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re: The job market for an engineer looking to grow absolutely sucks in Louisiana
Posted on 10/15/19 at 3:08 pm to lsu777
Posted on 10/15/19 at 3:08 pm to lsu777
Most of us who grew up in Louisiana don’t want to live in Texas. Period. I moved to Silicon Valley after LSU, but Research Triangle and Portland were serious contenders as well.
The money being great in Texas is big arse flag that says you don’t want to live here on it.
The LA vs TX rivalry goes back way before I was born, don’t blame me for it...it just is what it is. Dixie >> Lone Star.
ETA: I’m not complaining one bit about opportunities where I live.
The money being great in Texas is big arse flag that says you don’t want to live here on it.
The LA vs TX rivalry goes back way before I was born, don’t blame me for it...it just is what it is. Dixie >> Lone Star.
ETA: I’m not complaining one bit about opportunities where I live.
This post was edited on 10/15/19 at 3:13 pm
2
Posted on 10/15/19 at 3:09 pm to CP3
quote:
"design engineering"
I mean most of the people who are lower on the ladder and work strictly doing the design work for firms. Not talking senior guys that are managing others are the engineering PMs or sales.
quote:
EPC salaries are on par with direct hire salaries, at least from what I've seen around here. Working direct for an owner does get you better benefit packages though.
From what I have seen, other than civil, not really.
quote:
And that stays pretty even across the board. Project managers, project engineers, SME's, etc. Can do that with an EPC or an owner.
Again not from what I have seen. Senior Engineering level yes but not below that.
As fats as seniors raking in money, only ones I have seen at epc's are those managing others.
But the good plants along the gulf coast are pay 60-80 an hour plus maxing your 401k or pension. Not getting that at an epc. Plus senior or management get stock options at many places. But overall that wasn't my point, EPCs get paid a shite ton here too compared to the rest of the country.
Overall though my point was many of these complaining, get on at a small place and have no room for advancement then complain about the LA job market sucks for engineers, when that is not true. The big firms and plants are paying out the arse on average compared to he rest of the country. I just posted the averages and in general south LA and Houston blow those numbers out the water especially on the industrial side.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 3:16 pm to lsu777
Roger. We're on the same page I think. I agree that you arent looking hard enough if you cant find something that pays at least decent down here.
If you really want to stand out, go work in the field for ISC, MMR, Triad, etc for a year. Then start applying at firms or plants. Having hands on field experience would put you at the top of the resume stack for sure. I did 2 years pulling wire and conduit during college, and that helps out alot coming out of college into an entry level position. Gives you an idea of how things actually lay out in the field, vs what a textboox says.
If you really want to stand out, go work in the field for ISC, MMR, Triad, etc for a year. Then start applying at firms or plants. Having hands on field experience would put you at the top of the resume stack for sure. I did 2 years pulling wire and conduit during college, and that helps out alot coming out of college into an entry level position. Gives you an idea of how things actually lay out in the field, vs what a textboox says.
This post was edited on 10/15/19 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 10/15/19 at 3:29 pm to CP3
quote:
Roger. We're on the same page I think. I agree that you arent looking hard enough if you cant find something that pays at least decent down here.
If you really want to stand out, go work in the field for ISC, MMR, Triad, etc for a year. Then start applying at firms or plants. Having hands on field experience would put you at the top of the resume stack for sure. I did 2 years pulling wire and conduit during college, and that helps out alot coming out of college into an entry level position. Gives you an idea of how things actually lay out in the field, vs what a textboox says.
Yep. I worked as a pipe fitter through school and learned the fire protection engineering side of things thenoved on to a large specialty civil contractor and I am way ahead of my peers because of that.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 3:45 pm to NikolaiJakov
quote:
I'm an EE with 17 years with the same company. If new EEs are commanding those kind of salaries, I am extremely underpaid.
The plants around here are paying 80-90k starting. Most are making 110+ after 5 years.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 4:28 pm to Cdawg
quote:
As long as we've been posting, I feel like we already do
Halloween Party at the Kingfish.......
Posted on 10/15/19 at 4:34 pm to NikolaiJakov
quote:
But, I have sacrificed money for geography. Staying in Louisiana (or staying close to family to be accurate) has cost me more money than I care to calculate.
This is pretty much the issue most people face. It’s a tough decision to have to make. But most of the people I know who have decided to move away have not regretted their decision.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 4:46 pm to ElderTiger
quote:
This is pretty much the issue most people face. It’s a tough decision to have to make. But most of the people I know who have decided to move away have not regretted their decision
If you are talking engineering the. On average you are wrong.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 5:22 pm to lsu777
All of that has been my observation as well. The guys at local EPC firms like CDI and Sigma jump ship to operators at the first chance bc the pay and workload don't stack up. And the rank and file at global offices like Fluor/Technip face layoffs at a rate near E&P.
