7 answers
Tanishka
Student
New Delhi, Delhi, India
2
Questions
Asked
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Which profession makes more money a robotics engineering or in management ?
I am currently in my last year of engineering and am exploring my options for future. What I want to know is that weather I should do MSc in robotics or MBA in engineering management. Is it true that engineers are paid less then someone in management.
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7 answers
Glenn A
Mechanical Engineering Manager @ Belkin
149
Answers
Irvine, California
Updated
Glenn’s Answer
This is an interesting question that I do not like to answer directly. Your question shows that you are motivated by income of career satisfaction. I have know many people in my life that have been very unhappy with that decision. I would strongly recommend that you look at what interests you career wise.
The real answer is that you can make good money in either. Going into engineering or into business will both allow you to obtain a high position within a company. This can include a CEO position. This in more about how you choose to build your career. From engineering, you can always get an MBA to build out your education and make you more rounded for a leadership position.
My recommendation is that you assess what really drive you and become successful in that field.
The real answer is that you can make good money in either. Going into engineering or into business will both allow you to obtain a high position within a company. This can include a CEO position. This in more about how you choose to build your career. From engineering, you can always get an MBA to build out your education and make you more rounded for a leadership position.
My recommendation is that you assess what really drive you and become successful in that field.
Vladislav Krasnov
Management consulting
7
Answers
Queen Creek, Arizona
Updated
Vladislav’s Answer
In rare (based on personal experience, not solid data) cases being an Engineer (meaning you work as an individual contributor, not managing a team of people) can be as financially lucrative as being a manager (managing activities of a group of individuals). Most of the time managing other people is a higher paying job versus being an individual contributor. But you can definitely start as an individual contributor and develop your skills to be able to manage teams.
Terry Helm
Lead Data Governance Teams
11
Answers
Ballwin, Missouri
Updated
Terry’s Answer
Most importantly what type of work will you be most happy doing; the income will follow. If you enjoy your work you will perform well. I would start out gaining the technical expertise through MSc in robotics and over time if you still want to go more into management get an MBA through an online program at night.
Ray Koch
Mechanical Reliability Engineer
29
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Ray’s Answer
Hello Tanisha!
It is true that some engineers are paid less than someone in management, as generally a manager position is usually a higher level position within an organization. Most of the time an engineer, even at a senior level is still considered an individual contributor role where you would not supervisor other people, while generally a manager role is one that is supervisory meaning that you will have people who report to you. You will be responsible for managing them, as well as potentially a departmental budget and have a lot more administrative duties around those aspects of management and can led to less hands on technical work as your job is more about managing your group and making sure that as a group you perform.
In order to decide whether to get your MSc or your MBA, I would consider what YOU want to do when you graduate with either degree. If you want to be more hands on and enjoy the technical aspect of robotics engineering I would consider the MSc. If you want to led people and be more on the management side then go with the MBA. If you have a specifically known career path you want to take, talk to someone who has followed that career path and find out what degrees that have. One thing to note, you do not need to have the MBA to become a manager, you can still become a manager by learning the management skills that you would need both on the job or through external leadership/management courses.
I hope this helps. Congrats on nearly finishing your bachelor's and good luck on your next step.
It is true that some engineers are paid less than someone in management, as generally a manager position is usually a higher level position within an organization. Most of the time an engineer, even at a senior level is still considered an individual contributor role where you would not supervisor other people, while generally a manager role is one that is supervisory meaning that you will have people who report to you. You will be responsible for managing them, as well as potentially a departmental budget and have a lot more administrative duties around those aspects of management and can led to less hands on technical work as your job is more about managing your group and making sure that as a group you perform.
In order to decide whether to get your MSc or your MBA, I would consider what YOU want to do when you graduate with either degree. If you want to be more hands on and enjoy the technical aspect of robotics engineering I would consider the MSc. If you want to led people and be more on the management side then go with the MBA. If you have a specifically known career path you want to take, talk to someone who has followed that career path and find out what degrees that have. One thing to note, you do not need to have the MBA to become a manager, you can still become a manager by learning the management skills that you would need both on the job or through external leadership/management courses.
I hope this helps. Congrats on nearly finishing your bachelor's and good luck on your next step.
Thank you, Ray!
Tanishka
Jerry Van Norman
Professional Engineer with over 50 years of experience
6
Answers
San Marcos, Texas
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
Tanisha,
From personal experience. I have both an MSc and an MBA. I got my MSc just after my BSc in engineering. Did a number of solid engineering projects. After 20 years, I had enough money saved and the kids about to leave the nest that I could get an MBA. I chose a University (USC) that had Executive MBA program. This allowed me to work part time and also get the degree.
