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U N IT E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF L A B O R
Frances Perkins, Secretary
B U R E A U OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isador Lubin, Commissioner
+
Employment and Earnings
in the Engineering Profession
1929 to 1934
By
A N D R E W F R A S E R , JR .
o f th e B u rea u o f L a b or Statistics
u n d er th e d ir e c tio n o f
A . F. H IN R IC H S , A ssista n t C om m ission er
B u reau o f L ab or Statistics
B ulletin
682
U N IT E D S T A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G OFFICE
W A S H IN G T O N : 1941
For sale by the Superintendent o f Documents, Washington, D . C.
Price 25 cents
U N IT E D STATES D E P A R T M E N T OF LABO R
F ran c es P e r k in s , Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
I s a d o r L u b i n , C o m m issio n er
A. F. H in r i c h s ,
A s s is ta n t C o m m is sio n e r
D o n a l d D a v e n p o r t , Chief, Employ
ment Outlook
Branch
and
Construction
H u g h S. H a n n a , Chief, Editorial and
Research
A r y n e s s J o y , Chief, Prices and Cost
H e n r y J. F it z g e r a l d , Chief, Business
Management Branch
of Living Branch
S id n e y W. W i l c o x , Chief Statistician
C H IE F S
OF D IV IS IO N S
H e r m a n B . B y e r , Construction and
Public Employment
J. M. C utts, Wholesale Prices
S w e n K j a e r , Industrial Accidents
J o h n J. M a h a n e y , Machine Tabula
tion
F. S h a r k e y ,
Information
C harles
B o r is
St e r n ,
Labor
Statistics
F l o r e n c e P e t e r s o n , Industrial Rela
tions
ii
Information
Bulletin
S t e l l a S t e w a r t , Retail Prices
E. T a l b e r t ,
Statistics
L e w is
R o b e r t J. M y e r s , Wage and Hour
Labor Law
E m m ett
H.
W elch,
Employment
Occupational
Outlook
F a it h M. W il l i a m s , Cost of Living
CONTENTS
Page
Preface_____________________________________________________________________
Summary__________________________________________________________________
C hapter I.— Scope and method___________________________________________
Purpose and collection of data________________________________________
The number of returns________________________________________________
Comparison with previous studies____________________________________
The components of the sample________________________________________
Adequacy of returns received from engineers entering the profession
prior to 1930________________________________________________________
Adequacy of returns received from younger engineers________________
Weighting returns from younger engineers____________________________
C hapter II.— The growth of the engineering profession, 1910 to 1934____
C hapter III.— Educational qualifications of professional engineers______
Educational requirements and professional engineering status________
Educational specialization by professional class_______________________
Trends in educational background____________________________________
Growth of postgraduate work in engineering_________________________
The extent of transfers from original courses of specialization________
C hapter IV.— Employment in the engineering profession, 1929 to 1934__
Supply and demand for engineering services, 1929 to 1934___________
Employment status of all professional engineers_________________
Employment status of five professional classes___________________
Employment status of two groups of younger engineers_________
Employment status of older and younger engineers______________
Employment opportunities for older and younger engineers con
trasted_________________________________________________________
Employment status of professional classes by age groups________
Employment in relation to engineering experience____________________
Employment in relation to type of education_________________________
Fields of engineering activity_________________________________________
Types of engineering work____________________________________________
C hapter V.— Conditions of employment in the engineering profession___
Means used to obtain employment____________________________________
Economic security in the engineering profession______________________
Civil-service status_______________________________________________
The employment contract________________________________________
Provision for retirement on pension______________________________
C hapter VI.— Unemployment in the engineering profession, 1929 to 1934_
Unemployment at end of 1929, 1932, and 1934, by professional class,
type of education, and age__________________________________________
Incidence of unemployment, 1930 to 1934, inclusive, by professional
class, type of education, and age___________________________________
Periods of unemployment, 1930 to 1934, inclusive, by professional
class, type of education, and age___________________________________
h i
ix
1
20
20
21
23
23
24
32
34
36
41
41
42
44
45
46
48
48
48
49
53
54
58
61
67
72
75
78
81
81
84
84
85
89
92
92
99
104
IV
CONTENTS
Page
C hapter V I.— Continued.
Influence of regional location on unemployment______________________
Public relief among professional engineers, 1929 to 1934______________
Direct relief_______________________________________________________
Work relief at end of 1929, 1932, and 1934; by professional class,
type of education, and age____________________________________
Work relief, 1930 to 1934, inclusive, by professional class, type of
education, and age_____________________________________________
C hapter V II.— Patent privileges of professional engineers________________
Patent privileges by field of engineering activity______________________
Patent privileges by type of engineering work________________________
C hapter V III.— Earned annual incomes of professional engineers, 1929 to
1934_____________________________________________________________________
Salient features of the data___________________________________________
Earned annual incomes from all sources in 1929, 1932, and 1934____
Incomes of all engineers combined without regard to age______
Incomes by professional class, without regard to age____________
Annual income related to age— all engineers combined__________
Incomes in relation to advancing age and experience____________
Incomes of engineers of identical ages____________________________
Annual income and education, without regard to age____________
Annual income related to age and type of education_____________
Sources of earned annual income, 1929 to 1934_______________________
Incomes from engineering and nonengineering work_____________
Changes in incomes, 1929 to 1934________________________________
Incomes of unemployed engineers________________________________
C hapter I X .— Monthly earnings of professional engineers, 1929 to 1934_
Engineering earnings without regard to kind of engineering employ
ment in 1929, 1932, and 1934_______________________________________
Earnings of all engineers combined without regard to age_______
Earnings by professional class, without regard to age____________
Earnings related to age— all engineers combined_________________
Earnings of enginers of identical ages____________________________
Earnings in relation to advancing age and experience____________
Earnings and education, without regard to age__________________
Earnings related to age and type of education___________________
Earnings by kind of engineering employment_________________________
Earnings by field of engineering activity______________________________
Earnings by type of engineering work________________________________
Earnings by geographical division____________________________________
Earnings by size of city_______________________________________________
C hapter X .— Limitations of the data for prediction purposes____________
108
112
112
113
115
120
120
122
124
124
127
127
129
131
138
139
140
142
150
153
156
160
162
162
162
164
167
171
172
174
175
181
191
196
200
203
208
List o f Appendixes
A ppendix A.— Facsimile of questionnaire used to collect data____________
A ppendix B.— Detailed statistical tables pertaining to scope and methodTable 1.— Allocation of engineers in minor professional classes with
allied major professional classes_________________________
A ppendix C.— Detailed statistical tables pertaining to educational qualifi
cations of professional engineers________________________
Table 1.— Distribution of all engineering graduates with course same
as professional class reported at end of 1934, by year
of graduation___________________________________________
214
218
218
219
219
CONTENTS
A
A
A
A
A
Page
p p e n d i x C.— Continued.
p p
p p
p p
p p
V
Table 2.— Distribution of all engineering graduates with course differ
ent from professional class reported at end of 1934, by
year of graduation_____________________________________
e n d i x D.— Detailed statistical tables pertaining to the growth of the
profession_______________________________________________
Table 1.— Number of enrollments and first-degree graduations from
engineering colleges,1920 to 1934________________________
e n d i x E.— Detailed statistical tables pertaining to unemployment in
the engineering profession_______________________________
Table 1.— Distribution of all engineers reporting gross unemploy
ment, 1930 to 1934, by type of education and professional
class______________________________________________
Table 2.— Distribution of all engineers reporting net unemployment,
1930 to 1934, by type of education and professional
class_____________________________________________________
Table 3.— Number of graduate engineers reporting unemployment,
and work relief after specified unemployment, 1930 to
1934, by years of graduation____________________________
e n d i x F.— Detailed statistical tables pertaining to earned annual in
comes of professional engineers_________________________
Table 1.— Distribution of gross number of all engineers combined
reporting annual earnings in 1929, 1932, and 1934, from
all types of employment, by age________________________
e n d i x G.— Detailed statistical tables pertaining to monthly earnings
of professional engineers________________________________
Table 1.— Distribution of number of engineers reporting monthly
engineering earnings in 1929, 1932, and 1934___________
Table 2.— Distribution of gross number of all engineers combined
reporting monthly engineering earnings in 1929, 1932,
and 1934, by age________________________________________
221
223
223
224
224
226
228
229
229
232
232
233
List of Charts
I:— Scope and method.
