Definitely can and do, I have two open positions now which start at $120k , only need 3-5 years of the right experience and a mechanical engineering degree

That's insane considering what my degree cost out there a couple decades ago.

Depends on the type of engineer. For example, a civil engineer makes little versus a petroleum engineer. A family member's oil and gas employer pays new petroleum graduates roughly $115k. With their bonus they are in the neighborhood of $135k plus great benefits. That same family member had summer internships that equated to approximately $85k/year (that was in 2006 or so, I think).

My job "requires" a minimum of a Bachelors Degree, +10 years related experience however I have zero college education. I started with my company pretty much at the bottom and have worked my way to where I am now. I had to make a lot of strategic sacrifices, sometimes not so short-term to get where I am but in a lot of cases if you put in the work you can progress as far as you want without a degree. As far as salary goes all of my Engineers that work for me are making >100k with a couple are closing in on 200k. Of those only 1 has a degree. I hired based not so much on what you know today but are you eager to learn more in this field. If they are willing to learn, I am willing to mentor. (I have no use for a know-it all) We had one and he somehow lasted 3 years. Everyone else are the original hires from when the team was formed 7 years ago.

gtrich94, you may have made the most important point in this discussion. Using your body vs using your brain to make a living.

Don't underestimate CEs. I know several CEs that make >$300k when you lump in some of the financial benefits

In addition to the comments about the major being a determining factor in value, I think the general college education process is valuable. I have both a blue and white collar past, so my opinion is as objective as possible.

There’s a noticeable difference between grads and non-grads in the workforce to me. College graduates tend to be more polished and have much better analytical skills. Their ability to manage relationships is much better as well. I attribute these skills to group projects, a feeling of accomplishment, and being forced to formulate opinions based on facts.

My son wants to pursue law so for him it’s an obvious must. I wouldn’t discourage college from
Anyone unless they just want to go straight to workforce. I do not have a bachelors degree and even though it would be irrelevant to my career I still wish I had that achievement. I have been fortunate enough to find good opportunities in my life and for that I am grateful, but it hasn’t always been an easy path

Our best developer doesn't have a degree. The dude is brilliant.

I have a degree but am not convinced I really needed it to be doing what I am doing. I have had my own business for 15 years in the field that my degree is in. It is a highly technical field but I worked in this industry for 13 years prior to starting my business and I started out as a summer job in high school. About 95% of what I do I learned on the job and maybe 5% in school. I really don’t feel it was necessary but I could be wrong. That being said in my field the majority of large employers won’t even give you an interview without a masters degree.

Wow, college is getting way too expensive.
In our immediate family, I am the only one that doesn't have a college degree, I chose the Trade School rout. Only took me 14 months to finish trade school and went to work at a chemical refinery. Spent 42+ years there. Only the electrical engineer finally caught up to me in pay, took him 10 years after graduation to do it.

Daughter has a Psychology degree and works for UT Health Science Center using her degree.

Oldest son (twins) is an Electrical Engineer with 2 math degrees and is using his degree. His wife has a degree, don't believe she is using hers, but had to have it to get the job in the medical field she is in.

Youngest son (twins) has a Business Degree with a minor in computer science and works for a city using his degree. His wife is a RN and is working at a local hospital and working on her Masters Degree.

My wife has an Elementary Education Degree and taught till she retired and is tutoring kids now at a couple of local schools.

Now for a question. Where are we going to get teachers in the future if a 4 year degree is required and the cost is over $100k. Also why is said degree required to teach Kindergarten thru 3rd grade (or higher) how to read, write and do math other than to keep professors employed at the colleges? It seems like a 2 year degree would be sufficient. According to my wife, nothing she took in college taught her her how to teach.
When she was working on her masters degree, one major grade was on building a shadow box about "The Polar Express" book. By the way, I got her an A+ on it.

