Although engineering has been, and in many cases continues to be, a rewarding career, some respondents to my August editorial say it has become much less attractive in recent years. Opinions vary about advising young people to take up engineering, and some are concerned about the effect on our country as engineering becomes less viable as a career choice.
Comparisons with other professions are inevitable. For example, one reader says "In the year 1900, a good American doctor could expect to make $2,500 per year; an engineer could expect to earn $5,000 in a year. These incomes were well above those of other Americans, including baseball players. Since then, the incomes have all flipped, and engineers are trailing other professionals-even nurses and some school teachers-in regard to pay, benefits and retirement packages. So why would anyone want to go through the extra school work to become an engineer when, in comparison, a business course is a breeze and provides greater earning potential?"