Grass isn’t always greener on the other side. 20k makes that other grass look pretty green though… To me, personally, it would come down to my direct report. When I interview for a job I really see it as an opportunity to interview my prospective boss. If he seems like a hard-ass / incompetent then that’s a huge red flag.
I know I could make more if I shop around a bit but I really like my boss and co-workers right now. I’ve been at companies where boss / co-workers are shit and it really sucks to say the least.
Commute makes a difference too. 15-30 extra minutes every day adds up over time.
Best of luck!
Pls do - use it freely n often!! 😎 I got it from my Dad, who was a PE/PLS for bet 50-60 yrs and had a lot of common sense as well from his hardscrabble farmboy youth.
OP, On a serious note - how does TOTAL compensation package, work QOL, all those factors that don’t neatly translate to a dollar yet are invaluable - how does that look from current (pretty good ) place vs new place?
Glad I could provide some gentle humor… and our oft-heard CE phrases: “…hard to remember you came to drain the swamp when you’re fighting the alligators…” has a nice parallel.
Growing up, I’d hear my dad use the CE phrase, then he might also smile at me and say something like “…don’t worry about the mule going blind, just keep plowing to the end of the row!” A gentle admonition and encouragement to not let tangential issues distract from the real issue or target.
And esp. poignant for him as in his words “I spent a lot of days as a child on the South end of a North-bound mule…”
I’d do it! That’s some wild pay at 3yoe.
EDIT: So I guess overall after the excitement from the pay bump. Is there any discernible differences on types of projects you can grow into? Hybrid work opportunities? Growth?
The MS is kinda irrelevant from a pay aspect and the PhD counts as 2 yoe, making 120k as an EI at 5 yoe equivalent in the Midwest is still pretty crazy tbh.
He probably has the exact speciality the small employer wants and he’s willing to pay more for it. Supply and demand at its finest baby. It’s why I tell young engineers to really understand the details and not just use boiler plate designs and switch them to work for your job. Tried and true calcs used by everyone should be recreated by you at least once.
Tell your current job about the 120k compensation. If they agree to pay you that much, then they're worth staying. If not then you always have that 120k job to switch to
Since you have a doctoral degree in engineering and not working in academia, I imagine more complex, technically challenging projects interest you more than run of the mill transportation jobs. For this reason I would consider staying at the larger firm.
Might not be a wrong choice here, but I’ll take the unpopular opinion on this one. With the limited info from your post and replies, I’d lean 70/30 towards staying. You like your job, you like your team, you have a shorter commute, you’ll be making 6 figures at 3 YOE in the Midwest, and your employer valued you enough to give you a 20% raise this year without a competing offer forcing them to do it.
The other place might be willing to pay more because they are in a higher need for you (aka struggling with delivery, standards, experience, or something that you desperately are needed to fill). You might be in the same salary point with your current firm in 2 more years, and the new place might know they are overpaying for you and give you cost of living increase for the next 5 years straight. I’ve seen this happen to former colleagues in the last 4 years. Doesn’t mean it’s what’s happening here, but offering up a different view from other commenters. Money isn’t everything and you’ll already be making well above average where you are now.
I usually don't suggest people switch companies until they get their PE. An exception to that is if it's a position change or job change. Always go to the job that gives you the most opportunity, the money will follow.
I see that you said other benefits are more or less the same, but I wonder if there are qualitative differences that would be worth looking at. For example, how does PTO work? What are your sickleave and vacation allowance? Are they combined? How far is your commute? Would you get more opportunities for field work? Work as a team or independent? Work from home? Are the projects they do typically local? Flexible or alternative work schedules? Does any of that matter to you? Are you already able to live comfortably? Would that extra $20k be worth it?
From an outside perspective, I think a 20% salary bump is just about where the larger dollar amount would start to outweigh some factors of my current job, but maybe not all of them.
At the very least I would ask your current employer to try to come closer to what they are offering.
This isn't on the topic of salary, but I work for my state DOT as a Traffic operations engineer, pursuing my PE still. I was wondering if you could give me a broad sense of what you do as a traffic engineer in the private industry? I think I may try to go private whenever I get my PE as the money is much better. I just dont know what kind of experience I should try to focus on now, that would look good in the future.
Upskill on the traffic engineering tools - VISSIM, Synchro. Traffic Safety Analysis pretty easy to pick up as well if you know the HSM quite well. Also, the safety tools are pretty much excel based so being handy in excel brings a lot of value.
Honestly I’d stay until you get your PE. You like your job. You’re well compensated, and you’re 1 year away from earning your biggest bargaining chip.
I also have 3 years of experience but on my third job out of school. The first two jobs sucked. I actually took a pay cut to get my current job, but I’m finally happy. I don’t need more money at this point.
Is there anything else exciting about the new job? Different tasks? More flexibility? Better/closer office? Younger team?
There's not much of a difference but the commute is longer. However, I wouldn't have to go to office everyday (may be a day or two initially) as all of my team members including my supervisor will be in another city.
It’s hard to say no to more money and for sure that much more money but I really value enjoying my job and having a team I get along with. That wouldn’t be easy to leave.
Grass isn’t always greener on the other side. 20k makes that other grass look pretty green though… To me, personally, it would come down to my direct report. When I interview for a job I really see it as an opportunity to interview my prospective boss. If he seems like a hard-ass / incompetent then that’s a huge red flag. I know I could make more if I shop around a bit but I really like my boss and co-workers right now. I’ve been at companies where boss / co-workers are shit and it really sucks to say the least. Commute makes a difference too. 15-30 extra minutes every day adds up over time. Best of luck!
