IEEE members are making more than ever. Another two years of soaring salaries have been reported by The Institute, EE Times as the results of the 1999 IEEE US Salary and Fringe Benefits Survey. The results of the biennial survey show that the median salary for electrical, electronics, and computer engineers rose nearly 14% since 1997 to a whopping $82,000.
The average US member as determined by this survey is a white male, 46.8 years of age with 21.2 years of professional/managerial experience. He holds a masters degree and works full-time in his Primary Area of Technical Competence (PATC) and earns an average (median) of $82,000 per year. This is the first time in the 25 year history of the survey that the number of members whose highest degree is a master's is larger than the number of members who have not gone beyond the bachelor's.
This median $82,000 salary is the income from primary sources for IEEE US members employed in their PATC. "From primary sources" means it does not include income from overtime, profit sharing, supplementary earnings, retirement or pension benefits or any additional earnings other than stock options. When you include these supplementary earnings, the median number jumps to $87,020 for full-time workers in PATC.
And, not all IEEE US members are employed full-time in their PATC. Not all members are even employed (22.6% are retired and not working and 1.3% were unemployed). When you factor these members' salaries into the results, you get a median of $72,000 for income from primary sources and $80,000 for income from all sources.
For more perspective on the 1999 median of $82,000, the median in 1997 was $72,000 and in 1995 $67,000. Moreover, this $82,000 is the center of a range of salaries that extends from $52,600 (lowest decile) to $132,000 (highest decile).
The increase in median salary from 1997 to 1999 was $10,000, almost 14%, and twice as large as the increase between 1995 and 1997. But, this is not an apples to apples comparison. Included in the 1999 number are two years of inflation and two years of additional engineering experience: the average engineer is slightly more than 2 years older than he was in 1997 and has two more years of experience. These two additional years will roughly translate into about $2000 additional salary.
From an inflation point of view, a salary of $19,200 in 1971 is equivalent to $76,753 today. For the past decade, IEEE US members' salaries have stayed ahead of the rate of inflation. During the 70s and 80s, salaries lagged inflation almost all years. Taking all of this into consideration, however, during the past two years we have seen by far the highest level of real income since the surveys began.
The classic maturity curve illustrating engineering salary by years of experience increases rapidly early in the career, then slows, tapering off and becoming flat from 25 to 30 years and then declining slowly for the remainder of the career. Engineers starting out right now report a median salary of $66,000. Those with more than 44 years of experience report a median of $89,000. Results of the 1999 survey, however, show a peculiar dip in salary for engineers with 2-6 years of experience (up to $12,000 relative to entry level engineers). This might be due to the current hot market for new graduates, as well as the lingering effects of a weak market in the early 90s when those 2-6 year experienced engineers were first hired.
The PATC with the highest salaries in 1999 are (in order): engineering management, solid state circuits and devices, communications, computers - other, and laser/electro-optic circuits and devices. The PATC with the lowest median salaries: education, computer networking, industrial applications, and controls. Interestingly enough, the computer hardware area salaries were above the median, but the computer software salaries were below the median - not a result you would expect in an area where reports say demand is exceeding supply. Those making the biggest gains over the two years were: components/packaging/ manufacturing for circuits and devices, communications, signal processing, and medical systems. Again, the increase in computer software salaries was well below the median.
The industries paying the most are: computers, communication, aerospace, electrical/electronic manufacturing, and consulting. Those paying the least: electrical/electronic services, transportation, and automotive. Those with the biggest growth in salaries: education, consulting, computers and electrical/electronics manufacturing.
And, finally, if you're contemplating the choice between technical and management ladders, consider this: the job functions that earn the most are general management, technical management, marketing/sales and consulting. Those that earn the least: engineering support, manufacturing, quality control/reli-ability, operations, and systems engineering.
Looking closer, our region is seeing a much larger than average increase in salaries in certain major metropolitan areas. Topping the list of growth areas is Dallas - moving from 17th in 1997 to 5th in 1999, for an average increase of 30% (from $69,000 to nearly $90,000)!! The median salary in Dallas now exceeds that in Boston and San Diego and trails only San Francisco, Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles. Median salary in the state of Texas is $85,550, Houston $83,838 and Austin $81,750.
If you would like more information on where you fit in range of salaries, consider purchasing the Salary Benchmarks Workbook (product no. UH2982) which will allow you to figure out what the 1999 Salary Survey data says you should be making depending on your individual situation. The complete Salary Survey is also available. For more information, see www.ieeeusa.org/CATALOG/99salary.html or to purchase, contact 800-678-IEEE.
I would like to make a personal request for help to each member of the FW Section.
