Engineer Pay

Year 1, $1.8k (Sales Engineer@SME)
Year 2, $1.9k (Service Technician)
Year 3, $3.5k (Service Engineer)
Year 4, $3.6k (Project Engineer)
Year 5, $3.6k
Year 6, $3.7k
Year 7, $4.1k (Senior Project engineer@ new SME)
Year 8, $4.5k (Assistant PM)
Year 9, $5k (Project Manager)
Year 10, $9.5k (Design Engineer, MNC)

(monthly salary above)

My journey through engineering has been abnormal.

No degree, no diploma.

Apply for a equipment sales job at the start cuz no technical knowledge. Spend more time reading technical manuals than selling. Boss said sales sucks. I ask to join technician. Hands on CMI at first but i know how to program the equipment cause I read the manual so got value add to the service team. Learn how to wire up equipment and controls by myself. Learn how do troubleshoot, learn welding, learn repairs on equipment, learn how to test and commission equipment. learn how to read electrical drawing, mechanical drawing, controls drawing, p&id drawing.

Learn how to run project. Jump ship to main con. Learn how to do calculations that design consultant do. Airflow, cooling, electrical loading, cable sizing, duct sizing, pipe sizing, learn how to program PLC, learn coding, learn fire code. start new project, fight with consultant cause their design here wrong there wrong, clients engineer dept agree, save them money and headache.
Become PM cause engineer pay sucks. miss doing technical stuff. PM only see schedule see budget see manpower. client offer me design job cause they see i got hope. take job. am i imposter?

Year 1, $1.8k (Sales Engineer@SME)
Year 2, $1.9k (Service Technician)
Year 3, $3.5k (Service Engineer)
Year 4, $3.6k (Project Engineer)
Year 5, $3.6k
Year 6, $3.7k
Year 7, $4.1k (Senior Project engineer@ new SME)
Year 8, $4.5k (Assistant PM)
Year 9, $5k (Project Manager)
Year 10, $9.5k (Design Engineer, MNC)

(monthly salary above)

My journey through engineering has been abnormal.

No degree, no diploma.

Applied for a equipment sales job at the start cuz no technical knowledge. Spend more time reading technical manuals than selling. Boss said sales sucks. I ask to join technician. Hands on CMI at first but i know how to program the equipment cause I read the manual so got value add to the service team. Learn how to wire up equipment and controls by myself. Learn how do troubleshoot, learn welding, learn repairs on equipment, learn how to test and commission equipment. learn how to read electrical drawing, mechanical drawing, controls drawing, p&id drawing.

Learn how to run project. Jump ship to main con. Learn how to do calculations that design consultant do. Airflow, cooling, electrical loading, cable sizing, duct sizing, pipe sizing, learn how to program PLC, learn coding, learn fire code. start new project, fight with consultant cause their design here wrong there wrong, clients engineer dept agree, save them money and headache.
Become PM cause engineer pay sucks. miss doing technical stuff. PM only see schedule see budget see manpower. client offer me design job cause they see i got hope. take job. am i imposter?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Year 1, $1.8k (Sales Engineer@SME)
Year 2, $1.9k (Service Technician)
Year 3, $3.5k (Service Engineer)
Year 4, $3.6k (Project Engineer)
Year 5, $3.6k
Year 6, $3.7k
Year 7, $4.1k (Senior Project engineer@ new SME)
Year 8, $4.5k (Assistant PM)
Year 9, $5k (Project Manager)
Year 10, $9.5k (Design Engineer, MNC)

(monthly salary above)

My journey through engineering has been abnormal.

No degree, no diploma.

Applied for a equipment sales job at the start cuz no technical knowledge. Spend more time reading technical manuals than selling. Boss said sales sucks. I ask to join technician. Hands on CMI at first but i know how to program the equipment cause I read the manual so got value add to the service team. Learn how to wire up equipment and controls by myself. Learn how do troubleshoot, learn welding, learn repairs on equipment, learn how to test and commission equipment. learn how to read electrical drawing, mechanical drawing, controls drawing, p&id drawing.

Learn how to run project. Jump ship to main con. Learn how to do calculations that design consultant do. Airflow, cooling, electrical loading, cable sizing, duct sizing, pipe sizing, learn how to program PLC, learn coding, learn fire code. start new project, fight with consultant cause their design here wrong there wrong, clients engineer dept agree, save them money and headache.
Become PM cause engineer pay sucks. miss doing technical stuff. PM only see schedule see budget see manpower. client offer me design job cause they see i got hope. take job. am i imposter?

