Engineer salary

Originally Posted by Unregistered

wah, you earn so much in just 2 years exp. almost hit 5k/mth


i 2nd lower ntu, after 3 n half year , with 3 annual increment n 1 promotion , is almost hit 3.4k only!!!!, I am way under paid too
'

Are you working in government as R&D engineer or in private sector as R&D engineer??

Working in private sector. I have 2yrs 3mths experience, so it's not really 2yr flat experience.

Just want to share some stuff I learned:

1) Do just a little bit more, especially for loud tasks (presentations, reports that will go up to higher levels). Just check spelling, alignment, diagrams, charts, etc. and make sure things look good and professional. This is your basic ammo when it comes to performance review.

2) Be respectful and understanding to internal & external contractors. Engineering is not easy stuff and unexpected things can happen. They will appreciate greatly if you lend them a hand instead of screaming at them to meet deadlines. Next time you can be sure they will go the extra mile for you and you can do a better job. Better job = more ammo.

3) Take the challenging task / project that nobody wants, provided you feel that you are up to it. You already score 1/2 point with your boss by volunteering to take such a task. This is motar and artillery for performance review.

4) If customers are very satisfied after you complete their project, be a bit thick skin and ask for a letter of commendation (official one with company letter head). This letter is like an air strike during performance review, but don't pester them for it if they don't want to give.

5) You NEED to "step on" others to go up. Do it the fair and professional way with quality of your work. Do wayang a bit when you have a job well done to back you up. Don't play politics, gossip, put down others, backstab or anything like that - you'll fall faster than you can climb.

6) Forfeiting 1 or 2 days of my annual leave for "urgent" work really make my spider boss happy. Everything is "urgent" to him and 1-2 days is nothing for more ammo.

7) After your boss acknowledges your capability, you have to make sure not to "cheapen" yourself by being super easy-going and taking any task quickly. Reject menial tasks tactfully. Less menial tasks = more time for impt stuff = better job done = more ammo.

Hope these will help fellow engineers get their much deserved raise.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Working in private sector. I have 2yrs 3mths experience, so it's not really 2yr flat experience.

Just want to share some stuff I learned:

1) Do just a little bit more, especially for loud tasks (presentations, reports that will go up to higher levels). Just check spelling, alignment, diagrams, charts, etc. and make sure things look good and professional. This is your basic ammo when it comes to performance review.

2) Be respectful and understanding to internal & external contractors. Engineering is not easy stuff and unexpected things can happen. They will appreciate greatly if you lend them a hand instead of screaming at them to meet deadlines. Next time you can be sure they will go the extra mile for you and you can do a better job. Better job = more ammo.

3) Take the challenging task / project that nobody wants, provided you feel that you are up to it. You already score 1/2 point with your boss by volunteering to take such a task. This is motar and artillery for performance review.

4) If customers are very satisfied after you complete their project, be a bit thick skin and ask for a letter of commendation (official one with company letter head). This letter is like an air strike during performance review, but don't pester them for it if they don't want to give.

5) You NEED to "step on" others to go up. Do it the fair and professional way with quality of your work. Do wayang a bit when you have a job well done to back you up. Don't play politics, gossip, put down others, backstab or anything like that - you'll fall faster than you can climb.

6) Forfeiting 1 or 2 days of my annual leave for "urgent" work really make my spider boss happy. Everything is "urgent" to him and 1-2 days is nothing for more ammo.

7) After your boss acknowledges your capability, you have to make sure not to "cheapen" yourself by being super easy-going and taking any task quickly. Reject menial tasks tactfully. Less menial tasks = more time for impt stuff = better job done = more ammo.

Hope these will help fellow engineers get their much deserved raise.

Very good advice. The idea is to stand out from your peers, in a positive way. Do those tasks that will get you noticed, and make sure you do them very well.

I started at 2.6k (2nd upper hons), now earning 5k base salary after 6 yrs, bonus varies from 3-6 mths/yr depending on performance.

However, this is still less than peanuts, compared to what lawyers and bankers earn. Wish someone had told me as an 18 year old, the realities of an engineer's salary, I would have taken a different course.

Isn't it unfortunate that we engineers did well in JC to qualify for an engineering course, survived the tough undergrad days, work so hard now, value-add and and create so much, yet are paid so little.

