- This topic has 30 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 9 months ago by
NotCranky.
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December 11, 2013 at 5:14 PM #768975December 11, 2013 at 5:20 PM #768976
spdrun
ParticipantI’d say it’s the other way around, unless you’re freelance as a coder, and/or you have other skills that (for example) allow you to code to control physical systems. Embedded, building controls, SCADA, anything that’s a hybrid between engineering and coding.
Code-wranglers are a dime a dozen and getting more common.
December 11, 2013 at 5:32 PM #768977The-Shoveler
ParticipantI have not known any good coders (or even marginal coders) who were ever out of work for very long.
Only coders who went full time into management etc…
that is where I have seen them have a hard time when laid off.The coders who keep their hands dirty elbows deep in code can usually find work quickly.
Keep your hands in the code….
December 11, 2013 at 6:18 PM #768981
CoronitaParticipant[quote=joec]Out of curiosity, does anyone know if CS/programing/coding/IT jobs pay a lot more than some of the hard (as in more physical) engineering disciplines such as Mechanical/EE/Materials?
I ask because when I graduated and the tech boom happened, everyone I knew in tech (SV) was paid a ton more than “regular” engineers. Maybe I didn’t know that many of the other engineers actually since a lot of the companies were more software based/web…
Oh well, just wondering since I wonder if everyone would just learn to code in the future vs. the less (maybe?) lucrative fields of EE/Mech/Materials/etc…
From all the salary surveys I see though, it seems petroleum engineers make the most out of school so maybe my circle just wasn’t the EE crowd.[/quote]
It depends on what specifically in each field…
Petroleum enginerds probably do pretty well. EE crowd does well if in the correct specialization…CS crowd does well if in the right crowd and you’re relatively good. There’s a difference between being just a coder (know how to program), and being able to design. There’s a creativity component as well…
I think people should just consider “coding/programming” as a tool. The real bucks are finding solutions to problems or creating a product and using those tools.
Tools get smarter. Problems you solve get harder….Compensation varies. Besides salaries, a good portion ends up being employee stock grants (RSUs) and/or cash bonus, which varies depending on performance.
December 11, 2013 at 8:07 PM #768986njtosd
Participant[quote=joec]Out of curiosity, does anyone know if CS/programing/coding/IT jobs pay a lot more than some of the hard (as in more physical) engineering disciplines such as Mechanical/EE/Materials?
I ask because when I graduated and the tech boom happened, everyone I knew in tech (SV) was paid a ton more than “regular” engineers. Maybe I didn’t know that many of the other engineers actually since a lot of the companies were more software based/web…
Oh well, just wondering since I wonder if everyone would just learn to code in the future vs. the less (maybe?) lucrative fields of EE/Mech/Materials/etc…
From all the salary surveys I see though, it seems petroleum engineers make the most out of school so maybe my circle just wasn’t the EE crowd.[/quote]
From a different perspective – If you look at the tech backgrounds that are in demand for patent lawyers, mechanical and materials people can’t find work as easily as Chemical and EE people. That would suggest that those areas are where the patents/investment/money is, and where the jobs are likely to be.
December 11, 2013 at 8:12 PM #768987ParticipantPatentable work isn’t the be-all and end-all of engineering, though. There are likely to be more new discoveries in chemical and EE than in (say) civil or mechanical, which often involves more project design and integration than new technology.
December 11, 2013 at 9:03 PM #768992ParticipantI know patentability is not the be all and end all. I’m simply saying that new technologies have a tendency to make money and those people that can generate those new technologies can demand a higher salary and are therefore, by certain definitions, more in demand. US Labor Statistics suggest that salaries in EE, ChemE are the highest as well (summarized here: http://www.mtu.edu/engineering/outreach/welcome/salary/).
December 12, 2013 at 1:20 PM #769013UCGal
ParticipantIf you want to get your kids into coding (or learn yourself) both Khan Academy and codeacademy.com have free tutorials.
I’m lusting for the EV3… I coach a FLL robotics team and this year about 1/3 of the teams had the EV3. We’re still using a mindstorm.
The arduino boards mentioned in the link Russ posted are also very cool. My kids class had some purchased for them by the non-profit foundation that supplements what the school district can’t afford.
There are lots of opportunities to get kids into programming.
Russ – I hear you on the minecraft and legos. I’ve been telling my kids to learn programming in order to make new mods to minecraft… That’s the cool think about minecraft – it’s user modifiable. So you have pokemon mod-packs, hunger wars mod-packs, etc… All coded by fans of the game.
December 12, 2013 at 2:15 PM #769021CoronitaParticipant[quote=UCGal]If you want to get your kids into coding (or learn yourself) both Khan Academy and codeacademy.com have free tutorials.