The Executive MBA had a consistent group and the University brought in the senior professors to teach (on alternate weekends - not when there was a home football game). This way the group all knew each other and had a sense of community. The regular MBA students did not have the same sense of community - most just took classes and did not interact much with other students.
By working as an engineer I used much of what I learned in the BSc and MSc program and was able to observe management (both good and bad) and was a help in understanding the firm's issues (technical and management). This really helped when MBA's discuss "real world" problems. Senior management was easy - by knowing both the technical and management sides. The CEO designation on my business card was nice.
The other thing that I did was to become a Professional Engineer. Engineer in training EIT as a senior and then apply the MSc time as part of the practical experience needed to take the PE exams. Amazing how many very interesting projects opened-up when I got the PE (and my billing rate and income about doubled).
Wish you well.
From personal experience. I have both an MSc and an MBA. I got my MSc just after my BSc in engineering. Did a number of solid engineering projects. After 20 years, I had enough money saved and the kids about to leave the nest that I could get an MBA. I chose a University (USC) that had Executive MBA program. This allowed me to work part time and also get the degree.
The Executive MBA had a consistent group and the University brought in the senior professors to teach (on alternate weekends - not when there was a home football game). This way the group all knew each other and had a sense of community. The regular MBA students did not have the same sense of community - most just took classes and did not interact much with other students.
By working as an engineer I used much of what I learned in the BSc and MSc program and was able to observe management (both good and bad) and was a help in understanding the firm's issues (technical and management). This really helped when MBA's discuss "real world" problems. Senior management was easy - by knowing both the technical and management sides. The CEO designation on my business card was nice.
The other thing that I did was to become a Professional Engineer. Engineer in training EIT as a senior and then apply the MSc time as part of the practical experience needed to take the PE exams. Amazing how many very interesting projects opened-up when I got the PE (and my billing rate and income about doubled).
Wish you well.
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Tanishka
Tricia Foster
Engineering and Maintenance Manager
19
Answers
Bartlett, Tennessee
Updated
Tricia’s Answer
Yeah, usually engineers, even senior technical ones, likely make less than engineers in management. That said, you’re not likely to get a job in management right out the gate.
You might want to consider getting employment before working on the advanced degree. Larger companies will usually reimburse you for coursework in advanced degrees.
You might want to consider getting employment before working on the advanced degree. Larger companies will usually reimburse you for coursework in advanced degrees.
Natalie Kotsovska
Sr QA Engineer
6
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Natalie’s Answer
Hey Tanishka!
It's awesome that you're thinking ahead about your future career options. When it comes to comparing salaries between robotics engineering and management, it can vary quite a bit.
In robotics engineering, you've got the potential to rake in some serious cash, especially if you're working in cutting-edge industries like automation or aerospace. Your skills in designing and maintaining robotic systems could be in high demand, which often translates to a pretty sweet paycheck.
But hold up, don't count out management just yet! With an MBA in engineering management, you could be steering the ship on big technical projects and leading teams to success. And guess what? Those leadership chops can come with a nice bump in salary too.
Now, onto the age-old question: Do engineers get paid less than folks in management? Well, it's not always that cut and dry. Engineers can definitely make bank, especially as they climb the career ladder and specialize in niche areas. But yeah, as some engineers move into management roles, they might see their paychecks grow even more.
So, whether you go for that MSc in robotics or MBA in engineering management, it's really about what fires you up and where you see yourself making the biggest impact. Do some digging, talk to people in both fields, and trust your gut. You've got this!
It's awesome that you're thinking ahead about your future career options. When it comes to comparing salaries between robotics engineering and management, it can vary quite a bit.
In robotics engineering, you've got the potential to rake in some serious cash, especially if you're working in cutting-edge industries like automation or aerospace. Your skills in designing and maintaining robotic systems could be in high demand, which often translates to a pretty sweet paycheck.
But hold up, don't count out management just yet! With an MBA in engineering management, you could be steering the ship on big technical projects and leading teams to success. And guess what? Those leadership chops can come with a nice bump in salary too.
Now, onto the age-old question: Do engineers get paid less than folks in management? Well, it's not always that cut and dry. Engineers can definitely make bank, especially as they climb the career ladder and specialize in niche areas. But yeah, as some engineers move into management roles, they might see their paychecks grow even more.
So, whether you go for that MSc in robotics or MBA in engineering management, it's really about what fires you up and where you see yourself making the biggest impact. Do some digging, talk to people in both fields, and trust your gut. You've got this!