Will it be easy to get a job as an engineer technician?

Can an electrical engineer or software engineer get a $25k/year job?

• I have a 13-year old bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (or used to have one, probably not relevant today), and a 10-year old associate's degree in computer science (again, probably not relevant). I was working as a software engineer for an automotive company for $55k per year, until they eliminated my position due to downsizing, and never offered me a different position. I've been unemployed over 3 years. Can I get another engineering job if I'm willing to work for $25k per year, even though I worked for the other company 7 years, and the average salary is $60k/year? The reason is because I only feel that I'm worth $25k a year, nothing more.

• Answer:

  I can't imagine why an engineer, especially in today's economy (the US is severely deprived of engineers!) would have to settle for just $25,000. It's still one of the most in-demand professions. In fact, I think an employer would be suspicious if you offered to work as an engineer for just $25k. It would be like a doctor or surgeon working for only $50k, if you know what I mean? They'd wonder why such an important profession was being sold so cheaply, and would suspect that you were of low or shoddy quality. Maybe you should look elsewhere in different parts of your state - or another state or region altogether - but the demand for engineers is still high, and always will be. However, you would do well to update your skills so that your old CompSci and EE degrees and your knowledge/acumen is more relevant to today. This is an ever-changing profession (science and technology, that is.) I think you could still get $45,000 at the least....at the bare minimum, $35k. I'd suggest you aim for $40-50k.