Chart 1.— Distribution curves of all older professional engineers re
porting age in 1935 survey and in 1930 Census (all pro
fessional classes combined)_____________________________
Chart 2.— Distribution curves of all older professional engineers re
porting age in 1935 survey and in 1930 Census (by pro
fessional class)__________________________________________
Chart 2a.— Distribution curves of all older professional engineers
reporting age in 1935 survey and in 1930 Census (by
professional class)____ ________________________________
h a p t e r III.— Educational qualifications of professional engineers.
Chart 3.— National distribution of the 9 professional classes by type
of education— 1934______________________________________
h a p t e r IV.— Employment in the engineering profession, 1929 to 1934.
Chart 4.— Distribution of employment status of professional engineers
by age group at end of 1929, 1932, and 1934____________
Chart 5.— Distribution of kinds of engineering employment of older
engineers at end of 1929 (by professional class)__________
h a p t e r V III.— Earned annual incomes of professional engineers, 1929 to
1934.
Chart 6.— Earned annual income of engineers according to age, 1929-_
C hapter
C
C
C
28
30
31
43
63
68
134
VI
CONTENTS
V III.— Continued.
Chart 7.— Medians of earned annual income according to age, 1929,
1932, and 1934________________________________________
Chart 8.— Upper and lower quartiles of earned annual income accord
ing to age, 1929, 1932, and 1934________________________
Chart 9.— Upper and lower deciles of earned annual income according
to age, 1929, 1932, and 1934___________________________
Chart 10.— Comparison of medians of earned annual income according
to age, 1929 (for specific types of education)____________
Chart 11.— Earned annual income of professional engineers in engineer
ing and nonengineering work by age in 1929____________
C h a p t e r I X .— Monthly earnings of professional engineers, 1929 to 1934.
Chart 12.— Monthly compensation of professional engineers in engin
eering work by age in 1929______________________________
Chart 13.— Comparison of medians of monthly rate of compensation
according to age, 1929 (for specific types of education)___
C hapter
Page
135
136
137
144
155
169
178
Letter of Transmittal
U n ited S tates D epar tm en t of L a b o r ,
B u r e a u of L abor S ta tistic s ,
Washington, D. C., June 3, 1940.
The S ecretary
of
L abor:
I
have the honor to transmit herewith a report on Employment and
Earnings in the Engineering Profession. This report was prepared
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the request of American
Engineering Council.
I sador L u b in , Commissioner.
Hon. F rances P e r k in s ,
Secretary of Labor.
V II
P R E FA C E
In the engineering profession there are not only certain similarities
in the qualifications required in the various branches of activity but
there is also a great degree of specialization. Once a field of speciali
zation has been selected, there is relatively little movement between
the various engineering groups.
This study not only presents a picture of the broad profession
known as engineering, but also of the major professional classifications
which include civil, mechanical, mining, chemical, and electrical
engineering. It deals with the changes in employment opportunity
and income within the engineering profession over the period from
1929 to 1934. It gives a cross-section of a number of professional
groups at a given point in time. It also portrays the ebb and flow of
their fortunes over a critical period. The extent of the coverage is
a manifestation of the interest of individual engineers in the fortunes
of their profession and of the whole-hearted cooperation offered the
Bureau of Labor Statistics by the engineering societies and the deans
of engineering schools.
An adequate summary of the several analyses can hardly be more
than briefly presented in the first pages of this report. Among the
high lights are the following:
1. The number of engineers increased by more than 25 percent between 1929
and 1934. The number of engineering jobs increased by less than 5 percent.
2. In both 1932 and 1934 substantial numbers of engineers were unemployed.
In the worst period approximately one-tenth were unemployed at the same time.
3. A far larger proportion, about one-third of the total number, experienced
unemployment at one time or another from 1929 to 1934.
4. Under these conditions entry into the profession was unusually difficult.
Large numbers of the graduates of the classes of 1930-34 were unemployed for
considerable periods. Many were forced into nonengineering employments and
entrance salary rates were severely depressed.
5. Despite this fact, three-fifths of the graduates of 1930-34 did have engineer
ing jobs at the close of 1934.
6. Older engineers were less likely than younger engineers to lose their jobs.
When they did so, however, the older engineers had a more difficult time in getting
themselves rehired.
7. The small increase in the total number of engineering jobs between 1929
and 1934 is entirely due to an increase in public employment. Employment with
private firms declined 8.2 percent.
8. The average annual earnings of all engineers declined from $3,412 in 1929
to $2,286 in 1934, a decline of one-third. This reflects lower rates, loss of em
ployment and poorer types of employment.
IX
X
PREFACE
9. The average rates paid for all engineering services declined from $289 per
month to $210, a decrease of 27.3 percent.
10. At any time there is a wide range in the annual earnings of engineers. Thus,
in 1929, 10 percent earned less than $1,878 while the highest 10 percent earned
more than $7,466.
11. The average earnings of engineers increased with age up to the group 60
to 65 years of age. The initial increases are relatively rapid.
12. The earnings of the lowest 10 percent of the engineers of comparable age
do not advance significantly after 40 years of age, and are little if any higher than
the usual average earnings of groups 3 or 4 years after graduation.
13. While differences in earnings among the various classes of engineering are
quite pronounced, the striking characteristic of entrance rates into the profession
is their similarity as between different classes of engineers and as between different
types of work.
This study is the first of its kind made by the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics. W ith the recent establishment of the Occupational Outlook
Service in the Bureau, similar studies will be made in the future.
It is obvious from this study that problems of earnings and employ
ment opportunity are by no means confined to wage workers and that
the Department of Labor must be concerned with other groups whose
income depends upon the sale of their services. The “ labor problem ,”
if it ever was primarily the problem of a special class in the commun
ity, has become in one way or another the problem of virtually all
groups.
While this study should have an important place in the literature
of trends of social forces in the United States, it will also necessarily
serve more immediate practical forecasting purposes. Young persons
making a choice of a profession must project the probable future
advantages of the several alternatives that may be open to them.
In this connection, the results of the present study must be used
with great caution.
For example, it cannot be too strongly emphasized that the present
average earnings of a group who have been in a profession for 15
years is not a measure of the probable earnings 15 years hence of a
group entering the profession this year. The group will, of course,
be subject to the usual vicissitudes of changing price and wage levels.
Furthermore, the present earnings of any two age groups reflect not
only present conditions but also carry into the present the background
of conditions prevailing when each group entered the profession.
If there were comparatively few professional workers 15 years ago
in a field in which production has since expanded rapidly, it follows
that there will be comparatively few people with long experience
relative to the present demand. The present earnings of this group
are likely to reflect this scarcity, and to carry a premium that will
not continue when the supply of new entrants becomes relatively
large. Forecasts of relative earnings and opportunities must, there-
PREFACE
XI
fore, involve forecasts of supply and demand. This the present
report has not attempted, except as a knowledge of changing condi
tions in recent years may furnish a starting point for cautious
projection.
The report was prepared by Andrew Fraser, Jr., under the direction
of A. F. Hinrichs, Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau. The
clerical work for the survey was directed by Abner C. Lakenan.
The machine tabulation work was conducted by J. Paul Kingston
under the direction of John J. Mahaney, Chief, Machine Tabulation
Division.
I sador L u b in ,
Commissioner oj Labor Statistics.
