Salary question for Ann Arbor, MI

[Nichole]

I am interested in applying for a job as an assistant nuclear engineer in Ann Arbor, MI. The company will not consider a resume unless a salary requirement is given with the resume. I want to give a reasonable salary without low-balling myself. I have looked on the web and have seen figures ranging from (low end) 30,000 USD/year to (high end) 98,000 USD/year. These figures are wildly different, so I really have no idea what is reasonable. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

Nichole

[Fermi2]

Ann Arbor, U of M. 30 to 40K

[Nichole]

Thank you, Broadzilla!

[Fermi2]

You are quite welcome.

[cheme09]

What is an assistant nuclear engineer?  And given Broadzilla's take on new nuclear industry hires, why would you take his word on the matter?

[GLW]

What is an assistant nuclear engineer?  And given Broadzilla's take on new nuclear industry hires, why would you take his word on the matter?

you're probably right, the OP should insist on 90K to 100K,...

[Nichole]

The "assistant nuclear engineer," according to this job description, is someone with either a bachelor's or master's degree in nuclear engineering that will "support numerous engineering business lines." It is an entry level position.

[retired nuke]

Entergy posts salary range at $55k - $82k, Engineer 1 - Bachelor with 0-8 yrs exp... but that is marginally for entry level - it's really for someone that is a couple of years along...
Engnr Assoc - (distribution) - $45k - $68k, 2-4 yrs college.Real entry level, non-nuke, electrical distrribution.

Good luck

[cheme09]

you're probably right, the OP should insist on 90K to 100K,...

What am I correct about?  I don't recall making any assertions.

For the OP, my company will start an entry level engineer between 50k and 70k roughly.  For a fresh out of college BS degree it will be on the lower end of that band.  If you have 1 - 2 years experience, a little higher on that band.

[Nichole]

Thanks guys, all help/information is appreciated! I went for 50-60k with the statement that it is negotiable.

[GLW]

Thanks guys, all help/information is appreciated! I went for 50-60k with the statement that it is negotiable.

took that upper band eh?!?!,....good luck!! (sincerely)

What am I correct about?  I don't recall making any assertions.

For the OP, my company will start an entry level engineer between 50k and 70k roughly.  For a fresh out of college BS degree it will be on the lower end of that band.  If you have 1 - 2 years experience, a little higher on that band.

here's the company;

https://tetratech.tms.hrdepartment.com/jobs/12231/Assistant-Nuclear-EngineerAnn-Arbor-MI

here's the U of M pay range;

http://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/University-of-Michigan-Assistant-Research-Scientist-Hourly-Pay-E3023_D_KO23,51.htm

three minutes of research would have shown you BZ probably did his,...

his utility (like your company) probably pays better than a university for entry level too,...

again, three minutes of research would have circumvented the smarmy crap,...

university work has perks other than pay to consider in the equation,...

of course, emoticons can help,....

(and yet you already know all of this,... )

peace,...1575

[cheme09]

took that upper band eh?!?!,....good luck!! (sincerely)

here's the company;

https://tetratech.tms.hrdepartment.com/jobs/12231/Assistant-Nuclear-EngineerAnn-Arbor-MI

here's the U of M pay range;

http://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/University-of-Michigan-Assistant-Research-Scientist-Hourly-Pay-E3023_D_KO23,51.htm

three minutes of research would have shown you BZ probably did his,...

his utility (like your company) probably pays better than a university for entry level too,...

again, three minutes of research would have circumvented the smarmy crap,...

university work has perks other than pay to consider in the equation,...

of course, emoticons can help,....

(and yet you already know all of this,... )

peace,...1575

If you can piece together the story on how those two links you posted are related, and get 30-40k/year as the average then you, sir, should be on team at CERN helping to find the God particle. 

But, the OP has already made the decision so it's moot point now.

[Nichole]

I also have a couple of other prospects that will likely pay in the range I am asking. If (and that is a big IF) Tetra Tech will offer in that range, I may consider their job.

[Laundry Man]

A little pricey in Ann Arbor.
LM

[Fermi2]

What is an assistant nuclear engineer?  And given Broadzilla's take on new nuclear industry hires, why would you take his word on the matter?

I have been 100% correct on new industry hires child. And I know exactly what a Nuke Eng at Ann Arbor gets because I KNOW some...

[Nichole]

Yes, Ann Arbor does look rather pricey. That is why I asked for more than 30-40k. I couldn't live there on that bit of salary. Also, I've had an offer to work for my state's Dept. of Transportation for 50k per year. I could live like royalty on that salary in this state. No sense in moving to another state just to live in poverty.