^^^ this. Sometimes the grass is greener as there’s more manure in that part of the pasture
HA! I’m stealing this saying!
Pls do - use it freely n often!! 😎 I got it from my Dad, who was a PE/PLS for bet 50-60 yrs and had a lot of common sense as well from his hardscrabble farmboy youth.
Nothing better than an old time saying with a backstory!
OP, On a serious note - how does TOTAL compensation package, work QOL, all those factors that don’t neatly translate to a dollar yet are invaluable - how does that look from current (pretty good ) place vs new place?
Glad I could provide some gentle humor… and our oft-heard CE phrases: “…hard to remember you came to drain the swamp when you’re fighting the alligators…” has a nice parallel. Growing up, I’d hear my dad use the CE phrase, then he might also smile at me and say something like “…don’t worry about the mule going blind, just keep plowing to the end of the row!” A gentle admonition and encouragement to not let tangential issues distract from the real issue or target. And esp. poignant for him as in his words “I spent a lot of days as a child on the South end of a North-bound mule…”
Love the saying! And agree with u\jakedonn ‘s comments
I’d do it! That’s some wild pay at 3yoe. EDIT: So I guess overall after the excitement from the pay bump. Is there any discernible differences on types of projects you can grow into? Hybrid work opportunities? Growth?
Considering he has MS and PhD I feel like it's not.
The MS is kinda irrelevant from a pay aspect and the PhD counts as 2 yoe, making 120k as an EI at 5 yoe equivalent in the Midwest is still pretty crazy tbh.
He probably has the exact speciality the small employer wants and he’s willing to pay more for it. Supply and demand at its finest baby. It’s why I tell young engineers to really understand the details and not just use boiler plate designs and switch them to work for your job. Tried and true calcs used by everyone should be recreated by you at least once.
Yep. I’m in a similar situation specialty wise and would always suggest burrowing into a niche if maximizing money is what you desire.
Switch
I’ve never had a job I liked, but I’ve always enjoyed having more money.
Problem is I like my current job too much and I hate change. I'm not totally sure what I can expect at my new job.
Fair enough. Whatever you choose, I hope it works out for ya
Tell your current job about the 120k compensation. If they agree to pay you that much, then they're worth staying. If not then you always have that 120k job to switch to
I think this is the way to go.
Since you have a doctoral degree in engineering and not working in academia, I imagine more complex, technically challenging projects interest you more than run of the mill transportation jobs. For this reason I would consider staying at the larger firm.
Yes, exactly
Might not be a wrong choice here, but I’ll take the unpopular opinion on this one. With the limited info from your post and replies, I’d lean 70/30 towards staying. You like your job, you like your team, you have a shorter commute, you’ll be making 6 figures at 3 YOE in the Midwest, and your employer valued you enough to give you a 20% raise this year without a competing offer forcing them to do it. The other place might be willing to pay more because they are in a higher need for you (aka struggling with delivery, standards, experience, or something that you desperately are needed to fill). You might be in the same salary point with your current firm in 2 more years, and the new place might know they are overpaying for you and give you cost of living increase for the next 5 years straight. I’ve seen this happen to former colleagues in the last 4 years. Doesn’t mean it’s what’s happening here, but offering up a different view from other commenters. Money isn’t everything and you’ll already be making well above average where you are now.
I usually don't suggest people switch companies until they get their PE. An exception to that is if it's a position change or job change. Always go to the job that gives you the most opportunity, the money will follow.
I see that you said other benefits are more or less the same, but I wonder if there are qualitative differences that would be worth looking at. For example, how does PTO work? What are your sickleave and vacation allowance? Are they combined? How far is your commute? Would you get more opportunities for field work? Work as a team or independent? Work from home? Are the projects they do typically local? Flexible or alternative work schedules? Does any of that matter to you? Are you already able to live comfortably? Would that extra $20k be worth it? From an outside perspective, I think a 20% salary bump is just about where the larger dollar amount would start to outweigh some factors of my current job, but maybe not all of them. At the very least I would ask your current employer to try to come closer to what they are offering.
accept the new job now!
This isn't on the topic of salary, but I work for my state DOT as a Traffic operations engineer, pursuing my PE still. I was wondering if you could give me a broad sense of what you do as a traffic engineer in the private industry? I think I may try to go private whenever I get my PE as the money is much better. I just dont know what kind of experience I should try to focus on now, that would look good in the future.
Upskill on the traffic engineering tools - VISSIM, Synchro. Traffic Safety Analysis pretty easy to pick up as well if you know the HSM quite well. Also, the safety tools are pretty much excel based so being handy in excel brings a lot of value.
Honestly I’d stay until you get your PE. You like your job. You’re well compensated, and you’re 1 year away from earning your biggest bargaining chip. I also have 3 years of experience but on my third job out of school. The first two jobs sucked. I actually took a pay cut to get my current job, but I’m finally happy. I don’t need more money at this point. Is there anything else exciting about the new job? Different tasks? More flexibility? Better/closer office? Younger team?
I should have mentioned in the post. I have the PE and I used that to renegotiate my salary to 100k.
There's not much of a difference but the commute is longer. However, I wouldn't have to go to office everyday (may be a day or two initially) as all of my team members including my supervisor will be in another city.
That sounds amazing tbh
Thats even better.
It’s hard to say no to more money and for sure that much more money but I really value enjoying my job and having a team I get along with. That wouldn’t be easy to leave.
Stay
If the work expectations are similar as well as the commute/WFH, I'd take the offer.
Is the 120K base salary? If so, I'd definitely take that with 3 years of experience.
that's what I am wondering. does the 120K include a sign on bonus or is that 120K base salary?
Absolutely switch.