Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Salaries: What You Can Expect to Earn

Engineering is a lucrative and stable career path that offers excellent earning potential, especially for those who pursue licensure. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step towards becoming a Professional Engineer (PE), which opens up additional career opportunities and higher pay. If you have passed the FE exam, you are designated as an engineer-in-training (EIT). So, how much money can you expect to make as an engineer-in-training? Let's take a closer look.

In this Blog,

1. The FE Exam and Licensure

2. Starting Salaries for FE Engineers

3. Factors that Influence FE Salaries

4. Career Advancement and Earning Potential

5. Average Salaries by State

The FE Exam and Licensure

The FE exam is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree from an accredited program. Passing this exam is the first step to becoming a Professional Engineer. The FE exam is a 6-hour computer-based test that covers subjects like mathematics, statistics, chemistry, engineering economics, ethics, and more. The exam is closed book, so examinees must memorize formulas and concepts.

After passing the FE and working for a minimum of 4 years under a PE, engineers can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. This test goes more in-depth into a specific engineering discipline. Once licensed as a PE, engineers can offer their services directly to the public and earn the stamp of a professional engineer. Having a PE license offers more career advancement opportunities, greater earning potential, and enhanced engineering status.

Starting Salaries for FE Engineers

Most engineers take the FE exam either in their final year of an engineering undergraduate program or soon after graduation. What is the starting pay range for these EITs?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for entry-level engineers in 2022 was $83,700 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). However, pay varies significantly based on your engineering field and geographic location. Here are some starting salary ranges for common engineering disciplines (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023):

• Civil engineering: $60,000 - $89,940
• Mechanical engineering: $60,000 - $96,310
• Electrical engineering: $60,000 - $104,610
• Chemical engineering: $60,000 - $106,260
• Petroleum engineering: $60,000 - $131,800

Of course, these are just ballpark figures. Salaries can differ drastically depending on the working experience, industry, company, state, and cost of living. For example, an electrical engineer at a tech firm in Silicon Valley will likely earn more than the same role in a smaller Midwest city. New graduates may also receive signing or retention bonuses that boost first-year pay.

Factors that Influence FE Salaries

What causes such wide variations in salary offers for EITs straight out of school? Here are some of the key factors:

• Location: Engineering salaries vary greatly between geographic regions. Roles in high-cost-of-living urban areas tend to pay more.
• Industry: The engineering field and industry impact pay. Some of the highest-paying sectors include oil/gas, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, and software development.
• Company size: Large multinational corporations typically offer higher compensation than smaller businesses.
• Prestige: Well-known and respected engineering firms garner top talent by providing above-average salaries.
• Demand: Trendy engineering disciplines like software and computer engineering may boast higher pay due to talent scarcity.
• Education: Graduates from highly ranked engineering schools often secure higher starting salaries.
• Internships: Relevant internship experience results in higher offers.

Overall, new EITs can expect to earn an average starting salary of $65,000 to $75,000. However, specialized fields like petroleum engineering ($131,800 average) or tech sector roles can quickly exceed six figures for new graduates.

Career Advancement and Earning Potential

An EIT certification provides a solid foundation for career advancement and increasing earning potential over time. Here are some key ways to boost your salary as an EIT:

• Obtain your PE license: Becoming a Professional Engineer almost always results in an immediate salary bump. Expect $5,000 to $15,000+ in additional pay.
• Pursue management: Transition into an engineering management or executive role to earn well over $100,000.
• Specialize: Develop specialized expertise in a high-demand niche like semiconductor engineering or data science.
• Learn new skills: Expand your skillset by mastering software like CAD or programming languages.
• Earn a graduate degree: Obtain a master’s or doctorate degree to qualify for senior engineering positions.
• Switch companies: Leverage your experience to land a higher-paying engineering job at a new firm.
• Start a business: Experienced PEs can launch an independent engineering consulting business.
• Relocate: Move to a larger metro area or different state to increase earning potential.

Based on data from Payscale, here is the earning potential for EITs at different experience levels (Payscale, n.d.):

• Early career (0-5 years): $61,000 - $96,000
• Mid-career (5-10 years): $63,000 - $110,000
• Experienced (10-20 years): $79,000 - $131,000
• Late career (20+ years): $78,000 - $175,000

Of course, these figures represent national averages across industries. Experienced PEs in leadership roles at top tech companies can easily make $200,000+ per year. The earning potential keeps rising over the course of an engineering career.

Average Salaries by State

Let's examine average FE and PE salaries on a state-by-state basis. Keep in mind that actual pay can vary based on your specific city and employer.

According to BLS data, the top five highest-paying states for engineers in 2022 are (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023):

1. District of Columbia - $143,680 average salary
2. Alabama - $129,920
3. Virginia - $128,620
4. California - $124,640
5. New Mexico - $123,170

In general, engineers make well above the national median salary regardless of location. But, licensing and career advancement can lead to especially lucrative pay at leading technology companies concentrated in states like California, Washington, Texas, and Massachusetts.

Key Takeaways

Here are some of the key points we covered about FE earning potential:

• Starting salaries for EITs range from $60,000 - $90,000 on average. Civil and industrial engineers earn slightly less than other engineering disciplines.
• Salaries vary greatly based on location, company, industry, and engineering specialty. The tech sector and oil/gas jobs pay new EITs the most.
• States like California, Texas, Alaska, and Colorado boast the top engineer salaries due to the high cost of living and an abundance of technology companies.

Becoming a Professional Engineer provides the most lucrative career path. But even at the early FE stages, engineers earn excellent pay right out of college. Passing the FE exam is the first step towards high earning potential over the course of an engineering career.

Ready to pass your FE exam, boost your career, and increase your earning potential? Discover FE exam prep options with School of PE now!

About the Author: Khoa Tran

Khoa Tran is an electrical engineer working at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and is currently pursuing his master's in electrical Power from the University of Southern California. He is fluent in both Vietnamese and English and is interested in outdoor activities and exploring new things.