BUT, superstar, lead engineers at those global firms make obscene money.
BUT, superstar, lead engineers at those global firms make obscene money.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 5:35 pm to WildManGoose
My observation has been that engineers at EPCs rotate to differnt EPCs every few years until they stick a higher role or the work stays steady. Feels like a cycle of what firm has alot of work, and what ones don't. For example Sigma may be loaded with work for a few years, but then stuck on overhead when the work starts flowing elsewhere. Then the firm that has all the new work is hiring due to increased workload, so they leave for the other EPC with work.
It's an endless cycle IMO
It's an endless cycle IMO
This post was edited on 10/15/19 at 5:37 pm
Posted on 10/15/19 at 6:05 pm to WildManGoose
quote:
BUT, superstar, lead engineers at those global firms make obscene money.
superstar engineers make big money. No matter where.
At the least they get big stock options in IT companies.
Fwiw, my cousin is one.
He didnt always hit on his three he got in on but he did hit and one is enough in silicon valley.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 6:30 pm to subMOA
quote:
1999 LSU Eng grad here- worked my way up, and I own my own company now.
I know a guy looking for a job. Seems alright, but he does complain online about not being able to move up and make good money in Louisiana. You hiring??
Posted on 10/15/19 at 7:05 pm to Gaston
quote:
Most of us who grew up in Louisiana don’t want to live in Texas. Period.
There are hundreds of thousands of great Louisiana people who moved to TX and have a much better quality of life. Wow, way to shite on all the Louisiana people.
You do realize that 26K Louisianians moved to TX in 2015-2016 and has continued since then and will top 30K this year.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 7:15 pm to Martini
quote:
Go work for your next governor. Or MMR.
Also known as More and More Rispones.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 7:18 pm to Sayre
Huh? MMR isn't rispone
Posted on 10/15/19 at 7:30 pm to Hammond Tiger Fan
quote:
Well, I'm from Louisiana and so is my wife. So both sides of our families lives here for the most part. It just sucks that there's not much growth in this state
I certainly understand that. My wife's family is from Louisiana. I'll probably never leave either.
But sometimes one has to do what they can to get what they want.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 7:35 pm to Hammond Tiger Fan
I've been browsing the wanted ads here in SF Bay Area and EE jobs seem to be pulling a premium. Looks like there is a shortage of warm bodies with credentials.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 7:43 pm to Hammond Tiger Fan
If you are in the top 5% in the country you can come work for my company.
Posted on 10/15/19 at 8:06 pm to Gaston
quote:
Most of us who grew up in Louisiana don’t want to live in Texas. Period
You can’t put a statement like “Period” after you just said “most of us”. Doesn’t make sense.
I grew up in LA and am itching to Gtfo
Posted on 10/15/19 at 8:46 pm to Hammond Tiger Fan
There isn't a lack of opportunity. There's a lack of engineers willing to suck it up (aka humble yourself and accept a reasonable salary), and go in with the mentality of crushing it and being better than everyone else.
One thing I can tell you as a PE is that it's not hard at all to distinguish yourself in any EE related career. You have to put in the effort and really commit yourself to being the best. Most people, and I'm talking like 90%+ are just not willing to do that. I'm not saying work 20 hours of over time but really practice and pay attention to what you are doing.
Take a job, stop worrying about the starting salary, bust arse and the money will come.
Seriously, I have managed more people who need their work checked for them top to bottom before it is issued than people who are truly self sufficient and it's a huge margin there.
I big time humbled myself when I took my first job as an EE. It's a job most people that graduated with me would have scoffed at both because of the type of work (it's not in a big glamorous plant job) and pay. Fast forward 6 years later and make more than most of them, and the ones I don't make more than I have a better work life balance and generally like waking up in the morning.
One thing I can tell you as a PE is that it's not hard at all to distinguish yourself in any EE related career. You have to put in the effort and really commit yourself to being the best. Most people, and I'm talking like 90%+ are just not willing to do that. I'm not saying work 20 hours of over time but really practice and pay attention to what you are doing.
Take a job, stop worrying about the starting salary, bust arse and the money will come.
Seriously, I have managed more people who need their work checked for them top to bottom before it is issued than people who are truly self sufficient and it's a huge margin there.
I big time humbled myself when I took my first job as an EE. It's a job most people that graduated with me would have scoffed at both because of the type of work (it's not in a big glamorous plant job) and pay. Fast forward 6 years later and make more than most of them, and the ones I don't make more than I have a better work life balance and generally like waking up in the morning.
This post was edited on 10/15/19 at 8:58 pm
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