B u lle t in 7\[o. 68 2 o f t h e
U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t ic s
Employment and Earnings in the Engineering
Profession, 1929 to 1934
Summary
This report on employment and earnings of professional engineers
deals with information collected in 1935 by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, at the request of American Engineering Council, in order to
determine the effects of the depression upon professional engineers
during the period 1930-34.
Scope and Method
The data were collected by means of a mail questionnaire, a copy of
which was sent to each of 173,151 professional engineers. This list
may be considered as representative of every phase of professional
engineering activity, in that it was compiled through the cooperation
of most of the engineering societies in the country, with additional
names furnished by 32 State boards of engineering examiners and the
deans of 156 engineering schools. The net number of usable returns
was 52,589, or 30.4 percent of the original mailing list.
The 52,589 returns embraced 33,841 older engineers who reported
that they were professionally active prior to 1930. The remaining
18,748 returns included younger engineers who had entered the
profession in the period 1930-34.
The 33,841 returns from the older engineers averaged 15 percent of
the 226,136 technical engineers reported in the 1930 census. On a
regional basis, and separately for four groupings of professional classes,
the age composition of the returns closely approximated the 1930
census data. Comparison of the 18,748 returns from younger
professional engineers, which covered primarily men with first degrees
in engineering, with the corresponding Office of Education data for
the period 1930-34 shows that approximately 32 percent of all such
engineers furnished information to the Bureau.
The two parts of the sample obtained in this survey can be con
sidered as representative of all professional engineers in the country.
They are also representative of the profession even in combination
after adjustment had been made for the disproportion in the returns
received from older and younger engineers whenever a cross section
of the profession was required for the years 1932 and 1934.
1
2
EM P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
The Growth of the Engineering Profession, 1910 to 1934
T o understand better the problems faced by the profession in the
period 1930-34, special consideration was given to the growth of the
profession. This analysis shows: that for the decade 1910-19, the
census indicates an absolute increase in technical engineers from
88,744 to 136,080, or 53.3 percent. In the decade 1920-29 the
increase was from 136,080 to 226,136, or 66.2 percent. From 1930 to
1934, reports made in the present survey indicate a growth of 26.4
percent, or in absolute numbers in the sample from 33,841 in 1929 to
42,787 in 1934. Despite similarity in annual influx the data reveal
that the rate of increase of technically trained engineers during the
depression was slightly less than it had been in the decade of the
1920’ s. For the latter period, the compound rate of growth
apparently was 5}{ percent per year as against a compound rate of
growth of 4% percent per year in the period 1930-34.
Further comparison of the two periods shows a marked change in
the source of supply of engineers. In the depression years the
colleges were supplying as many engineers with degrees as were
supplied in the 1920’s from all sources. In the 1920’ s, a sub
stantial number of entrants to the profession were nongraduates with
an incomplete college course. This raising of educational standards
appears to be definitely related to the change in the relationship of
the demand for professional services to the supply of trained engineers.
W hat this change meant, and also that which occurred in the increase
in the number of professional engineers in terms of employment and
unemployment, is developed in this report.
Educational Qualifications of Professional Engineers
Although the reports in the survey embraced a substantia] number
of men who had obtained professional engineering status without
formal engineering education, analysis reveals that a first degree in
engineering is almost a prerequisite to obtaining professional status.
Insistence upon rigid engineering education as a prerequisite to
engineering experience is further evidenced by the fact that all but
a very small proportion of the agricultural, ceramic, and chemical
engineers had college degrees. However, as many as 17.3 percent of
the civil engineers were not college graduates.
Despite the fact that first degrees predominate in all professional
classes, the extent of educational specialization showed considerable
variation. Thus, while first degrees in engineering were reported
by 63.4 percent of the architectural engineers, the highest proportion
(77.3 percent) was found in the case of the ceramic engineers. In
stances of transfer of engineers from their original course of special
ization to other fields of activity were negligible.
SUMMARY
3
Although the data also reveal a distinct growth in postgraduate
training in engineering, the ratios of engineers with postgraduate
training show marked differences in the demand for a higher degree of
educational specialization and more elaborate training. In the case
of chemical engineers, the percentage was as high as 15.7. The
percentage for agricultural engineers with graduate degrees was
almost equally large. Among the other seven professional classes,
the proportions of postgraduates ranged from 3.5 in the case of
industrial engineers to 9.3 for both ceramic and mining and metal
lurgical engineers.
Employment in the Engineering Profession, 1929 to 1934
Supply and demand jo r engineering services, 1929 to 1934•— Over the
5-year period ending December 1934, the number of persons in, or
trained for, the engineering profession increased by 25.3 percent.1
On the other hand, opportunities for engineering employment in
creased only 4.4 percent. The result was a large amount of un
employment and intense pressure to find nonengineering work. Thus,
the proportion of engineers engaged in nonengineering employments
increased from 6.3 percent in 1929 to 14.1 percent in 1934. The
proportion unemployed increased from 0.7 to 8.5 percent.
Had it not been for the large increase in the employment of engineers
by public authorities, the effect of the depression on the profession
would have been even more disastrous. Thus, private engineering
employment decreased by 11.8 percent from 1929 to 1932, and
despite some increase from 1932 to 1934, it was still 8.2 percent below
the 1929 level at the end of the 5-year period 1930-34. On the other
hand, there was a 46.8 percent expansion in public employment of
engineers. The absolute increase reported in private engineering
employment between December 1932 and December 1934 was only
half of that obtaining in engineering employment with public authori
ties. Relative to the numbers so employed in 1932, the rate of
increase in public engineering employment was almost five times as
great as that in private engineering employment.
Over the period 1930-34 the increase in the number of engineers
among the several professional classes ranged from 17.6 percent for
mining and metallurgical to 62.5 percent in the case of chemical and
ceramic engineers, but in no professional class did total engineering
employment keep pace with the growing number of engineers.
i This increase of 25.3 percent differs b y 1.1 percent from that of 26.4 percent noted in the discussion of the
growth of the profession. This difference is explained by the fact that in tabulating the data on employment
status homogeneity of the sample of older and 1930-1932 engineers was maintained. That is, in the case of
the former, only those reporting for the 3 years 1929, 1932, and 1934 were used; in the case of the latter, only
those reporting for the 2 years 1932 and 1934 were included. While the difference between the 2 percentages
does not materially affect the analysis, it does indicate that the percentage of engineers eliminated from the
tabulations was small.
4
E M PLO YM EN T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
Furthermore, the opportunities for private engineering employment
differed markedly among the professional classes. Thus, over the
5-year period, private engineering employment increased by more
than a third for chemical and ceramic engineers. Employment of
electrical, mining and metallurgical, and mechanical and industrial
engineers remained relatively constant. In the case of the civil
engineers, there was a decrease of about one-third in private engineer
ing employment.
All professional classes participated in the increases in employment
of engineers by public authorities. The sharpest increases occurred
in the period 1932-34. The most pronounced increase occurred
among civil engineers. The proportion of this group employed by
public authorities increased from 40.0 percent in 1929 to 48.5 in 1934.
In 1929 private engineering furnished by far the greatest employ
ment for engineers. For civil engineers this covered 54.3 percent.
There was a range of from 80.6 to 87.3 percent among the other four
professional classes. B y December 1932 private engineering among
civil engineers had dropped to 37.6 percent and by December 1934
to 31.8 percent. There was also a continuous decline in this type of
employment among electrical engineers; only 63.1 percent reporting
such employment in December 1934. There was only a slight im
provement over 1932 for the remaining professional classes. In 1934
these three averaged 69.1 percent.
Nonengineering employment increased sharply from 1929 to 1932
and in equal measure for all professional classes, absorbing many more
engineers than did public engineering, in which employment also
increased. But despite the fact that the proportions of all engineers
in nonengineering employment rose from 6.3 percent in 1929 to 12.0
percent in 1932, there was an even larger increase in unemployment.
This situation was common to all professional classes. Between
Decem ber 1932 and December 1934 there were further increases in
nonengineering employment for all professional classes, although the
increases were not so great as between 1929 and 1932. Unemploy
ment declined for all professional classes, except for civil engineers.