[RDTroja]

Yes, Ann Arbor does look rather pricey. That is why I asked for more than 30-40k. I couldn't live there on that bit of salary. Also, I've had an offer to work for my state's Dept. of Transportation for 50k per year. I could live like royalty on that salary in this state. No sense in moving to another state just to live in poverty.

I lived in Ann Arbor from 1983 to 1987 and I loved it there four months a year. My Siberian Huskies loved it there the rest of the year. If you don't like cold, don't even think about it. On the other hand, if you like living in a relatively small town with big city amenities, go for it.

[Nichole]

I can deal with cold, it's heat that I have a problem with. 

[GLW]

If you can piece together the story on how those two links you posted are related,...

it's obvious

.....and get 30-40k/year as the average....

academia entry level discount,....

[cheme09]

I have been 100% correct on new industry hires child. And I know exactly what a Nuke Eng at Ann Arbor gets because I KNOW some...

I was refering to how you like to suggest the role of janitor for newbies because 30k sounds about right for that job.

But fair enough - you may know some nuclear engineers in Ann Arbor.  If they are making only 30-40k a year, I suggest you let them know that pay is drastically below the median entry level pay for engineers in the US (http://www1.salary.com/Engineer-I-Salary.html), which also happens to be less than the median entry level pay for a nuclear engineer in Ann Arbor (http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Nuclear-Engineer-I-Salary-Details-Ann-Arbor-MI.aspx)


As discussed earlier, a job in academia or in the govt may pay less but the OP was concerned about low-balling herself.  At 30-40k and the salary distributions linked above, I would call that low-balling.  There is nothing wrong for valuing yourself at the same level as what the market indicates for a given amount of exeperience (0-1 years in this case).

The links above were found via a 3-minute google search thanks to the coaching received from GLW 

[cheme09]

it's obvious

Maybe I am not reading something correctly, but where in that Tetratech posting says that it is an academia job?

[GLW]

.....There is nothing wrong for valuing yourself at the same level as what the market indicates for a given amount of exeperience (0-1 years in this case).......

I do not disagree,...

Maybe I am not reading something correctly, but where in that Tetratech posting says that it is an academia job?

I........................don't......................know.................

svengali moment?!?!?.............

[Loffy Muffin]

University of Michigan is a public school and as such, all salaries are public information.
The salaries for all employee's and their titles are listed on public domains.

UMichigan Pays Well and has great benefits.    Always has. No discount.


There is no listed position of "nuclear engineer associate" but there are a couple mechanical and electrical engineer associates.  
So, the 30K to 40K is 100% BS since that reflects what the starting wage for engineers was.....in 1988.  As a REAL engineer would know.  Since the names of all employees of the UM are listed, lets see the name and title of the so called 30K engineer.  I bet the TVA outage over budget money its over $40K.  I bet its over 50K.  

Mechanical engineer associate.
Maximun Salary   $ 60,792.19
Average Salary   $ 58,396.15
Mminimum Salary   $ 56,000.10

http://www.umsalary.info/alltitlesearch.php?page=30

http://www.umsalary.info/titlesearch.php?Title=Mechanical%20Engineer%20Associate&Year=0&Campus=

[GLW]

University of Michigan is a public school and as such, all salaries are public information....

UMichigan Pays Well and has great benefits.    Always has. No discount.

http://www.umsalary.info/titlesearch.php?Title=Mechanical%20Engineer%20Associate&Year=0&Campus=

That's all good, one holds a Doctorate and the other is a Tauber Institute graduate,...

There's probably more to that salary number at

http://www.umsalary.info/titlesearch.php?Title=Mechanical%20Engineer%20Associate&Year=0&Campus=

than what it appears,...

The OP is applying for an entry level position,...

65% of the PhD's or the Tauber grads wage seems appropriate,...

as noted earlier by another poster,....OBE,....

[Loffy Muffin]

The company requesting applicants is Tetra Tech, which was not provided by the OP and neither did the OP refute  the invalid assumption it was UM.

$55K minimum I would accept in the OP position and only if there is hardship involved- like I have no leads and have been out of school for a year- I luv Ann Arbor and never want to leave, ect...I would want closer to 70K actually.  There is probably "free work" errr professional  time involved with the position.

In a negotiation the first person to give the number is always at a disadvantage. 
I would ask for the medium starting salary of 63k..... As an entry level position, there will not any negotiation above a certain number that is very close to $63K  and tetra already knows the number.   63K is fair and if they are interested this will at least get a response.  In the mean time get other offers.  Having multiple offers is the best negotiating strategy.


I want to see the name of the "nuclear engineer" making 30K at U michigan.  Especially since the UM reactor has been shut down since the 90's.

Waiting...