I’m lusting for the EV3… I coach a FLL robotics team and this year about 1/3 of the teams had the EV3. We’re still using a mindstorm.
The arduino boards mentioned in the link Russ posted are also very cool. My kids class had some purchased for them by the non-profit foundation that supplements what the school district can’t afford.
There are lots of opportunities to get kids into programming.
Russ – I hear you on the minecraft and legos. I’ve been telling my kids to learn programming in order to make new mods to minecraft… That’s the cool think about minecraft – it’s user modifiable. So you have pokemon mod-packs, hunger wars mod-packs, etc… All coded by fans of the game.[/quote]
UCGal, when did your kids first get involved with mindstorm? Just figuring out what what is a reasonable expectation of when to start, if there is interest…..
December 13, 2013 at 3:43 PM #769060afx114
ParticipantCheck out LittleBits: http://littlebits.cc/. Really amazing way to get kids into an engineering mindset. They’re basically modular electronic circuits that you can easily combine in an infinite number of ways. There are over 50 different modules you can use to build things. Sensors, motors, switches, knobs, lights, etc. Think Legos for engineers.
Watch this video for a good overview: http://vimeo.com/45276780
I bought the Korg synth kit so that me and my kid can build analog modular synthesizers without the messiness of needing to solder. It says ages 14+ and she’s only 3, so maybe I actually bought it for myself, but still…
Edit: forgot to mention that they’re open source and all of their schematics and PCB’s are available on their github page
December 13, 2013 at 3:48 PM #769061NotCranky
ParticipantThanks for the tips and comments,
I talked with my kid yesterday….before, he never wanted to change schools but now seems like he would do anything to better pursue his interests…not that we have nailed them down exactly… he says he likes architecture. We don’t necessarily we have all options at our disposal…but it is a good start….it’s fairly natural on his part.I don’t want to chase something and have him lose track of math or physics. That has been said to be a problem with some of the schools dedicated to “creativity”.
About age, it will vary by kid…My kid was very interested in the little mindstorm activity that parents and children can do together at Legoland when he was barely old enough by lego standards, I think that was 7 or 8 …my wife may have talked them in to letting him and me go in before the age cutoff(mom’s are good at that stuff). We rushed to sign up for that every time we go to the park after that. He was 9 when we got him in a one week camp and he was crazy about that too. If I remember right, most of the kids were older. That was with the YMCA. If his parents were in the field(s), he probably would have been way more supported in it earlier, but unfortunately we are not, although I do understand electricity and electronics pretty well( well with some review).
December 13, 2013 at 3:57 PM #769062ParticipantAge 7 or 8… You can start doing FIRST Lego League at that age and that’s how my boys got started. A friend started a team for her boys and I got involved, coaching for the past few years.
December 13, 2013 at 5:49 PM #769064CoronitaParticipant[quote=Blogstar]Thanks for the tips and comments,
I talked with my kid yesterday….before, he never wanted to change schools but now seems like he would do anything to better pursue his interests…not that we have nailed them down exactly… he says he likes architecture. We don’t necessarily we have all options at our disposal…but it is a good start….it’s fairly natural on his part.I don’t want to chase something and have him lose track of math or physics. That has been said to be a problem with some of the schools dedicated to “creativity”.
About age, it will vary by kid…My kid was very interested in the little mindstorm activity that parents and children can do together at Legoland when he was barely old enough by lego standards, I think that was 7 or 8 …my wife may have talked them in to letting him and me go in before the age cutoff(mom’s are good at that stuff). We rushed to sign up for that every time we go to the park after that. He was 9 when we got him in a one week camp and he was crazy about that too. If I remember right, most of the kids were older. That was with the YMCA. If his parents were in the field(s), he probably would have been way more supported in it earlier, but unfortunately we are not, although I do understand electricity and electronics pretty well( well with some review).[/quote]
I wouldn’t worry so much of, as long as your your kid has interest.
Kid with interest + with parents that don’t have a background is still > kids with parents that have the background but aren’t interested 🙂
FWIW: to this day, I still hate physics…It would be 2nd from the top of the list of things I hate.
The only thing worse for me would be biology….I have a bad memory, and hated biology even more. One of the many reasons why I couldn’t ever be a doctor…. … Well, while I’m at it, I guess I’ll admit, in general I hate to read and follow directions….So I guess I can rule out legal professions too. lol… I survived AP English through the cliff notes version…..December 13, 2013 at 5:51 PM #769065scaredyclassic
ParticipantMany lawyers hate rules.
December 13, 2013 at 6:12 PM #769066CoronitaParticipant[quote=6packscaredy]Many lawyers hate rules.[/quote]
I hate to read and write long things…. I just dread things like writing self-appraisals for performance reviews and writing other’s performance reviews…Not that I don’t like encouraging people to be better at work… Just that I just don’t like to write….
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