Of all engineers who reported as being professionally active prior
to 1930, only 46.2 percent were in the employ of private firms in 1934;
in 1929, 62.2 percent were so engaged. Federal Government em
ployment provided for 10.1 percent in December 1934; in 1929, this
field gave employment to only 5.3 percent.
Over the period 1930-34 there was a remarkable stability in the
number of engineers classified as independent consultants, and those
engineers engaged in the teaching of engineering subjects. This was
also the case for those in the employ of State, county, municipal, and
other public authorities, especially if considered together.
SUMMARY
5
Despite the fact that 5,003, or 16 percent, of the reporting engi
neers active in the profession before 1930 suffered a loss of private
engineering employment by 1934, some 3,112, or 18 percent, of the
new entrants found engineering work with private firms. The in
crease in public engineering employment was shared by both older
and younger engineers.
Employment in relation to engineering experience.— Analysis of the
employment data in relation to advancing age and experience shows
that private engineering predominates as a first field of employment
for recent graduates. W ith advancing age, the decline in the propor
tions so reporting was very marked indeed.
For civil engineers, public engineering employment follows in
importance after private engineering employment as first fields of
employment opportunity. B y contrast, the two most important
sources of employment after private firms for recent graduates in the
other professional classes were teaching and nonengineering.
Among all professional classes, both State and county government
employment and that with municipal and other public authorities
constituted both training grounds and fields of final employment.
B y contrast, Federal Government employment was virtually a field
of final employment or one suited for men with years of experience.
Independent consulting was practically nonexistent as a type of
employment for recent graduates.
Employment in relation to type oj education.— Engineers, irrespective
of the type of education they have received, are overwhelmingly
dependent upon private industry for employment. Only among post
graduates did private firms employ as little as one-half. For firstdegree engineering graduates, State and county work followed in
importance after private-firm employment (7.3 percent). This pro
portion differed but slightly from those reporting nonengineering work
or employment with municipal and other public authorities.
Among those with postgraduate training, no less than 29.4 percent
were engaged in teaching. Of the 1,729 engineers engaged in the
teaching of engineering subjects, 60.7 percent were first-degree engi
neering graduates and 31.8 percent were postgraduates. Nonengi
neering graduates and engineers who had not completed a college
course embraced the same proportions (3.3 percent). The next
highest percentage of 0.8 referred to noncollegiate technical school
engineers.
The analysis makes it evident that experience and not education
was the important criterion for entry into independent consulting
work.
Fields oj engineering activity.— In regard to fields of engineering
activity, chemical and ceramic engineers were more dependent upon
2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 4 1 --------2
6
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
manufacturing industries for their employment than any of the other
four professional classes. N ot less than 66.6 percent of the older
engineers were so engaged in December 1934. For all three age
groups, 4.5 percent were employed by public utilities and 5.7 percent
were in extractive industries. Transportation and construction work
were practically nil as fields of engineering activity for chemical and
ceramic engineers. Public engineering included 8.5 percent, while
11.6 percent were engaged in teaching and other forms of personal
service. In general, mechanical and industrial engineers closely
paralleled the distributions noted for chemical and ceramic engineers.
Both mining and metallurgical engineers and electrical engineers
had alternative fields of engineering activity to manufacturing, name
ly, extractive industries and public utilities. W ith advancing age, the
proportions of these professional classes in manufacturing steadily
declined, while those reported for both extractive industries and
public utilities steadily increased. In the remaining fields of engi
neering activity, these two professional classes show similar distribu
tions.
Civil engineers predominate in the construction fields of private
industry and public employment, while their opportunities in other
fields were very low. Thus, in manufacturing only 5.4 percent of their
older engineers were so employed, in public utilities 3.8 percent, in
extractive industries 2.7 percent, and in transportation 4.3 percent.
The 6.9 percent reporting in personal service was relatively the lowest
of the five professional classes.
Types of engineering work.— Consideration of the distributions of
engineers by types of engineering work shows that civil engineers
predominate in construction and that this is the predominant type of
work for civil engineers. For all other classes of engineers the most
important type of employment was “ operation” — production, main
tenance, etc., under supervision. The next most important type of
employment was design and research.
Sales work is more important as a source of employment to electrical
and mechanical and industrial engineers than to other classes of
engineers.
As would be expected, general administration and management
covered a higher proportion of younger mechanical and industrial
engineers than are reported by any other professional class. Among
the older engineers reporting, however, there was little difference be
tween the various classes in the proportions so engaged.
Consulting and teaching both presented the same characteristics.
First, they did not offer a wide range of employment to younger engi
neers, and second, there was a close similarity in the proportions of all
older engineers engaged in these two types of work.
SUMMARY
7
C onditions o f Em ploym ent in the Engineering Profession
Analysis of reports furnished by engineers in engineering work in
December 1934 shows that 68.4 percent of all professional engineers
used personal contacts and recommendations to obtain their jobs.
Those who used this medium, together with those who obtained their
positions through the civil service, formed nearly four-fifths of all
reporting.
The degree of economic security among professional engineers, as
evidenced by possession of an employment contract covering some
period of time, or by pension privileges, was negligible.
U nem ploym ent in the Engineering Profession, 1929 to 1934
Unemployment at end oj 1929, 1932, and 1934-— Between the ends of
1929 and 1932, the percentage of engineers who were unemployed
increased from 0.7 to 10.1. A t the end of 1934 the percentage was 8.5.
There was slight variation in the proportions of unemployment among
the various professional groups for each of the three periods. Thus,
in 1932, the range was from 8.6 percent for the chemical and ceramic
engineers to 10.7 for mechanical and industrial engineers. In 1929,
while 2.0 percent of the mining and metallurgical engineers reported
unemployment, the range for the remaining professional classes was
only from 0.5 to 0.7 percent. So also in 1934 there is a narrow range
for all professional groups, except civil engineers. In their case the
proportion unemployed increased from 10.0 to 10.2 percent.
As of December 31, 1929, the percentage range of unemployment
was from 0.4, in the case of the youngest engineers, to 1.9 for engineers
48 years and over. B y December 1932 unemployment had increased
markedly for all age groups. Unemployment was least (8.0 percent
of the total) for engineers 31 to 40 years of age in 1932 (33 to 42 years
of age in 1934); it rose, however, to 10.9 percent among the oldest
engineers, those over 50 years of age in 1932.
B y December 1934 many of the older engineers were still unable to
obtain work, and there is a very strong presumption that the preference
in new hirings was given to the younger men. Thus, unemployment
among those who graduated from 1925 to 1929 was cut from 10.6 per
cent in December 1932 to 7.0 percent in December 1934. Declines
also occurred between these periods among those who had graduated
from 1930 to 1932, and those 41 to 50 years of age in 1932. But the
proportion of those over 50 in 1932 reporting unemployment rose from
10.9 percent in December 1932 to 11.5 percent in December 1934.
Among the several professional classes, with the possible exception
of chemical engineers, unemployment at all three dates was higher for
those who were 53 years of age or over in 1934 than for the younger
men who entered the profession in the period 1925-29.
8
EM P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
Incidence of unemployment, 1930 to 1984, inclusive.— M ore than 34
percent of all the engineers reporting were unemployed at one time or
another in the period 1930-34, as against about 10 percent who were
unemployed on December 31, 1932. For all graduates 33.9 percent
experienced unemployment. This percentage differs but slightly from
the general average of 35.4 and 35.6 percent, respectively, for engineers
who did not complete a college course and for engineers with a noncollegiate technical-school training.
In all professional groups there appeared an age beyond which there
was apparently a common risk of unemployment. For civil engineers
it was 43 years of age, whereas for electrical, and mechanical and
industrial engineers it occurred after 33 years of age. There appears
to have been no greater incidence of unemployment among the engi
neers 53 years of age and over than there was among those 43 to 52
years of age.
