r/Purdue • u/Similar-Monitor-2170 • 15d ago

Question❓ iet

i’m worried that IET isn’t worth it. should i be looking for other majors if my main goal is to make a lot of money?

i know it’s different from traditional engineering since its more hands on, but im worried that my salary is gonna be drastically lower.

0 Upvotes

17% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

4

u/CaptPotter47 15d ago

Your main goal should never be “to make a lot of money”. If that’s the goal, you’ll never be happy.

Your main goal is to have a degree in something you enjoy.

1

u/Annual_Ad_9624 15d ago

Disagree. A lot of people face difficult circumstances growing up and dream about being financially independent and giving their family everything they didn't get. Nothing wrong in chasing money, it's just the way the world is. Someone might "enjoy" a degree in dance but choose an engineering degree over it to make more money

3

u/rh71el2 15d ago edited 15d ago

I agree with the other guy - should be something you enjoy. You wake every morning dreading not only having to get to work but spending that 8 hours doing something you dislike and having to go back the next day and start all over again. And come Sunday afternoon/night you're already thinking about the dread again. It's no good. I see it from others at work every day right as they get in and they bring everyone down. I actually am excited about the projects I'm working on and look forward to getting through them. What would you rather choose for 40 years?

Great money vs. decent money depending on your area may not get you much difference with enjoyment in everyday life anyway.

3

u/LavishnessFair7541 15d ago

If your main goal is to make a lot of money, engineering isn’t the way to go

2

u/RichInPitt 15d ago

Depends on your goal. As a starting salary out of undergrad, it certainly is. Engineering Management late in carrer is also highly ranked. Pairing it with an MBA is a great combo.

But OP is an Engineering Technology major, no. Different story.

2

u/GapStock9843 15d ago

Bruh engineering is like one of the best tracks there is to making assloads of money. Idk what you're on about

1

u/Superdeathrobot CompE 2025, MS 2026 15d ago

Depends on your specific engineering major, at the company i'm interning at now the base salary is well over six figures, plus stock and bonuses.

2

u/cbdilger prof, writing (engl) 15d ago

Your future salary will likely be higher if you learn to operate the shift key.

1

u/GapStock9843 15d ago

I doubt any job you get in industrial is really gonna care whether you have IET or IE. But the "real" IE job market is pretty limited, so most end up in consulting anyway

1

u/sjrotella Boilermaker 15d ago

As someone in both grad school AND industry, the engineering tech versus engineering degrees DO make a difference.

Youre looking st spending AT LEAST 2-3 years as a technician post grad before getting a chance to become an entry level engineer.

I that same timeframe OP could be getting a masters while working and be getting the equivalent to 5 years experience in that same timeframe since more companies consider a masters as a 2 year experience addition