomparable.

JayMcD wrote: »

its all about the money.

No its not.
How about:
It must fit the specification?
Environmental impact?

JayMcD wrote: »

The secert is in the name "Engineer" ie. one who uses there "inngenuity"

The word engineer comes from the word engine in English. It would be nice if it came from ingenuity, like in French, but it doesn't.

JayMcD · 18-05-2010 02:09PM

enda1 wrote: »

That's a particularly stupid thing to say.
They are different knowledges that are incomparable.

No its not.
How about:
It must fit the specification?
Environmental impact?

The word engineer comes from the word engine in English. It would be nice if it came from ingenuity, like in French, but it doesn't.

The english langage came from French/Latin
Ie. an engineer is someone who uses their ingenuiity to solve a problem!!

Trust me, everything in this capitalism world is bout the money,
unless your working for free, with free materials, and free everything, live off nothing but fresh air, its money,

And as for skilled workmanship with regards machining,
like I said, dont have arguments with fools..................
if you cant see the wood for trees, stay outta the forest.

enda1 · 18-05-2010 02:16PM

JayMcD wrote: »

The english langage came from French/Latin
Ie. an engineer is someone who uses their ingenuiity to solve a problem!!

No, still you are wrong.
See the wikipedia article: "The term engineering itself has a much more recent etymology, deriving from the word engineer, which itself dates back to 1325, when an engine’er (literally, one who operates an engine) originally referred to “a constructor of military engines.”[5] In this context, now obsolete, an “engine” referred to a military machine, i. e., a mechanical contraption used in war (for example, a catapult)."

JayMcD wrote: »

Trust me, everything in this capitalism world is bout the money,
unless your working for free, with free materials, and free everything, live off nothing but fresh air, its money,

No thanks I wont trust you on this.
You are simply wrong. Though not for the first time.
Low cost is not everything. Specification must be made which includes all the legal requirements.

JayMcD wrote: »

And as for skilled workmanship with regards machining,
like I said, dont have arguments with fools..................
if you cant see the wood for trees, stay outta the forest.

Maybe I should take your advice on this one.

JayMcD · 18-05-2010 02:26PM

lololol wikipedia, says it all

anyone who thinks this world doesnt revolve around money, peace on mannn

I am taking my own advice, I'm not arguing with you.

(ps. THC as great as it is, rots brain cells, alters reality, use, dont abuse, fight da man!!)

ArseBurger · 18-05-2010 02:26PM

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

highly qualified (PhD) and with lots of technical knowledge.

However, the teams I work on simply wouldn't function without the input of guys with 20 or 30 years experience.

I'll wager that in 20 or 30 years from now you wouldn't dare utter that first sentence.

Gurgle · 18-05-2010 02:27PM

JayMcD wrote: »

I used to build RIB's for the miliarty

Building inflatable dingys?
This is mechanical engineering now?

JayMcD wrote: »

And if you know how to machine it, you know far far far far far far more than anyone with a degree designing it

No, you don't.

You've just confirmed everything i said, you have never worked as an engineer and you have no idea what the career involves.
Understanding and applying maths and physics are 1000 times more relevant than machine skills.

Good luck in college, I honestly hope it goes well and you make a decent career out of it.

JayMcD · 18-05-2010 02:38PM

I do agree with you though, cost shouldn't be everything!!!
I mean really shouldnt be...
I only wanna make money so I can buy an Island and build a house on it, far away from all the bull****.
but ya gotta play the game.
thats why the old guys suffer,
ambition is a distant memory, creation and inspiration was something they lived for, but capitalism and responsiblity took over, now all they want to do, is what their paid for, not stick their head above the trench, dont risk cuz they got too much too loose, and they just do whats always and proven done, no risk, no progress, just a pay check.
The greastest man I've ever known, an engineer, "experienced one" at that
"We dont live in an Ideal world"!!
do what your asked, or put your balls on the line.
no risk, no reward.
and for all these "I know everything" guys replying, who couldn't resist replying. well...........
your being paid to do a job, and your on "Boards.ie"

Mechanical Engineers Salary?

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