Engineering – how much do qualifications improve salary prospects?

Has all your time spent in lectures and engineering labs been worth it? Does time studying improve your salary prospects? The answer may be both ‘yes’ and ‘no’ according to recent articles on The Engineer magazine website. Results from a study commissioned by the Royal Academy of Engineers found that those with an engineering qualification could achieve a 15% wage premium compared to the average UK salary. When compared to a career in finance or business this may not be considered very large but Stephen Harris’ article looks at the situation from a different angle. Other data shows engineering graduates earning 32% more than someone with two ‘A’ Levels; the average graduate earning just 27% more than that same ‘A’ Level qualified recruit. In addition engineering salaries ‘rose sharply with experience’ suggesting an industry sector that values such experience. Read more on this analysis of the value of engineering qualifications on The Engineer website http://www.theengineer.co.uk/opinion/comment/how-much-is-an-engineer-worth/1014095.article#ixzz28ix9JdLK