As some of you are already aware, I am a candidate for Region 5 Director-Elect in the upcoming IEEE elections. I want to ask you all for your support.
For nearly 15 years I have been creating programs and services that IEEE members can and do use. Some of these you are familiar with locally - this newsletter for example - and some have been more global in scope: Job Listing System, various electronic and print publications, tutorials and workshops. I have been volunteering my time and energy to local activities since I started on the Section Executive Committee in 1985. I would like to continue my service to you, the members of Region 5 and the engineering profession as Director and am asking all of you to vote for me.
In a few weeks you will receive your IEEE election ballot. Please take a few minutes to fill it out (at least the Region 5 part). IEEE is even including a postage-paid return envelope so all it will cost you is a little time. My opponent is from Dallas - a Section four times the size of ours. I will need the votes from all of you if I am to succeed.
For more information about me and my goals as Director, see my webpage: www.ieee.org/reg/5/jean_eason/index.html or send me an email. I would appreciate your comments (there is a feedback form on the web) and your support. Thanks.
-- Jean Eason
DALLAS/FORT WORTH YOUNG ENGINEERS - SURGE - The Symposium for Upcoming and Recent Graduates of Engineering (SURGE) will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, 1999. SURGE is a personal/professional development conference sponsored by the Dallas/Fort Worth Young Engineers (DFWYE) for engineers with less than 10 years experience. Topics include financial planning, intellectual property, PE licensure, and a panel discussion on different career paths that begin with engineering. Contact getinfo@dfwye.org.
DFWYE is a multidisciplinary group with representation from the various local engineering society sections (including IEEE-Fort Worth) that was formed to develop and promote programs of interest to young (less than 10 years experience) engineers. DFWYE offers collaboration opportunities such as coaches for the Denton County Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (DCBEST) robotics competition and the Richardson Pre-college Career Fair. Contact Darren Bryant at 972-603-2765, getinfo@dfwye.org, or see www.dfwye.org.
COMMUNICATION'S GRADUATE PAPER CONTEST - The Fort Worth Communications Society Chapter is sponsoring a Graduate Student Paper Contest this fall. The first place will be $300, second place $200 and third place $100. Papers should be current materials developed within the last year with topics from ComSoc technical activities including communications switching, software, theory, networking and radio. Deadline for paper submittal is Nov. 29. Winners will present their papers at the Dec. 8 meeting. Contact Thomas Sears, 817-245-6488 or thomas.sears@ieee.org
SALARY BENCHMARKS WORKBOOK PROVIDES PERSONAL SALARY ESTIMATE - Are you getting paid what you're worth? How do you know? The IEEE-USA's Salary Benchmarks: A Personal Workbook, provides a salary estimate based on the results of the 1999 IEEE-USA Salary Survey that allows you to incorporate your individual circumstances for current or prospective future jobs. Included are 75 variables such as location, experience, industry and education, as well as other economic and demographic characteristics. The workbook, product no. UH2982, is $14.95 for members. Contact 800-678-IEEE or see www.ieeeusa.org/CATALOG/99salary.html.
IEEE-USA PRESIDENT PAUL KOSTEK TESTIFIED that "In the absence of reliable statistics to support industry's contention that there is a serious national shortage of core information technology workers, including computer engineers and scientists, systems analysts and programmers, there is insufficient empirical evidence to justify another increase in H-1B admissions ceilings at this time." He added "Our concerns are compounded by very credible evidence suggesting that the H-1B visa program and other employment-based admissions programs do not include appropriate, effective, enforceable safeguards for employment opportunities, wages and working conditions for US workers, including citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals who have been legally admitted to work temporarily in the United States. Until such time as these deficiencies have been corrected, there should be no further increase in employment-based admissions." Kostek's testimony is availa! ! ! ble at www.ieeeusa.org/forum/policy/99aug6.html. Other testimonies are available at www.house.gov/judiciary/6.htm
FURTHER, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ENGINEERING SOCIETIES (AAES), a federation of professional engineering societies (including IEEE-USA) whose collective membership includes a million engineers in various disciplines, adopted the following position statement on August 6 regarding high tech temporary guest workers: "The American Association of Engineering Societies believes that it is premature to consider increasing again the new limits set by Congress in 1998 on entry of temporary foreign technical guest-workers through the H-1B visa program until the National Research Council completes and Congress has an opportunity to assess the results of the studies on the state of the high tech workforce it mandated in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-277, Sec. 417-418)."
