Let's talk money! So what is the pay of an engineer anyway? Do civil engineers effectively earn more than their fellow industrial engineers? Where do you work best to earn a lot and is pay really decisive in negotiations? Ie-net carefully compiled the answers in the 2021 salary survey.
We give you the highlights in advance.
Does a civil or bio-engineer earn more than an industrial engineer?
Yes. Although we have to be careful with the results, the medians are slightly higher for the first group than for the second. Of the engineers starting their career, 50% of industrial engineers earn more than € 2700 gross per month. For the group of civil and bio engineers, it is € 2841. After 10 years of experience, 50% of the industrial engineers earns more than € 2700 gross per month. 4202 gross per month compared to € 4549 for their colleagues. After 20 years, that is €5060 and €5990 gross per month respectively.
Factors influencing engineers' pay
Several factors combined determine whether you earn more or less. It is no longer a surprise to read that those who are in Brussels In general, people who work in Belgium can earn a higher salary than those who work in West Flanders, for example. Do you opt for an SME with fewer than 50 employees or do you go for an corporate environment with more than 5000 employeesthen you might be able to get a higher salary in the latter category. Also your job level with or without managerial responsibilities, play a role. And unfortunately, if you are a woman sitting on an engineer's chair, chances are that your salary will be lower than at your male colleagues. It is hard to believe that in 2021 we still see this in black and white.
A higher wage? The sector matters
Do you want to get a financial head start on your colleagues? That is easier to do if you work in the chemical or pharmaceutical sector. The metal sector or the energy sector also pay slightly more on average in many cases.
And what about engineers' fringe benefits?
In addition to the gross salary, engineers are often also offered a varied package of fringe benefits. A thirteenth month, hospitalisation and health insurance and a pension plan with group insurance are on the pay slip of more than 85% of engineers. Are these also the most appreciated benefits? Not always, as it turns out. Because in the top 3 of most wanted benefits are a company car, a fuel card and the thirteenth month (end of the year bonus).
Stay or leave? Engineers are quite satisfied in their jobs
74% of engineers say they are satisfied in their current job. Nevertheless, 1 in 6 are considering changing jobs. A more attractive pay package seems to be a major trigger for 65% of these doubters. But those who effectively made the move to another job indicate that better career opportunities and the company atmosphere were the final deciding factors. Food for thought, then.
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