I'm working as a mechanical engineer after starting uni at 26, finished with a first class MEng from a UK uni, a couple of years experience in automotive and manufacturing from placements and the past year of work. I enjoy my job but I am thinking long term where I can go as I'm 32 now and most moves will involve a significant pay cut. It is a contract job which doesn't offer much in the way of long term training.
There is this idea that a significant number of engineering grads (and I have seen it with my classmates) in the UK seem to head into finance related fields after graduation (banking, insurance) as the pay there is so much more vs engineering over here, and all power to them.
What I am seeing when I look for jobs in the UK is that engineering pay does seem to max out around £50-60k, I have reached that level already as I am a contractor (and compared to IT contracts this is not a great rate). Coupled with the high cost of living at least in the south-east means it actually doesn't go that far.
Obviously there are ways of reducing your cost of living but that is limited, and I'd prefer the "earn more" strategy.
So I am prepared to move elsewhere for the next step, potentially anywhere in the world, or stay in the UK for the right role where I can improve my skills. The problem with the latter option is I'd likely have to take a big pay cut (~20k ish) to go somewhere with more development/training and I'm 32 now. So it would likely take a 4-5 years+ to get back to my current level of pay.
It sounds like there are much more lucrative engineering jobs overseas as the UK doesn't seem to actually pay engineers that well, I've heard Masters grads moving overseas and getting some good roles off the bat in Aus and would be interested to hear from anyone who's done this, PM if you prefer.
I will keep doing my research in the mean time.
Are there any other members out there who've been in this position and moved elsewhere? Any advice from other engineers also welcome.
Cheers
There is this idea that a significant number of engineering grads (and I have seen it with my classmates) in the UK seem to head into finance related fields after graduation (banking, insurance) as the pay there is so much more vs engineering over here, and all power to them.
What I am seeing when I look for jobs in the UK is that engineering pay does seem to max out around £50-60k, I have reached that level already as I am a contractor (and compared to IT contracts this is not a great rate). Coupled with the high cost of living at least in the south-east means it actually doesn't go that far.
Obviously there are ways of reducing your cost of living but that is limited, and I'd prefer the "earn more" strategy.
So I am prepared to move elsewhere for the next step, potentially anywhere in the world, or stay in the UK for the right role where I can improve my skills. The problem with the latter option is I'd likely have to take a big pay cut (~20k ish) to go somewhere with more development/training and I'm 32 now. So it would likely take a 4-5 years+ to get back to my current level of pay.
It sounds like there are much more lucrative engineering jobs overseas as the UK doesn't seem to actually pay engineers that well, I've heard Masters grads moving overseas and getting some good roles off the bat in Aus and would be interested to hear from anyone who's done this, PM if you prefer.
I will keep doing my research in the mean time.
Are there any other members out there who've been in this position and moved elsewhere? Any advice from other engineers also welcome.
Cheers