negotiating starting salary

[pray4mojo]

Then it's Raytheon/Boeing/Northrop/BAE/General Atomics/General Dynamics/Honeywell. Did I guess it?

 

[guyver01]

Here's something i just picked out of a job posting on another website..
this might help you to set your expectations:

Sr. Electrical Engineer, Dallas, TX Salary 80-100K DOE

 

[KillerCharlie]

Here's something i just picked out of a job posting on another website..
this might help you to set your expectations:

Sr. Electrical Engineer, Dallas, TX Salary 80-100K DOE

A senior engineer is one that has a LOT of experience.

 

[guyver01]

A senior engineer is one that has a LOT of experience.

that's the point im trying to make.

He wants 70k for a fresh out of school.

if a company thinks a SENIOR Engineer is worth 80-100.. a newbie isnt getting 70

 

[KillerCharlie]

that's the point im trying to make.

He wants 70k for a fresh out of school.

if a company thinks a SENIOR Engineer is worth 80-100.. a newbie isnt getting 70

Yeah I was pointing that out, which you also just did, which I am doing here again

I would still shoot for 70 just to see what you can get, but it sounds like you don't even have an offer yet.

 

[Bignate603]

I'm an aerospace engineer (with a major defense contractor) so some of this is conjecture, but I guarantee you a new hire electrical engineer at Intel will get paid a lot more than a new hire electrical engineer at Lockheed.

Aerospace engineers don't get paid a lot compared to electrical engineers. From my estimate, average starting salary for aerospace engineers is maybe 65k. Maybe 70, for electrical isn't too far off.

I work for an turbine engine company and can tell you that for new grads the starting salary at my company was less than 65k before the recession. Now during the recession it's even lower. Most signing and relocation bonuses have disappeared. It's ridiculously easy to replace new grads right now (experienced people are harder, but our competitors did layoffs so some are available) so they don't try to hard to negotiate.

 

[bignateyk]

I'd be wary of working for a defense contractor right now anyway. We are just now starting to feel the impact of the obama administration and his policies on defense spending. I'm starting to get that pre-rape feeling, so I have my resume all ready to go in case my contract isn't renewed this year or next year.

I don't work for a major contractor, or in DC, but I started at 50K fresh out of school 3 years ago. I'm at 65K now with 3 years experience. We get great benefits to make up for it though (7 weeks vacation, 200% 401K match, great health, etc...). I'm also in EE.

 

[Drekce]

7 weeks vacation, 200% 401K match

Seriously? Up to what % of your 401K contributions? I would do whatever I had to in order to max out my contributions with that kind of match.

 

[bignateyk]

Seriously? Up to what % of your 401K contributions? I would do whatever I had to in order to max out my contributions with that kind of match.

5%, so it's basically an extra 10% of my salary for me.

 

[ebaycj]

you think 70K is too much?

60k is more realistic.

Why don't you just go to the same company that is paying your buddy 80k ?

 

[GT1999]

Looks like you should shoot for something between 55-65k.

 

[TecHNooB]

the company used to be part of lockheed, no more hints! taking all comments into consideration, but I will still shoot for the moon!

 

[Jassi]

the company used to be part of lockheed, no more hints! taking all comments into consideration, but I will still shoot for the moon!

L3?

I wouldn't mind knowing what sort of candidate they are looking for... after your negotiations are done.

 

[garndawg]

Then it's Raytheon/Boeing/Northrop/BAE/General Atomics/General Dynamics/Honeywell. Did I guess it?

Your forgot Bell Aerospace...

Advice from a guy in the field, whatever you get, get it on the frontend. Most defense companies will not consider you for a raise/promotion for at least a year after you're been hired.

If you're entry level, there's not much room for you to negotiate. If you have 3-5 years experience, a lot more options open up. If you're 13-14 years (sr. engineer), you can pick and choose, as long as you're prepared to relocate.

I second the opinion about staying out of defense right now. Most of your aero types are in it because they love the hardware and are willing to sacrifice some compensation for working with the tech.

Good luck to ya', OP.

 

[Gibson486]

I'm an aerospace engineer (with a major defense contractor) so some of this is conjecture, but I guarantee you a new hire electrical engineer at Intel will get paid a lot more than a new hire electrical engineer at Lockheed.

Aerospace engineers don't get paid a lot compared to electrical engineers. From my estimate, average starting salary for aerospace engineers is maybe 65k. Maybe 70, for electrical isn't too far off.

70K happens, but it is rare. For a starting engineer at a company like Raytheon, in order to 70K, you would have to do coops and there and prove you were hot stuff.

80K? Yeah, there was some inflation there.

 

[gorcorps]

Your forgot Bell Aerospace...

Advice from a guy in the field, whatever you get, get it on the frontend. Most defense companies will not consider you for a raise/promotion for at least a year after you're been hired.

If you're entry level, there's not much room for you to negotiate. If you have 3-5 years experience, a lot more options open up. If you're 13-14 years (sr. engineer), you can pick and choose, as long as you're prepared to relocate.

I second the opinion about staying out of defense right now. Most of your aero types are in it because they love the hardware and are willing to sacrifice some compensation for working with the tech.

Good luck to ya', OP.

BALL Aerospace

 

[Delita]

I'm in a different professional field and was curious to the bonus structure, if any, that EE has. Anyone in the field have any insight?

 

[Gibson486]

I'm in a different professional field and was curious to the bonus structure, if any, that EE has. Anyone in the field have any insight?

Depends on industry....I am a consulting EE. I got a 3K singing bonus.

 

[Delita]

Depends on industry....I am a consulting EE. I got a 3K singing bonus.

No annual bonus?

 

[Gibson486]

No annual bonus?

that is different company to company. Mine is 2% base salary + whatever else they want to give based on performance.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

take whatever they offer and be thankful you are going to be working for the man.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Most IT jobs have gotten to where experience counts above ALL. Companies have been repeatedly screwed for the past 10 years by boot camp cert programs and BS resumes.

In my experience you're better off asking for like 50k with the stipulation that you have a full review with possible 10-20% pay increase in one year. It's not 'the normal' thing to ask but can be a relief to a smaller company not wanting to take risks with deadbeats.

 

[DietDrThunder]

It may be a surprize to you, but all of the defense contractor's HR departments share salary data with each other. Because of the economy, they have also shifted the salary bands downward. Don't feel bad if they low ball you on salary. That is just what is going to happen. They have the upper hand in this economy and they are going to fully exploit it.

Here is the salary range for the type of job you applied for, $43,750 - $72,916. Mid range is around $58,000. They will most likely not offer you $58,000 but somewhere around $52,000.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

my guess is $55k

 

[GT1999]

This thread is making me happy I landed my job in 2007, when the economy was still good. And that I still have that salary and i'm not laid off yet.