Before heading departments, branches or entire companies as executives, engineers spend many years in the technical side of their profession. As of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in the architecture and engineering field was $77,120 per year. Mean annual salaries varied by job with mechanical engineers at $83,550; chemical engineers at $99,440; aerospace engineers at $103,870 and nuclear engineers at $105,160.
Chief executive officers, also known as executive directors or vice presidents, are the top officers of engineering firms and are ultimately responsible for their companies’ success or failure. They are answerable only to the Board of Directors and corporate stockholders. They analyze company reports, set financial goals and formulate strategies for reaching those goals. They consult frequently with other managers who carry out their plants and are usually aided by an administrative staff. In addition to their engineering expertise, many CEOs also have advanced degrees in business. As of 2012, CEOs of engineering services made a mean $195,010 per year.
Like a CEO, operations managers consult with other department heads and have a large administrative staff to carry out their directives. But while CEOs plan broad strategy, operations managers see to the day-to-day tasks of their establishments. Though the jobs of operations managers vary by company size, they handle improvements to their facilities, prepare program budgets, oversee maintenance programs for equipment and production, ensure compliance with regulatory standards and ensure that projects are finished on time. As of 2012, operations managers got a mean $145,110 per year.
Sales managers plan sales strategy and oversee the salespeople that can meet sales goals. These managers analyze sales reports, determine the profitability of products and services, handle client issues about sales and service and monitor customer preferences. They can assign territories to individuals or groups, and find ways to improve sales performance. They may be in charge of specific product lines or sales for an entire company. As of 2012, sales managers earned a mean $146,480 per year through a combination of salaries, commissions and bonuses for reaching sales goals.
Marketing managers handle advertising, promotions and publicity for their company, and its products and services. They work with department heads, advertising managers and advertising staff to plan campaigns that include determining the best media and negotiating ad contrasts. They approve any information that goes out about their corporations including ads, commercials, websites, documents and multimedia files. They also study client preferences so they can determine the most in-demand product lines. As of the time of publication, marketing managers received a mean $119,570 per year.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Top Executives Do
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: NAICS 541330 - Engineering Services
- Cogent Careers: Engineering Operations Manager
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Sales Managers Do
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers Do
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