School of PE Blog

Engineers seeking to increase their compensation often are uncertain as to how to approach their supervisors. While there are certainly no "one size fits all" rules for how to achieve a salary increase, there are a few things to keep in mind which may be helpful in determining the best approach.

Employee compensation is determined by several factors which include: the employee's experience level, knowledge, skills, and educational background; job market conditions; industry market conditions; company-specific needs and goals; and other factors. Understanding the particular conditions and needs of the company is important because ultimately the personal success of an employee, in terms of compensation, job satisfaction, and career advancement, hinges on the successful alignment of the employee's and the company's goals. Proving yourself as a valuable asset for a company's success is a key factor in career advancement within a company. Quite simply, an employee who noticeably adds value to a company is most likely to be valued in return. Demonstrating this value through quality work is one means towards recognition. Making the quality of the work you do an advertisement for your own advancement is one strategy in working towards this end. Doing this work with a high degree of professionalism also helps to demonstrate your value to the firm.

Many firms have regular employee review meetings, whether annually or at some other increment of time throughout a year. These are perfect opportunities to showcase the contributions which you have made and the future efforts which you have committed to pursuing. If your firm does not have regularly scheduled employee review meetings, it is reasonable to ask your manager to schedule one with you. In this case, the framing of the request for the discussion should be as a goals review meeting rather than a request for a compensation review. The discussion itself will take on the broader outlines of the employee's and the company's goals which then lends itself to the employee's goals for advancement, including compensation increases and promotion. By framing a discussion in terms of both the firm and the employee, the connections and synergies between the advancement of both can be highlighted. It is not a question of the employee simply "asking for" something, which is likely to be looked upon less favorably by an employer, but rather a discussion in which the performance of the individual and the firm are correlated and discussed. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the commitment of the employee both to their own professional development as well as to the firm's goals.

While proven job performance is an essential prerequisite for discussions of advancement, there are several other ways in which to distinguish oneself and set oneself up for success in compensation discussions. For aspiring engineers, the most straightforward way is to pursue licensure. This adds significant value to a firm's team. It also indicates that you are serious about your professional development and willing to take on the responsibilities that a professional title requires. Many firms even have stated policies related to specifically defined salary increases that an employee can expect upon receiving their licensure. Often, firms will compensate the employee for the fees associated with registering for the required licensure exams. While the road to licensure can seem long for those first entering the workplace out of college, it is important for aspiring engineers to begin the process of planning for the exams and documenting their work experience as required by the state in which the license is being pursued. While licensure can only be typically granted after passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam, it is also necessary to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam prior to the PE exam. Once a candidate passes the FE exam, a status of "Engineer in Training" (EIT) can be used. Becoming an EIT is a great short-term goal for engineering graduates. A good piece of advice is to use the passing of these exam milestones as stated goals during employee evaluation reviews and discussions. It shows that the employee is clearly interested in their advancement and willing to invest in themselves for their development. In turn, the firm is more likely to invest in employees who are investing in their own advancement since the advancement of the individual and that of the firm go hand in hand. The firm has already invested in its employees by hiring them, and it therefore has an interest in their advancement.

Again, the best means of promotion and compensation advancement is to demonstrate professional development, which adds value to the firm and its work. Aside from the pursuit of licensure and overall quality of work on the job, engineers can distinguish themselves through many other means. This could take the outline of providing something unique and of value which other employees of the firm do not offer. For example, if there is a noticeable lack of quality CAD or BIM standards and the software skills of other employees seems to be somewhat lacking, then there could be an opportunity to take an initiative to help the firm improve in this regard by taking on an informal leadership role. There are ample resources available online for software training, and simply improving one's knowledge and offering assistance to other employees as a resource can provide a true value to the firm's work which is likely to be noticed by project managers. Even project managers who do not regularly use CAD or BIM software themselves can help demonstrate their value by improving their software knowledge so that they are familiar with the level of drafting or modeling effort associated with project work. This in turn could lead to better project scheduling and more accurate estimates for design efforts.

The idea of adding value to a firm can also more specifically relate to design knowledge, which can help to expand the versatility of a firm and aid in their pursuit of a wider variety of work and potential clients. For example, there may be a lack of employees with suitable knowledge of sustainable design principles and credentials. In this case, an engineer can demonstrate the potential value which could be brought to a firm by pursuing and achieving a credential such as LEED accreditation. This could help the firm gain the ability to pursue projects where LEED certification is required. Similarly, an engineer could pursue accreditation in WELL or attain an accreditation from the Construction Specification Institute such as CCS (Certified Construction Specifier) if specifications are an aspect of their work. Structural engineers could demonstrate their knowledge and expertise by passing the SE exam, which could allow an engineering firm to pursue work in states or project types where this credential may be required. Areas of specialization need not entail the pursuit of particular accreditations, though these do provide a means to demonstrate a proven level of knowledge in a particular area of interest.

In summary, for engineers seeking promotion or increased compensation, the best means of approaching the subject is often to demonstrate added value and the commitment to adding value. The pursuit of licensure and other accreditations is an excellent strategy, as they provide demonstrable and measurable levels of design knowledge and expertise. Such achievements may allow a firm to pursue additional types of work, which is a clear added value for an employee's firm. Specialization of expertise is an additional means of providing value which can distinguish you from others in the job market. By pursuing and demonstrating the added value which you bring to a firm, recognizing this value, and highlighting it during employee review meetings, you have the best chance of success in achieving recognition within a firm.

If you are wanting to boost your career with an engineering license, look no further than School of PE! For over 18 years, we have helped thousands of busy individuals pass their professional certification and licensure exams and look forward to helping you next! Sign up for a course today.