A t all ages, civil engineering showed the greatest extent of unem
ployment. Thus, of this group graduating in 1930 to 1932, 59.7 per
cent reported unemployment at some time during the 5 years covered.
The next highest percentage, 54.7, was found among electrical and
mining and metallurgical engineers. Among civil engineers graduat
ing prior to 1914, approximately 27 percent reported unemployment,
whereas approximately 24 percent of the mechanical and industrial
engineers, and mining and metallurgical engineers so reported.
Periods of unemployment, 1930 to 1934, inclusive.— For the country
as a whole, the median period of unemployment for engineers who
were college graduates was 12.2 months. For engineers who did not
complete their college course it was 16.3 months, and for those with a
noncollegiate technical-school training, it was 17.3 months.
The average length of the period of unemployment increased with
age. When the older engineers became unemployed, unemployment
lasted longer than it did with the younger engineers. Thus, the
median period of unemployment for engineers graduating in 1925-29
was 12.1 months, whereas the median for those graduating prior to
1905 was 23.1 months.
This rapid increase in the length of the average period of unem
ployment holds also with reference to all of the separate professional
classifications. In the case of electrical engineers, the average rose
from 14.1 months for those men 33 to 42 years of age to 25.3 months
for those who were over 53 years of age. For mechanical and indus
trial engineers, the increase was from 15.2 to 22.2 months, and in the
case of civil engineers from 12.9 to 22.9 months.
The influence of regional location on unemployment was practically
negligible, whether considered from the point of view of differences in
incidence or of severity of unemployment.
SUMMARY
9
Public relief among professional engineers, 1929 to 1984•— A t no time
was direct relief extensive among professional engineers, but the de
velopment of work-relief programs after 1932 was important. In fact
relief work on work-relief projects was the main source of assistance
to those who remained unemployed. Thus, on December 31, 1932,
when slightly more than 10 percent of the engineers were unemployed,
only 0.7 percent were on work relief. Two years later nearly 5 percent
of all engineers were on work relief, which was approximately half of
the total number of engineers unemployed at that time.
The reports for December 31, 1934, show striking differences in the
extent of work relief as between civil engineers and the other pro
fessional classes. A t that time 6.2 percent of all civil, agricultural,
and architectural engineers were on work relief as compared with only
2.2 percent of all the other professional classes combined.
Among engineers with an incomplete college course, 19.6 percent of
the civil-engineer group reported some work relief, whereas only 7.5
percent of those in the other professions considered together so re
ported. Among college graduates, work relief was reported by 16.8
percent of the civil-engineer group and by only 10.9 percent of the
mining and metallurgical engineers. For the other professional
classes, the percentages were 8.3 for both electrical and mechanical
and industrial engineers, and 6.6 for chemical and ceramic engineers.
In all professional classes, age was an important factor in the fre
quency of work relief. Thus, there was relatively little difference as
regards the frequency of work-relief experience between those gradu
ating in 1930-32 and those graduating in 1933-34. B y contrast, the
percentage of civil engineers and electrical engineers who reported
work relief was only half as large among those graduating prior to
1915 as among those graduating in 1930 or later years.
The median period of work relief was approximately 5 months.
Essentially, the periods were the same for both civil engineers and
mechanical engineers, though the average period was perhaps shorter
in the case of electrical engineers. In more than four-fifths of the
cases, those who reported a period of work relief also reported a period
of unemployment.
Patent Privileges of Professional Engineers
In general, there appears to be little restriction upon professional
engineers with regard to patent rights to inventions made by them.
The extent of restriction, however, depended largely upon the engi
neer’s field of employment and the type of work in which engaged.
10
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
Earned A n n u a l Incomes o f Professional Engineers, 1929 to 1934
E arned A n n u a l Incom es fr o m all Sou rces in 1929, 1932, and 1934
Incomes of engineers without regard to age.— In 1929, 50 percent of
the 30,032 reporting engineers earned more than $3,412, and 50 per
cent earned less than that amount. Twenty-five percent earned more
than $5,012, and 10 percent had incomes in excess of $7,466 per
annum. On the other hand, 25 and 10 percent of the engineers
earned, respectively, less than $2,509 and $1,878 per year.
Also in 1929 and without regard to the age distributions of the
different classes, 10 percent of the mining and metallurgical engineers
earned more than $9,912 per year, chemical and ceramic engineers
ranked second with 10 percent earning more than $9,103, and were
followed in order by mechanical and industrial engineers ($8,508),
electrical engineers ($7,185), and civil engineers ($6,507). A t the
upper 25-percent level, mining and metallurgical engineers reported
earnings of $6,301 per year, and those of the other professional classes
ranged from 4 percent lower for chemical and ceramic engineers to
28 percent lower for civil engineers. This order of professional classes
was also maintained in 1932 and 1934.
Between 1929 and 1934 the median earnings of all engineers from all
sources declined from $3,412 to $2,286, or 33.0 percent. The percent
age decrease of the earnings of the highest 10 and 25 percent were
about the same as that noted for the median. On the other hand, in
1934, 10 percent of the engineers earned less than $872, a decrease of
53.6 percent at this income level. Almost two-thirds of these decreases
in earned annual income occurred between 1929 and 1932. There
were further decreases from 1932 to 1934.
Over the period 1929 to 1934, relatively, the smallest shrinkages in
earnings were reported by the civil engineers, while the chemical and
ceramic engineers suffered the greatest cuts. The median income of
the former group declined 30.2 percent; of the latter group, 46.2
percent. The decrease for electrical engineers was 32.3 percent; for
mining and metallurgical engineers it was 34.5 percent; and for
mechanical and industrial engineers, 37.2 percent.
Annual income related to agey all engineers combined.— Analysis of
the income data reported by all engineers in 1929, 1932, and 1934
shows that average earnings advanced with age up to 60 or 65 years
of age. The initial periods of exceptionally rapid rise are followed by
slower rates of increase. Thus in 1929 the median earnings of those
graduating in 1927-28 were $2,098 and were $3,145 among those who
graduated in 1921-24. The average of those who graduated in 188996 ($4,968) was little higher than the average of the group graduating
in 1897-1904. Similar relationships, but with lower average earnings
for each age group, prevailed in 1932 and 1934.
SUMMARY
11
The earnings of the upper 10 percent in each age group advance
more rapidly than median earnings. Thus, in 1929, the highest 10
percent of the engineers 25 years of age earned 45 percent more than
the median engineer of that age. A t 44 years the earnings of the
upper 10 percent were 116 percent greater than the median, and at
60 were 157 percent greater. On the other hand, the level of earn
ings of the lowest 10 percent of the engineers of a given age advances
less rapidly than at the median level and reaches a maximum at an
earlier age. In 1929, 10 percent of the 25-year-old engineers earned
less than $1,462, while 10 percent of those who were 44 earned less
than $2,683.
Even in 1929, in every age group there were some 10 percent or
more of the engineers who earned less than an average engineer who
had been out of college 4 years or more. W ith advancing age, there
fore, the spread between the earnings of the most successful and the
least successful engineers became greater. This tendency was more
pronounced in 1934 than in 1929. Thus, in 1929 the upper 10 per
cent of those graduating in 1889-96 earned more than 5.5 times as
much as the lowest 10 percent. In 1934, when many were unem
ployed, the upper group averaged 10.7 times as much as the lower.
Comparison of the earnings of engineers of identical ages in 1929
and 1934 shows that the average income of engineers who had been
out of college for 2 years declined 43 percent. The income of those
who had been out 5 years declined 35 percent. For older engineers
the decline approximated 30 percent.
In all but the youngest age groups the earnings of identical gradu
ating classes were lower in 1934 than in 1929. Among the very
youngest identical group for whom figures can be shown, the classes
of 1927-28, the tendency for earnings to advance with experience
almost exactly offset the tendency of earnings for any given job to
decline during the depression.
Annual income and education.— Consideration of the incomes
reported by engineers of different educational backgrounds shows
that those with a formal engineering education did receive a higher
income. The differences in earnings, however, did not accrue in
equal measure for all five professional classes.