Originally Posted by unregistered

very good advice. The idea is to stand out from your peers, in a positive way. Do those tasks that will get you noticed, and make sure you do them very well.

I started at 2.6k (2nd upper hons), now earning 5k base salary after 6 yrs, bonus varies from 3-6 mths/yr depending on performance.

However, this is still less than peanuts, compared to what lawyers and bankers earn. Wish someone had told me as an 18 year old, the realities of an engineer's salary, i would have taken a different course.

Isn't it unfortunate that we engineers did well in jc to qualify for an engineering course, survived the tough undergrad days, work so hard now, value-add and and create so much, yet are paid so little.

小时了了，大未必佳。

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Very good advice. The idea is to stand out from your peers, in a positive way. Do those tasks that will get you noticed, and make sure you do them very well.

I started at 2.6k (2nd upper hons), now earning 5k base salary after 6 yrs, bonus varies from 3-6 mths/yr depending on performance.

However, this is still less than peanuts, compared to what lawyers and bankers earn. Wish someone had told me as an 18 year old, the realities of an engineer's salary, I would have taken a different course.

Isn't it unfortunate that we engineers did well in JC to qualify for an engineering course, survived the tough undergrad days, work so hard now, value-add and and create so much, yet are paid so little.

how do you guy got so much increment in just 6 years?
5000-2600 = 2400
mean average increment per year = 2400/6 = $400.

$400 increment per year is alot!!!!

As for me as a 2nd lower degree, after 3.5 years, my total increment (3 annual increment + 1 promotion) is about $490 only...-_-

Are you working in government sector or private sector?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

how do you guy got so much increment in just 6 years?
5000-2600 = 2400
mean average increment per year = 2400/6 = $400.

$400 increment per year is alot!!!!

As for me as a 2nd lower degree, after 3.5 years, my total increment (3 annual increment + 1 promotion) is about $490 only...-_-

Are you working in government sector or private sector?

I am working in the government sector. HR does pay benchmarking, plus my performance is above average. 5k in 6 yrs is not much, if you consider that fresh grads joining these days are looking at 3.8k.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am working in the government sector. HR does pay benchmarking, plus my performance is above average. 5k in 6 yrs is not much, if you consider that fresh grads joining these days are looking at 3.8k.

i grad in 2007 2nd lower. i earn very very close to 3.4k per month currently only. my annual bonus including aws is between 4-5months. my annual increment in between 2.7%-4% promotional increment is 4-6%, If i continue to stay in my current company for another 3 years, by that time i would have 6 years exp, I can foresee that my pay will just be able to hit $4000(perform average), $4150(perform good). Am I under paid?

NTU 3rd class hon, starting pay only $2.3k in 2002.

Currently earning > $100k pa (No AWS + 3 month AVC) after getting into insurance - dealing with engineering matter.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

NTU 3rd class hon, starting pay only $2.3k in 2002.

Currently earning > $100k pa (No AWS + 3 month AVC) after getting into insurance - dealing with engineering matter.

Insurance in engineering matter ? Care to elaborate more on work scope and working hours ? I currently in technical education industry....earning $4k per mth plus 2~4mth bonus...plus vormit a lot of blood....

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i grad in 2007 2nd lower. i earn very very close to 3.4k per month currently only. my annual bonus including aws is between 4-5months. my annual increment in between 2.7%-4% promotional increment is 4-6%, If i continue to stay in my current company for another 3 years, by that time i would have 6 years exp, I can foresee that my pay will just be able to hit $4000(perform average), $4150(perform good). Am I under paid?

My fellow engineers, its better that we learn how to invest wisely in stocks and property, than depend on our employers to raise our increments a couple of hundred per year ... The good thing about an engineering degree is that we are unafraid of numbers, charts and statistics, we can use this to our advantage for investments.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

My fellow engineers, its better that we learn how to invest wisely in stocks and property, than depend on our employers to raise our increments a couple of hundred per year ... The good thing about an engineering degree is that we are unafraid of numbers, charts and statistics, we can use this to our advantage for investments.

It's not that hard actually. Buy low during downturns and sell high during booms.

Not rocket science. I pity those who spent lots of time and money and countless hours monitoring the markets reading graphs and signals, yet only managed to achieve mediocre results and even losses! They could have spent their time better.

I have consistently made more than 20% averaged per anum over the last 15 years. The key is patience.