IEEE survey shows uneven advances
Maximilian Teodorescu, EE Times
10/14/2016 02:30 PM EDT
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- Last year was a good year for most, but not all
electrical engineers. Salaries for EEs rose 3.85% on average in 2015, but
gender and racial gaps in salaries widened, according to an annual survey
published this week by the IEEE.
EEs earned a median pre-tax income of $138,285 last year including base
salary, commissions, bonuses and net self-employment. Strip away overtime
pay, profit sharing, and other supplemental earnings, and the 2015 figure
drops to $135,000, up from $130,000 in 2014.
The rise was slightly less than the 4.25% gain the IEEE reported in 2014,
but significantly better than gains in the prior three years. Electrical
engineers historically see annual salary gains that range from 0.5 to 5%.
Systems and control engineers reported the highest 2015 earnings growth of 8
.72 percent. Engineers employed in communications continue earning the
highest median wages, while energy and power engineers remain at the bottom.
Human environment engineers experienced the only net loss with salaries
down 5.25 percent from 2014.
Comms engineers continue to bring home top salaries. (Charts: IEEE)
Gender income disparity widened by approximately $5,000, reaching a median
income difference of $18,529 between men and women of equal experience. The
salary gap among Caucasians and African-American engineers also expanded,
with whites earning $20,800 more than African-Americans, an increase of $4,
500 since 2014.
Last year’s survey showed gender and racial gaps narrowed from 2013. An
IEEE representative said the survey is based on a different set of
respondents each year and may not be a statistically accurate representation
of overall or historical trends, he said.
“We’d like to see the gaps narrow such that it’s not a topic,” he added.
Salaries varied widely sector. Defense industry engineers accrued the
highest primary income, while lowest wages belonged to positions in teaching
and training; operations, construction and maintenance; manufacturing and
production; and engineering support.
The gap between entry-level and upper-management continues to lengthen.
Those in the highest level of responsibility earned up to three times more
than entry-level employees. General management positions accrued an extra $
38,000 in wages compared to the median salary of all other positions, with
technical, marketing and sales management roles also doing well when
compared to the whole.
The IEEE surveyed 9,637 members for the report, 7,391 of which are
considered full-time employees in their primary area of technical competence
and therefore the most relevant group as a point of comparison.
The typical survey participant was a middle-aged male in his late forties,
possessing an advanced degree and about 23 years of professional experience.
The typical participant reached the fifth or sixth of nine possible levels
of professional responsibility and was working in a supervisory role. –
Rick Merritt contributed to this report.
Last year marked the second relatively large raise in a row for EEs.