A t the lowest ages, engineers who have achieved professional status
after a high-school education enjoy an advantage in earning capacity.
A t about 28 years of age this initial advantage is lost. The 1929
average earnings of the graduates in various classes of engineering
ranged from $2,725 to $3,000 per year, and those of the corresponding
“ other” or nongraduate group of engineers from $2,430 to $2,650.
W ith advancing age, the spreads in earnings in favor of the gradu
ates became very marked indeed. For example, at 5, 20, and 37
years after graduation, the earnings of first-degree mechanical and
12
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
industrial engineers exceeded by $175, $925, and $1,322 per year
those of the engineers of the same professional class whose college
course was incomplete, and surpassed by $225, $1,160, and $1,815
per year those of engineers with a noncollegiate technical-school
education.
Even in the graduate groups there was variation in the increases
in earning capacity with age among the several professional classes.
Thus, the 1929 earnings of first-degree civil engineers who had been
out of college for 5 years were only $2,050 less than the earnings of
those who had graduated 30 years before, whereas the corresponding
difference for chemical and ceramic engineers was $3,600. The
ranges in earnings of the remaining graduate groups fell between
those reported by the civil and the chemical and ceramic engineers.
Sources of Earned Annual Income, 1929 to 1934
Annual incomes from engineering and nonengineering work.— In 1929
there was greater spread in the earnings of engineers engaged in non
engineering work than in those obtained from engineering work.
Thus, among engineers 40 to 47 years of age, 10 percent of those
engaged in nonengineering earned more than $12,424 and 10 percent
earned less than $2,420 per year. The respective annual incomes of
similar proportions of all those engaged in engineering work were
$9,815 and $2,705; and of graduates in engineering $10,088 and
$2,936.
The age of maximum earning power for engineers arrives more
quickly for nonengineering than for engineering work. Thus, at
48 to 55 years of age, those college graduates who stayed in engineering
were doing as well as those who had gone into nonengineering work.
This was true even at the highest income levels. But despite the
fact that in 1929 the tendency was for average annual incomes of
engineers engaged in nonengineering to exceed slightly those in en
gineering work, the opportunities in nonengineering fields did not
embrace more than 7 percent of the total number of engineers in any
one age classification.
Over the period 1929-34 the relationship changed between the jobs
engineers took in engineering and nonengineering work. On the
whole it appears that in 1929 nonengineering work was an alternative
to engineering work, but from 1929 to 1934 many nonengineering jobs
were accepted as an alternative to unemployment or work relief.
Those engineers who were able to stay in engineering fared better
than those engaged in nonengineering work. Thus, the group of
engineers who were engaged in engineering in 1929 when they were
44 years of age averaged $4,562, while the smaller group in engineering
in 1934 averaged $3,524.
SUMM ARY
13
It was among those newcomers who were trying to force their way
into the profession that the greatest fall in annual income from
engineering occurred. Thus, average earnings in engineering in 1934,
2 years after graduation, were 37 percent less than in 1929. The
earnings of those who had been out of college 10 years were 31 percent
lower in 1934 than in 1929. A t higher ages all groups averaged a
decrease of 26 percent.
Annual incomes of unemployed engineers.— In 1934 almost one-tenth
of the engineers were unemployed or on work relief at the end of the
year. The low level of earnings of this group during 1934 contributed
to lowering the average earnings of all engineers. Thus, of those
engineers who were unemployed at the end of 1934 the average earn
ings for the preceding 12 months of those who were less than 28 years
of age ranged from $700 to $950. Engineers of 40 to 50 years aver
aged $1,350. Only about 10 percent of the unemployed, even though
they were in those ages at which engineering earnings reached a
peak, had made as much as $2,000 in the preceding 12 months. Ten
percent made less than $300 a year.
Monthly Earnings of Professional Engineers, 1929 to 1934
Although the general changes in monthly rates show similar tend
encies to those already described concerning annual earnings data, it
should be emphasized that monthly engineering earnings give a more
accurate measure of the rate at which engineering services are com
pensated than do the annual earnings from engineering work because
the latter figure is influenced by continuity of employment as well
as rate of remuneration.
One of the most important additions to the earlier data is a clari
fication of the relationship of engineering entrance rates and rates in
succeeding years. Annual data for a class graduating in the middle
of the year under consideration are of little significance; monthly
rates are significant. Therefore, and directly supplementing what
has already been said, it may be noted that 1929 average engineering
earnings for the graduating class of 1929 were $149. The average in
1929 for the class of 1927-28 was $181. The 1934 average entrance
rate was $110. The range of rates of earnings embracing four-fifths
of the engineers of the class of 1929 in 1929 was $115 to $215. The
corresponding range in 1934 was $75 to $149. The upper level of
1934 was the same as the average of 1929.
Thus, from this more exact measure of entrance rates, it is possible
to see the extent to which the depression and the pressure for jobs
slowed down the rate of increase in earnings from engineering. Thus
the average monthly rate received by 1929 graduates in 1929 was
$149. In 1932 it was $156 for such of this class as were engaged in
engineering and in 1934 was $162. Those of the class of 1932 in
14
EM PLO YM EN T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
engineering averaged $111 in 1932, as against $124 in 1934. It
became progressively more difficult to gain valuable experience. In
1929 the group with 1 or 2 years experience averaged $181, while the
entrance group averaged $149. In 1932 the corresponding averages
were about $135 and $111. In 1934 they were about $120 and $110.
Engineering Earnings Without Regard to Kind of Engineering
Employment in 1929, 1932, and 1934
Earnings of all engineers combined, without regard to age.— In 1929,
the range in monthly engineering earnings of professional engineers
was very great. Some 79 engineers reported earnings of less than
$60 per month, while 168 earned more than $1,880 a month. The
median monthly earnings of the 28,511 reporters engaged in engineer
ing was $289. One-quarter earned more than $415, while only 10
percent had earnings greater than $609 a month. Between 1929 and
1934 there were progressive declines in monthly engineering earnings.
While the sharpest absolute decreases occurred at the higher levels of
earnings, the greatest percentage decreases took place at the lower
earnings levels. Almost two-thirds of the decreases occurred between
1929 and 1932.
Monthly earnings by professional class, without regard to age.— Com
parison of earnings by professional class, without regard to age and
the consequent effect of the varying age distributions, shows that in
1929 the upper 10 percent of mining and metallurgical engineers
(highest at this level) reported earnings of not less than $792 per
month as against $515 a month for civil engineers, who were lowest
at this level. Next to mining and metallurgical engineers came chemi
cal and ceramic engineers, followed by mechanical and industrial,
and electrical engineers. For the upper 25 percent of the reporting
engineers the order of the professional classes was the same, monthly
engineering earnings ranging from not less than $372 for civil engineers
to not less than $503 a month for mining and metallurgical engineers.
A t the middle and lower earnings levels, the differences in earning
capacities of the 5 professional classes were less marked, although, in
each instance, mining and metallurgical engineers and electrical
engineers occupied the upper and lower extremes, respectively.
In 1932 and 1934 the order of the professional classes at the two
higher earnings levels was essentially the same as that noted for 1929.
A t the three lower earnings levels shifts occurred in this order in 1929
and there were further shifts in 1932 and 1934.
Earnings related to age, all engineers combined.— On an age basis
the 1929 monthly compensation for engineering services of the lowest
tenth of reporting engineers was more than twice as high for those in
the age group 48 to 55 as for those of 23 years. At the upper 10percent earnings level, maximum earnings of $1,050 a month were
SUMMARY
15
reached in the sixties. Similarly, at the average and at the upper and
lower quarters earnings levels, age 60 was the turning point.
For men of identical ages in 1929, 1932, and 1934 the data reveal
that the greatest impact of the depression, as far as engineering
earnings were concerned, fell upon men with from 2 to 5 years7
experience.
