Survey finds recent high school grads expect to earn $90k/year by age 30.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Well its O&G, which is not out of the ordinary. Plus I imagine you have a accreditation or something to that effect.

I am a technologist in training. I qualify to be a Certified Engineering Technologist but I haven't completed the paperwork.

On my own time, at my own expense, I have become a certified ISO lead auditor and a CWB ticketed inspector.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

I'm in my second year of Civil Engineering and don't really know what to expect through my 20s. I hear a lot of things from different people. One of my buddies said he hears that there are not a lot jobs for engineers, yet other say that jobs are abundant, and you just need to a put a lot of effort into finding one (which a lot of people don't do, apparently).

Obviously, I would like to make a lot of money, but I think about $60-70k in my late 20s would be alright and certainly attainable. I don't know what to expect, and I'm not trying to be too unrealistic.

Funny case and point... 2 of the guys I graduated in Engg, we are all 26, we were all pretty good students... 1 guy, if you include living expenses and so forth (works O&G) makes >$120k... the other guy, works in a smaller EE design house, makes <$50k... almost 1/3 of the other guy. Same age, same quality of student and intellect, 1/3 of the salary.

Just don't expect anything, see where the road takes you... 1 year before I graduated, I sure as hell did not think I would be leaving the country either.

[GP_Matt]

It may be that trades are being overlooked because working a trade doesn't always give you the flexibility to post on message boards in the afternoon, but I think it is quite possible for a motivated individual to enter a trade after high school and be making $90k a year twelve years later.
I know that up here Brandt is hiring guys out of high school to enter their Heavy Duty Mechanic program and starting them off at $24 or so. If they pay that for someone with zero skills then I am sure you will make $90 once you have your tickets.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

So do you heat up the spritzer before you apply it to TheyCallMeBruce?

I wish they'd pay me for that...

[Muta]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

I'm 27 - O&G Industry - CA. I make more than the number mentioned.

It'll be tough to find anyone who can post on CP in Calgary 9-5 M-F who isn't in an OG office job, and thus not making over $90K.

Ah ha, it's all clear now... you're one of those doochey Calgary 1%'ers making too much money for your own good at such a young age. I see you in the +15's at lunch....

I'd like to be able to fool a company the way you have yours.





(i'm just kidding, btw!)

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

I'm 27 - O&G Industry - CA. I make more than the number mentioned.

It'll be tough to find anyone who can post on CP in Calgary 9-5 M-F who isn't in an OG office job, and thus not making over $90K.

Hey Amorak.

[Deegee]

I don't make 90K and I'm close to 30.

Mind you I started in this field 4 years ago and made really poor life decisions until 25, so I only have myself to blame.

Money is out there if a person wants it.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Deegee

I don't make 90K and I'm close to 30.

Mind you I started in this field 4 years ago and made really poor life decisions until 25, so I only have myself to blame.

Money is out there if a person wants it.

+1

I'm not in O&G but I took a near useless degree, made some questionable decisions and didn't graduate until 26.

I'm at least 4 years behind people my own age. I make dick all and it sucks. At least I sort of have the makings of a career coming along.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Does anyone know how much Champion makes?

I know he hates to mention it, so I realize this is a pointless question.

[Deegee]

Plus he can bang a lot of chicks, if he wants.

He's East Indian though, so that might be part of it.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Does anyone know how much Champion makes?

I know he hates to mention it, so I realize this is a pointless question.

I think I missed the thread he was outed. So is Champion = Sundeep Malhi ?

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Deegee

Mind you I started in this field 4 years ago and made really poor life decisions until 25, so I only have myself to blame.

Bad decisions make for good stories.

[jkstuart12]

When I was in high school I probably would have thought the exact same thing. I am now 6 weeks away from graduating with my B.Comm and have come to the realization that a 90k salary is likely not in the cards, at least in the near future. I do have 8 years before I hit 30 though, so time is on my side.

btw..are any of you hiring?

[MRCboicgy]

A lot of it has to do with perspective/background. If you told me as a youth that I would be making 55K 4 years after getting my bachelor's degree, I'd have been thrilled. Considering my parents were poor as church mice and my dad never made more than 36K in a year in his life (still!), I'm making huge bucks.

Now if I didn't have to go into serious hock in order to get said education - hopefully will have it paid off in 3 years (both student loans and CC, which I maxed out during college) - I'd actually be making financial progress as I close in on 30.

I'm looking forward to reaching 5 years at my role - it's very specialized, even in business, so I should have some opportunities ahead (maybe just not in Calgary - more like Seattle or Silicon valley)

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

I'm looking forward to reaching 5 years at my role - it's very specialized, even in business, so I should have some opportunities ahead (maybe just not in Calgary - more like Seattle or Silicon valley)

What field, and who do you want to work for? Depending, I could probably put you in contact with someone (head hunter, or otherwise)

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

What field, and who do you want to work for? Depending, I could probably put you in contact with someone (head hunter, or otherwise)

PM sent

(thx!)

[ranchlandsselling]

I'm above that number at 32, probably was at that number at 30. I don't work in
O/G.

[CrusaderPi]

Do you work in selling? Say, the selling of lands, possibly for ranch related purposes?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Funny case and point... 2 of the guys I graduated in Engg, we are all 26, we were all pretty good students... 1 guy, if you include living expenses and so forth (works O&G) makes >$120k... the other guy, works in a smaller EE design house, makes <$50k... almost 1/3 of the other guy. Same age, same quality of student and intellect, 1/3 of the salary.

Just don't expect anything, see where the road takes you... 1 year before I graduated, I sure as hell did not think I would be leaving the country either.

Sometimes its not always about money, though. I think a lot of people could put themselves into a higher salary position but not necessarily be that happy with what they're doing all day. It is after all, just a job, but if you're there for 8 to 9 hours a day it can be quite the drain. That said, I don't think I could jump to a lower paying job at this point in exchange for more interesting work. It's funny how those golden handcuffs work.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Some of those that make $90k don't necessarily deserve to make that much. Sometimes it's all about timing. When I was working in O&G there were a number clients in their late 20s to early 30s I met up frequently that made that salary, but they did so due to the boom. Many of them didn't lose their jobs during the bust, and they continue to make that money or more to this day.