- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Petroleum Engineering starting salary out of LSU?
Posted on 6/5/12 at 1:10 pm to LNCHBOX
Posted on 6/5/12 at 1:10 pm to LNCHBOX
quote:
GPA is not the end all be all. It helps, but being persistent and having good interview skills is just as important. (yes, I know you need gpa to land the interview for the majors).
This. Being persistent usually allows you to get that interview to which you can then display your interview skills.
0
Posted on 6/5/12 at 3:08 pm to LNCHBOX
Congrats on the offer! Cementing??
Posted on 6/5/12 at 7:28 pm to bctiger6
quote:
This is what I've been wondering, whether or not it's mandatory to take the SE 1 & SE 2 or if taking just the civil test is still acceptable if you want to stamp structural dwgs.
Definitely not mandatory.
Posted on 6/6/12 at 12:37 pm to I Love Bama
quote:Uggggh! What am I doing wrong?!?? My starting salary out of school was all of 18k, in 20 years it's only gone up to about that.
I'm pretty sure the average was 70kish
Posted on 6/6/12 at 2:44 pm to otowntiger
Apparently everything. 20 years and you have only gotten 18k in raises?
Posted on 6/6/12 at 3:01 pm to otowntiger
quote:
Uggggh! What am I doing wrong?!?? My starting salary out of school was all of 18k, in 20 years it's only gone up to about that
as PETE?
Posted on 6/6/12 at 6:34 pm to otowntiger
yeah you def doing something long
Posted on 6/6/12 at 6:36 pm to HeadyMurphey
20 years to get from 18 to 70 Murphy.
Posted on 6/7/12 at 12:06 am to TulaneUVA
As per the "engineering expert because his sister got a job..."-
A PetE taking a job at a refinery is equivalent
to a ChemE taking a job on the upstream side of the industry.
A ChemE isn't qualified to do both... You just don't see PetE's take the refinery job because 1. Currently there is a greater demand for upstream engineers than downstream 2. There are more ChemE programs in the country than PetE's. 3. Upstream pays better and is more interesting.
Major companies are willing to take time and money and hire top engineers in other disciplines. Majors have different staffing needs than independents. Most independents are leaner. They typically hire PetEs because they are more job ready and expected to produce sooner. Because they can produce sooner and less training is required, a premium is paid for their specific "skill set"- (Really it's just a general idea of what's going on... 95% will be OJT).
Any engineer can cross train if they land the job and adequate training is provided. The company just has to spend
more time to train you. All a degree does is prove you have the ability to learn and gets your foot in the door.
A PetE taking a job at a refinery is equivalent
to a ChemE taking a job on the upstream side of the industry.
A ChemE isn't qualified to do both... You just don't see PetE's take the refinery job because 1. Currently there is a greater demand for upstream engineers than downstream 2. There are more ChemE programs in the country than PetE's. 3. Upstream pays better and is more interesting.
Major companies are willing to take time and money and hire top engineers in other disciplines. Majors have different staffing needs than independents. Most independents are leaner. They typically hire PetEs because they are more job ready and expected to produce sooner. Because they can produce sooner and less training is required, a premium is paid for their specific "skill set"- (Really it's just a general idea of what's going on... 95% will be OJT).
Any engineer can cross train if they land the job and adequate training is provided. The company just has to spend
more time to train you. All a degree does is prove you have the ability to learn and gets your foot in the door.
This post was edited on 6/7/12 at 6:13 am
Posted on 6/7/12 at 7:28 am to Steele4real
I'd say there are tiers of jobs for PETE grads.