Earnings and education.— Although the 1929 data on engineering
earnings reveal an advantage in favor of men who have engineering
degrees, this advantage was less clearly defined than was the case
with earned annual incomes. However, the extra years of experience
which the “ other77 or nongraduate engineers had while the graduates
were in school permitted of their obtaining higher earnings than gradu
ates only up to a point corresponding to 5 years after graduation.
Even at 2 years after graduation the differentials in earnings between
the two groups were slight. Similarly, at 4 years after graduation,
while at the median level graduate earnings ranged from $225 for
first-degree electrical engineers to $250 a month for first-degree
chemical and ceramic engineers, among the “ other77 or nongraduate
engineers they ranged from $200 for engineers with secondary-school
education to $229 a month for mechanical and industrial engineers
with incomplete college courses.
W ith advancing age there was a considerable advantage in engi
neering earnings in favor of the graduates. This was an average
advantage, however, for there was a distinct variation in the earning
capacities among both graduates and “ other77 or nongraduate engi
neers. The monthly engineering earnings of graduates continued to
increase several years beyond the point of maximum earnings of
“ other77 or nongraduate engineers. The earnings of the latter either
remained stable or declined after 53 years of age.
Earnings by kind oj engineering employment.— W ith due allowance
for varying proportions of experienced engineers in the several pro
fessional classes, it appears that in 1929, and among those engineers
in the employ of private firms, mining and metallurgical engineering
paid the highest rates for engineering services, followed by chemical
and ceramic engineering, mechanical and industrial engineering, civil
engineering, and electrical engineering. In the order as stated, the
median monthly engineering earnings reported for 1929 were $338,
$341, $314, $300, and $276. These relationships held at all levels
of earnings with only one significant exception. From 1929 to 1934
there were large decreases in the rates of pay at all earnings levels
among engineers in the employ of private firms.
In both 1929 and 1934, there was a marked spread in the earnings
in private firm employment of each professional group. Thus, while
the earnings of the upper 10 percent of reporting civil engineers were
106 percent greater than the median earnings of the group, the
16
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
corresponding difference for mining and metallurgical engineers was
135 percent. For the other three professional classes, the differences
were: 111 percent for electrical engineers, 117 percent for mechanical
and industrial engineers, and 119 percent for chemical and ceramic
engineers.
In 1929 there was a considerable range in earnings opportunities
among the various kinds of engineering employment. Thus, while
one-half of the engineers in the employ of State and county govern
ments earned not less than $236 a month, the lowest at this earnings
level, the highest median monthly earnings of $439 were reported by
independent consultants.
Intermediate between these median
monthly earnings lay teaching ($310), private-firm employment ($301),
municipal government and other public authorities ($272), and Fed
eral Government ($264).
The gradation of earnings in 1929 at the two lower earnings levels
was the same as that noted for the median. But at the two higher
earnings levels private-firm employment exceeded teaching, being
second in order after independent consultants, while the earnings of
all three public engineering employments were lower in each instance
than those of engineers engaged in teaching.
Over the period 1929-34 there was an especially marked decline in
the earnings of independent consultants as compared with the decline
in rates for the other kinds of employment. These changes are to
be regarded as in large part a measure of underemployment.
In the other kinds of employment, the largest decline (27 percent)
in average rates paid was in private-firm employment. The smallest
decline (14 percent) was in teaching. Average compensation by the
Federal Government for engineering services declined 23 percent, as
against 19 and 17 percent, respectively, for State and county govern
ments, and municipal and other public authorities.
In private firm employment, in teaching and among engineers em
ployed b y municipal and other public authorities, earnings of the
upper 10 and 25 percent declined less than the average; earnings of the
lower 10 and 25 percent, somewhat more than the average. In Fed
eral Government employment, the declines at all but the highest level
of earnings were similar to the decline of the average rate.
Separate analysis of the earnings data for older engineers and
younger engineers emphasizes the extent to which earnings in 1934
were diluted by the influx of younger engineers. Thus, while consid
eration of each group of engineers as a whole revealed a greater decline
in earnings at the lower levels than at the higher, for the older engi
neers the four other earnings levels sank in almost exactly the same
ratio as the average in the case of private-firm employment, teaching,
Federal Government, and State government employment.
SUMM ARY
17
Earnings by field of engineering activity.— In general it may be said
that at all earnings levels, and among engineers with 5 years or
more of experience, State and county employment is at lower rates
than Federal or municipal. For civil engineers, electrical engi
neers, and mechanical engineers public employment averaged less
than any of the fields of private employment, except construction.
For example, while civil engineers averaged $234 per month in
municipal employment and $232 per month in the private construc
tion industry, in the other fields of private employment the range in
monthly earnings was from $248 to $270. B y contrast, chemical
and ceramic engineers with the Federal Government averaged $300
per month in 1934 as against $296 in private manufacturing industries.
Within the various fields of private employment, average rates in
the construction industry are low. Furthermore, in the five fields of
private engineering activity and in personal service, chemical and
ceramic engineers and mining and metallurgical engineers appear to
have a distinct advantage in earnings, whereas among the three other
professional classes the differences in the median monthly earnings
reported were not very great.
There was less spread in the earnings reported for public employ
ment than those received by engineers in the other fields of engineering
activity. For example, while the median earnings of civil engineers
in Federal employment were $221 a month, at the upper 10-percent
earnings level the earnings received were $375 a month. B y contrast,
civil engineers in manufacturing received median monthly earnings
of $248 a month and $488 a month at the upper 10-percent level.
Among engineers born in the years 1907-9 and 1910-14, the
monthly earnings received for public construction work were slightly
greater than those received for private construction work. And
except for private construction, there was very little difference in
the earnings reported by the two groups of younger engineers engaged
in public construction and those received in the other fields of
engineering activity.
Earnings by type of engineering work.— For engineers with 5 years
of experience or more, those engaged in general administration and
management were without any important exception the best-paid
group. On the average, engineers engaged in general administration
make from half again to twice as much as those engaged in design,
construction, or operation. For example, mechanical engineers en
gaged in design and research averaged $228 while those in general
administration and management averaged $324 per month.
Consulting, teaching, and sales in all instances average less than
administration and generally average more than design, construction,
and operation.
18
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
In all professional classes, except electrical engineering, higher rates
were paid in design and research and in operation than in construction.
For example, while civil engineers engaged in construction reported
median monthly earnings of $211, members of this same professional
class engaged in design and research and operation received, respec
tively, $218 and $226 a month.
Mining engineers averaged nearly the same in design and research
as in operation. But in the case of both chemical and ceramic en
gineers and electrical engineers, those engaged in design and research
averaged more than those engaged in operation, and at the higher
levels of earnings the differences between them were even more marked.
Within each type of work, construction excepted, chemical and
ceramic engineers, and mining and metallurgical engineers had the
advantage. For example, the former professional class reported
median monthly earnings of $285 for design and research; the latter
received $262 a month. The range in monthly earnings for the three
other professional classes was from $218 to $228.
Due to the variations in spread, these differences in earnings became
accentuated at the two higher earnings levels. For example, while
mining and metallurgical engineers reported median monthly earnings
of $393 for general administration and management, one-quarter
received not less than $618 a month and one-tenth not less than
$1,028 a month. The corresponding figures for civil engineers en
gaged in the same type of work were $312, $426, and $587 a month.
Although the spread in earnings for consulting was less than that
noted for general administration and management, it was relatively
greater than that which occurred in any of the other types of work.
The smallest spread occurred in the earnings reported for construction.
The earnings reported by the two groups of younger engineers show
that in all types of engineering work younger engineers start with
practically the same level of earnings.
Monthly earnings by geographical division.— In 1929, there were
persistent differences in the average rates of pay of three types of
engineering. Thus, graduate mechanical engineers in 1929 averaged
higher than electrical or civil engineers in all geographical divisions,
except the District of Columbia. In all regions, except New England,
graduate electrical engineers earned less than graduate civil engineers.