College got expensive once the government got full scale into the college loan business. It soon became a matter of colleges seeing how much money could be borrowed to fund a college education. With the exception of Co-op programs, I'm not sure a kid can work their way through college without the aid of student loans given what it costs today.

A high school diploma tells a potential employer you're capable of learning and remembering what you've been taught. A four-year college degree adds that you can complete a long-term goal without quitting. With or without a college degree, the most valuable learning comes from being on the job.

American colleges SUX @ developing and Teaching IT. Only a few schools that get it, like MIT.

Our university IT programs are basically a STEM EAD revenue scam. Most the STEM OPT EAD’s have a higher skill set already then what our universities teach

some recent grad info I pulled that we have hired. All BS and entry level.

Human Factors Engineer is $150k DFW(cola) & 180k west coast cola
Petro engineer 135k -146k (TX and CO Cola)
EE 115-135k TX cola
CE 85-115k TX cola

Wow, I'd guess that's pretty much unheard of for straight out of college. Hard to believe even.

Total nonsense. That's not even remotely accurate. Only within the last 15-20 years did the cost of college begin to severely outpace the rate of inflation. Federal student aid and loan programs began almost 60 years ago in 1965 with the introduction of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Those fancy student centers, dorms, and football stadiums ain't free.

I wasn't referring to starting salary since RR was asking in general about engineer salaries (and clearing 125k).

Long term earning potential/trajectory should factor into it more than starting salary in my opinion, and they both have options to earn a fantastic living depending on if you want to work your arse off and also consider a management path.

I don't hear many college graduates say they are sorry they earned their degree. In fact, I've never heard that said. On the other hand, I do hear those that did not earn a degree state that they wish they had.

Oh. I thought we were talking new graduates getting their first job since the topic was about getting a degree. I even talked about that in my post that you responded to.

As an engineering grad, you won’t be looking for a job. The companies come looking for you. I probably had 10 plant trips and job offers when I graduated. And I was a long way from the top of my class.

Yes, it's all about what your degree is in. There are many worthless degrees. Engineering isn't one of them.

I think it is necessary if you want to go into a specific field. A trade school is a great idea for lots of young people. A degree does not make you smarter or a better applicant lots of times though. When I was a production facilitator in a manufacturing plant, they hired this guy with a degree that came from a local family that had money. He was working on the shop floor for me on the weekend shift on my assembly / paint line. After the 1st weekend he told me that he wanted a position in the front offices and not on the shop floor. There had been some kind of mix up he said. Wrong. Last I heard he was working on the family farm carrying the pi$$ bucket for the other hired help with no degree.

Master’s degree in what???

Apparently not anything very marketable….

I have a bunch of degrees;Associates in IT, BBA and MBA in Finance. Taught IT and Finance courses in College. Never worked in the Finance arena. It did teach me a lot about the Finance/Banking world. The degrees got me interviews at Fortune 500 companies where all professional jobs are “ degree required”. They still are. I got out as an IT Executive because I got a bellyful of corporate BS/Politics and opened my own business in IT Headhunting. Retired from that.

Most big companies are degree required for “professional” positions. Thats in in Finance, Engineering, Math, Teaching, Human Resources, etc.

Want a military career? Non degree stops at Sergeant. Degreed starts at Lieutenant. Sergeant has to salute first but the Lieutenant has to return it. I made it to E5 Staff Sergeant in the USAF and got out after 4 years. That’s when I had grown up enough to get serious about College. I was a late bloomer.

Lots of careers can be had without a degree. A good electrician makes a damn good living as does my plumber buddy. A good mechanic, especially a good automatic transmission guy, can do well. Another close friend is one of the very few mechanics that work on older outboard motors. Another friend has a good sized 4WD Off Road repair business. My son in law, non degreed, makes a damn good living as an aircraft mechanic. A high school buddy could sell shoes to legless people or ice cream to eskimos.

Know what the educational organizations don’t/ can’t teach? Common sense, work ethic and how to get along with people. Nor initiative.