Emily Clarke

Do I Need a Master's Degree to Move Up in Engineering?

Working in engineering can be a lucrative career path, but engineering itself covers a broad range of disciplines. Electrical engineering, software engineering and mechanical engineering share a lot of the same principles, but they differ greatly in practice. Moving from one discipline to another can be a way to advance your career and earn more money, but can you make more by getting a Master's degree in engineering?

According to most mid level engineer career advice, attaining a higher level of education is almost always going to help you earn more money in the long run. In the world of engineering, getting a Master's degree will likely earn you a higher salary, but the amount of increase can depend on your geographic region and the number of engineers seeking employment in your area.

A Master's Degree Does Not Always Guarantee Higher Pay Right Away

The number of available career opportunities can also play a part in whether or not a Master's degree will pay off right away. If there are very few employers seeking engineers in your area and only a few open positions, employers hold all the cards. In areas where employers are in desperate need of engineers and very few are available, this shifts the power to job seekers.

Be Willing to Negotiate to Get a Higher Salary

Another piece of mid level engineer career advice is to always be willing to negotiate. Just because you get a Master's degree doesn't necessarily guarantee you will receive the same salary as another engineer with the same degree in a different part of the country.

As mentioned above, various factors can influence your pay, even with a Master's degree; however, being willing to negotiate can help you out tremendously in a tight market. Keep in mind that even if a Master's degree does not earn you what you think you should be making right now, it may end up helping you earn more down the road.

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Emily Clarke writes about the learning platform developed for engineers and tech professionals. You can find her thoughts at tech career blog.