Tier 1: 3.5+ GPA, Hire on with a Major or Mid-Major, 80-110k
Tier 2: 3.0-3.5 GPA, Hire on with an Independent, 70-100k
Tier 3, <3.0 GPA, Hire on with a Service Company, 60-90k (to get to 90k you work your arse off; you'll get a day rate for being in the field to boost a pathetic actual salary)
Experience: 1 Year at a Major, 3 Internships with said Major
GPA: 3.6, 3.9 PETE
Current Salary: ~100k
Tier 1: 3.5+ GPA, Hire on with a Major or Mid-Major, 80-110k
Tier 2: 3.0-3.5 GPA, Hire on with an Independent, 70-100k
Tier 3, <3.0 GPA, Hire on with a Service Company, 60-90k (to get to 90k you work your arse off; you'll get a day rate for being in the field to boost a pathetic actual salary)
Experience: 1 Year at a Major, 3 Internships with said Major
GPA: 3.6, 3.9 PETE
Current Salary: ~100k
Posted on 6/7/12 at 9:02 am to polizei11
I wouldn't put a major or mid-major above an independent. Independents are on par. Typically independents have equal or better compensation. Independents give you more responsibility, but majors provide better formal training programs.
A lot of independents don't hire recent grads. They wait for a large company to train someone and then offer more money.
On a side note, you can still do very well at a service company.
A lot of independents don't hire recent grads. They wait for a large company to train someone and then offer more money.
On a side note, you can still do very well at a service company.
Posted on 6/7/12 at 9:52 am to chauncey1
I agree with you. I was quoting more for a starting salary. The independents that I have seen that hire PETE grads for engineering positions seem to be in the range I quoted for the reason you stated. They know they are getting an untrained engineer and pay accordingly. There are always exceptions but I think the range I quoted are more the norm.
On a side note OP, if you do go the PETE route, I advise to take the FE exam when you can. Passing the FE leads to the PE exam. A PE license means big bucks these days.
On a side note OP, if you do go the PETE route, I advise to take the FE exam when you can. Passing the FE leads to the PE exam. A PE license means big bucks these days.
Posted on 6/7/12 at 6:39 pm to polizei11
A PE also means that if you screw up, they can sue you for everything you have business and personal So I've been told...
Posted on 6/7/12 at 8:19 pm to b-rab2
There is money in being liable for something.
Posted on 6/7/12 at 9:04 pm to urinetrouble
My roommate a few years back graduate in PE and started out making 80k with a small company in Houston. He studied his arse off though and he still probably finished around a 3.0. We used to make fun of him for never going out with us but it looks like he got the last laugh.
For the record that was 4 years ago so not sure what the market is like now.
For the record that was 4 years ago so not sure what the market is like now.
Posted on 6/8/12 at 10:58 pm to chauncey1
Just to add my 2 cents to this thread...
ChemE is a harder major than PetE and offers a more diverse array of job opportunities if oil/gas prices go to shite. When I graduated I started upstream with a major and specialized in completions and well intervention. Starting salary is low 80s and you can get up to 130-140 including bonuses within 5-7 years.
As for ChemE vs PetE... PetE has a geology sublayer whereas ChemE has a kinetics/reactions/process sublayer. Much different than many folks would assume.
Good luck to those considering, it's no small undertaking and there are no guarantees.
ChemE is a harder major than PetE and offers a more diverse array of job opportunities if oil/gas prices go to shite. When I graduated I started upstream with a major and specialized in completions and well intervention. Starting salary is low 80s and you can get up to 130-140 including bonuses within 5-7 years.
As for ChemE vs PetE... PetE has a geology sublayer whereas ChemE has a kinetics/reactions/process sublayer. Much different than many folks would assume.
Good luck to those considering, it's no small undertaking and there are no guarantees.
This post was edited on 6/8/12 at 11:03 pm
Posted on 6/9/12 at 6:09 am to ChemE in the OP
Just to add my 2 cents. EE is harder than all of them. Carry on. 
Posted on 6/9/12 at 7:35 am to guttata
quote:
Just to add my 2 cents. EE is harder than all of them. Carry on.
Go fix my panel and stop whining...
Posted on 6/9/12 at 2:48 pm to ChemE in the OP
If avg starting salary is $80k, I'd imagine alot of the senior level chem engineers who responded to this would love to know where those jobs are LINK
This post was edited on 6/9/12 at 2:50 pm
Posted on 6/9/12 at 3:51 pm to ChemE in the OP
Thanks for the explanation of ChemE vs. PetE. I was hoping you would respond since ChemE is what you do.
Page 3 of 5
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News