NEW PROPOSED IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION - On July 27, Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) introduced the New Workers for Economic Growth Act (S. 1440) that would nearly double the current visa cap on skilled guest workers to 200,000 a year for 2000-2002. On August 3, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose, Ca.) introduced the BRAIN Act (Bringing Resources from Academia for the Industry of our Nation Act) (H.R. 2687). The bill would create a new "T" or "Tech" visa, available to international students graduating from American universities with degrees in engineering and the sciences who are hired by technology companies at a compensation level of $60,000 a year or more. See www.house.gov/lofgren/body4brain.html. And, finally, Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) has introduced companion legislation (H.R. 2698) in the House to Senator Gramm's New Workers for Economic Growth Act. See ! ! ! www. house.gov/dreier/pr080499.htm.
IEEE-USA AND OTHERS EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF DEFENSE R&D FUNDING INCREASES - On July 22, the House approved a Defense Appropriations bill for FY 2000 (H.R. 2561), which would allocate $8.25 billion for basic and applied research and advanced technology development funding. The total is higher than both President Clinton's request or the Senate's bill. Additional funding is derived, in part, through savings achieved from the House's proposal not to fund acquisition of the F-22 advanced fighter. As the House and Senate bills go to committee for reconciliation in September, there is concern that monies earmarked for R&D will be shifted to other priorities, including the F-22 fighter program, which is retained in the Senate proposal.
In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of national investments in defense research and development, IEEE-USA joined with other members of the Coalition for National Security Research in sponsoring a congressional briefing on July 27th. Among the highlights, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) noted that R&D's share of the defense budget has slipped from 20% during the Reagan Administration to 8% now due to budget constraints and costs associated with on-going military operations, peace-keeping and readiness. Retired Marine General Alfred Gray emphasized how basic research ideas have been translated into battlefield uses. IBM Vice President Randy Isaac noted that DoD's investments in R&D are disconnected from their vision of war-fighting in the future and warned that in many areas "there is nothing growing up to replace current technologies."
In May, IEEE-USA had communicated it's support to the Secretary of Defense and Congress for funding at/above the $8 billion as recommended by the Defense Science Board. See www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/99may27.html. And, IEEE-USA has endorsed the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development act (H.R. 2086), legislation introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner that would authorize nearly $4.8 billion over the next five years for IT research (a 92% increase over FY99 levels). The bill also contains provisions to permanently extend the R&D tax credit.
HOUSE ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE COMPARES ELECTRICITY RESTRUCTURING PROPOSALS - In a July 22 hearing, the House Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power heard testimony from two panels of witnesses on a slate of electricity restructuring proposals. Committee Chairman Thomas J. Bliley (R-VA) indicated that he and Energy Subcommittee chair Joe Barton (R-TX) would be drafting new electricity legislation, which would include provisions on transmission access, reliability, consumer protection, market power, barriers to competition, federal electric utilities, environment and taxes. Restructuring proposals discussed at the hearing included:
NEW WEB SITE LETS KIDS EXPLORE THE WORLD OF ENGINEERING - A new web site, Discover Engineering Online (www.discover-engineering.org), lets adolescents investigate a host of engineering achievements. Aimed at inspiring interest in engineering, the site is a vast resource that its developer, Eastman Chemical Company hopes will tantalize its users to take a serious look into the world of engineering. Among the many features of the site is information on what engineers do and how to become one. The site has almost endless links to games, downloadables, and powerful graphics, as well as to web sites of corporations, engineering societies, and other resources, all tailored to keep young minds tuned in.
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP EARLY AND ON THE WEB - Beginning 26 September, the 50,000 people who either renewed on the Web last year or who joined the IEEE on the Web this year will receive reminders via e-mail about renewal. Those who respond promptly will be purged from the direct mail solicitation for renewal, saving the IEEE more than $1 per renewal, money that can be redirected into programs. Look for more information on the IEEE homepage in a few weeks.
IEEE/ABET SEEK EVALUATORS FOR ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS - The IEEE Educational Activities Board seeks engineering professionals from industrial, government, and academic sectors to serve as program evaluators for accrediting engineering and engineering technology programs at US universities. Nominations will be accepted through 1 Nov. 1999.
The IEEE members selected will attend a one-day training seminar on the IEEE/ABET accreditation process. Evaluation sessions take place each fall and generally run for two to three days. Nomination packages are available from: accreditation@ieee.org; or 732-562-5484. See: webstage.ieee.org/organizations/eab/accengineer.htm.
What is the probability that five consecutive children born to the same couple will all be girls?
Answer to last month's Brainbuster:
The smallest number identified so far in which you move the most significant digit to the right (least significant digit) and get half of the original number is 105,263,157,894,736,842. Half of it is 52,631,578,947,368,421.
Jean Eason, Editor