Still no degree and diploma or any other professional qualifications?
Seriously, how to entrust you with design?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Still no degree and diploma or any other professional qualifications?
Seriously, how to entrust you with design?

Yes that's a common first impression I get. But once people work with me they know I know what I'm doing.
I've proven my capabilities to my company many times already. They trust me with what I'm doing. That's all that matters.
That said, I not designing buildings or bridges or electrical infrastructure. Worst that will happen if I design something wrong is a burst pipe.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Agree, was in manufacturing for years and the standard increment always around 2-3% no matter how the economy was lmao. 10% means something is off.

Don't forget in most companies engineers are considered as cost centers, not profit centers.

Cannot agree more. The most is 4%. Manufacturing tbh....salary is very low. Been in manufacturing for years and salary still nowhere near 7k.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Year 1, $1.8k (Sales Engineer@SME)
Year 2, $1.9k (Service Technician)
Year 3, $3.5k (Service Engineer)
Year 4, $3.6k (Project Engineer)
Year 5, $3.6k
Year 6, $3.7k
Year 7, $4.1k (Senior Project engineer@ new SME)
Year 8, $4.5k (Assistant PM)
Year 9, $5k (Project Manager)
Year 10, $9.5k (Design Engineer, MNC)

(monthly salary above)

My journey through engineering has been abnormal.

No degree, no diploma.

Apply for a equipment sales job at the start cuz no technical knowledge. Spend more time reading technical manuals than selling. Boss said sales sucks. I ask to join technician. Hands on CMI at first but i know how to program the equipment cause I read the manual so got value add to the service team. Learn how to wire up equipment and controls by myself. Learn how do troubleshoot, learn welding, learn repairs on equipment, learn how to test and commission equipment. learn how to read electrical drawing, mechanical drawing, controls drawing, p&id drawing.

Learn how to run project. Jump ship to main con. Learn how to do calculations that design consultant do. Airflow, cooling, electrical loading, cable sizing, duct sizing, pipe sizing, learn how to program PLC, learn coding, learn fire code. start new project, fight with consultant cause their design here wrong there wrong, clients engineer dept agree, save them money and headache.
Become PM cause engineer pay sucks. miss doing technical stuff. PM only see schedule see budget see manpower. client offer me design job cause they see i got hope. take job. am i imposter?

I can beat you hands down with a degree even though I got no experience and can't even do a fraction of what you can.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I can beat you hands down with a degree even though I got no experience and can't even do a fraction of what you can.

did you mean salary?
if so, thats great. genuinely happy for you bro. I hope you exceed what i get and took less time to get there.

just sharing my journey only I dont recommend anyone to follow my pathway.
suffered a lot to get where i am. frankly i just enjoy the work im doing, i give my best efforts and dun do half past 6 works. Im not looking to climb the corporate ladder. just happy that i found a company that see my worth and efforts. im completely content with that.

Engineers are definitely underpaid in Sg. After so many years in the manufacturing industry, i can say that getting liked by higher management is very important (not just your direct boss). I have seen people getting promoted immediately just after a year. You really needa know where to shine and outshine others. Else, being just a normal performing engineer....you will still not hit anywhere near 7k by your 40s. And thats normal. Tell your kids, dont study engineering.

Any one received the PEB letter for PPE exam schedule?

[mckay_1401]

All comments here are valid. Unfortunately the fact is Singapore society itself doesn't pride on engineers and engineering knowledge. Inconjunction with the thrist of cheap labour, more and more engineers are coming in from other Asian countries. Coupled with the attitude of 'West is Best' some inexperience engineers are being paid over the roof for visual advantage, not knowledge advantage.

My own trajectory is slightly different. Having done my tertiary studies in the UK, I have been fortunate to hold down a part time design job in the UK during my studies. This helped accelerate my career when I returned to the region.

Secondly there's nothing wrong with individuals who have gained knowledge through experience and have successfully delivered projects. Whilst certifications are common around the world but Singapore are particular about this. Look at even Hong Kong and Japan, the engineering board recognises experience as part of the journey. Hence, my advice to new engineers is always to get Chartership from the UK as it is the most recognised around the world.

Lastly, engineering work in Singapore is also limited by the land size. The way how Singapore has conducted its engineering and procurement has been good during LKY years (including GCT and LHL years). But having worked outside Singapore, there are many practices that Singapore is lacking and unwilling to implement because of attitude.