Within the regions the spreads in earnings differ substantially.
The differences in rates as between the various regions are not con
sistent from one group to the next, nor from one year to another.
The earnings of engineers in the Middle Atlantic States and the
District of Columbia appear in general to be slightly above those in
New England and the East North Central States. This is especially
the case among civil engineers. These four regions are generally above
SUMMARY
19
the Pacific States and the West South Central States, both of which
rank fairly high as regards earnings of civil engineers.
Electrical engineers are as high in the Pacific States as in the East
North Central. In 1934, especially, mechanical engineers in the
West South Central States ranked as high as electrical engineers as
regards average earnings.
In general, the lowest average rates were reported from the Mountain
States and the West North Central, though the differences between
the averages in these regions and the South Atlantic and East South
Central States are not consistent.
Monthly earnings by size of city.— In 1929, there was an extreme
range in average earnings among the cities with a population of
400.000 or more from about $280 per month for Los Angeles and
Minneapolis and St. Paul to $351 in Pittsburgh. None of the 18
cities of 400,000 or more in 1934, and only two in 1929, had average
earnings materially lower than the average in the smaller cities.
By and large, the cities of 400,000 or over appear to pay $200 to
$250 more per year in average earnings than cities of 50,000 to 400,000.
These in turn average $100 more than cities of 10,000 to 50,000; and
these, perhaps $200 more per year than was paid in communities of
less than 10,000. A situation similar to that noted for average
earnings reported also occurred at the two lower earnings levels.
The concentration of opportunities for higher earnings in the larger
cities is fairly well defined at the upper 25-percent level and more so at
the upper 10-percent earnings level.
In only three of the cities with 400,000 population or more did the
upper 10 percent of the engineers earn less than was earned at this
level ($602) in cities of 100,000 to 400,000. In cities with less than
10.000 population, the upper 10 percent earned $503 or more in 1929.
Similar differences obtained in 1934.
Among the younger engineers, there was almost no variation in their
earnings by size of city.
Over the period 1929-34, the earnings at all income levels and for all
cities declined. The smallest declines in average earnings were re
ported for the cities of San Francisco (15 percent) and Washington,
D. C. (14 percent). But for the remaining cities the decreases
ranged from 20 percent in the case of Los Angeles to as high as 31
percent for the city of Cincinnati.
Chapter I
Scope and Method
Prior to 1929 recessions in business activity in the United States
were known to affect business profits and wage-earner employment.
The professional worker was not immune to loss of employment and
earnings, but his problems were apparently entirely different from
those of the wage earner. The inconveniences of professional workers
arising from reductions in salaries or unemployment appear to have
been of short duration. These conditions, however, did not obtain
in the depression years 1930 to 1934, inclusive.
Early in 1930 unemployment became a national problem and struck
simultaneously nonprofessional and professional workers. As the de
pression lengthened in time and increased in intensity, its effects
upon professional engineers became evident. But professional work
ers concerned with this problem were confronted with the lack of
reliable data that could have been used as a basis on which to formu
late plans to bring about an amelioration in the situation. Conse
quently, at the request of American Engineering Council, toward the
end of 1934, the Bureau of Labor Statistics undertook a survey of the
engineering profession in cooperation with a committee representative
of all branches of professional engineering activity.1
Purpose and Collection of Data
The primary purpose of this survey was to determine the extent of
unemployment among professional engineers in the period 1930-34.
It was also desired to determine what kind of professional employ
ment gave engineers the greatest protection against unemployment,
where they found substitute employment, and their earnings between
January 1, 1929, and December 31, 1934.
The data were obtained through the medium of a mail question
naire 2 requesting information from professional engineers for the
three periods ending December 31, 1929, 1932, and 1934. The
questions covered present residence; age; marital status and number
of dependents;3 educational background; employment status; unem
ployment and relief; earned annual income; rates of monthly com
pensation from engineering work; membership in engineering societies;3
1 The Bureau’s studies have dealt almost entirely with wage-earning groups. The only other professional
group recently studied were editorial employees of newspapers. For data on the results of that survey,
see M onthly Labor Review, M ay 1935, p. 1137 (also printed as B. L. S. Serial No. R. 239.).
2 See appendix A, p. 214, for facsimile of questionnaire used in the survey.
3 N o analysis was made of this information.
20
SCOPE AN© METHOD
21
method of obtaining employment, together with information on
contract and pension privileges; patent rights; civil-service status;
field of engineering activity and type of work within that field; and
professional class. A copy of this questionnaire was sent to each of
173,151 professional engineers.
The mailing list for the questionnaire was compiled for the Bureau
through the cooperation of National, State, and local engineering so
cieties. They also secured additional names from 32 State boards of
engineering examiners, and the deans of 156 engineering schools for
graduates in the classes of 1930-34. A t the time the request for names
was issued there were known to be in existence 80 National, 42 State,
and 197 local engineering societies, and of these, respectively, 73, 39,
and 121 submitted names from their past and present membership
rosters. The cooperating bodies embraced every phase of professional
engineering activity. The original mailing list, from which duplica
tions were eliminated, is the most inclusive that could be devised for
the profession. As regards engineers who entered the profession in
1929 or earlier, it is representative, except as membership in an engi
neering society may introduce a selective bias. This bias was mini
mized by drawing upon the roster of past membership so that the selec
tive effect of unemployment during the depression does not affect
the list. As regards those who prepared to enter the profession since
1929, it is virtually all-inclusive of graduates from engineering colleges
and universities. There may be some under-representation of engi
neers drawn from the ranks or from noncollegiate technical schools
in recent years. While this possibility exists, the evidence leads to
the belief that it is not an important source of error.
The Number of Returns
Of the 173,151 questionnaires sent out 58,388, or 33.7 percent, were
returned with information; 5,883, or 3.4 percent, were returned as
“ not found.” The net number of usable returns was 52,589, or 30.4
percent of the number of persons on the original mailing list. No
follow-up method was used. The extensive response was due largely
to the publicity given to the survey by the cooperating bodies through
their official publications and attests the interest that professional
engineers felt in the problems of their profession.
The returns covered every State and the District of Columbia, and
ranged in number from 101 in Nevada to 7,659 in New York. (Table
1.) In view of the small number of returns from individual States—
in only 13 cases were more than 1,000 reports received from a single
State, while in 24 States less than 500 were received— the States were
grouped according to the census geographical divisions, with the single
exception that the District of Columbia was segregated from the
2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 4 1 ------- 3
22
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 -3 4
South Atlantic region and presented separately. This segregation
was deemed advisable in that the m ajority of engineers reporting
from the District of Columbia were in the employ of the Federal
Government. On this regional basis, the returns from all engineers in
the nine professional classes combined ranged from 948 in the District
of Columbia to 14,977 in the Middle Atlantic region.
T a b l e 1 .— Distribution at end of 1984 of 'professional
geographical division and State
Number
reporting
Geographical division and State
United States___ _____ _ __________ _
reporting , by
Number
reporting
Geographical division and State
New England . . _________________
Connecticut
Maine___
.
. . . ________
Massachusetts
. __________ ___
__ _
New Hampshire
Rhode Island..
__________
Vermont
West North Central.
_ _ ___ _
Iowa _ __________ _ ______ _
Kansas...
._ .... _______________
Minnesota . . . __ ___________ _
M issouri__ . _
. . .
Nebraska
___ _ _ _ _ _ _
North Dakota.. _ _ . . .
South Dakota . . . _ . . . . _ _
Pacific. _ _.
California _ .
Oregon
. . .
Washington
...
East North Central . . . _ . . .
Illinois .
Indiana __ . ______________ _
Michigan_______
_ __ . . . ___
Ohio__________ _
. . .
Wisconsin
.
_ _
Middle Atlantic
_ _ _
New Jersey.. _____ _ _____
New York .
________
Pennsylvania _______ _________
52, 589
District of Columbia. _________ ____
East South Central. __ .
_____
Alabama
___ ____________
Kentucky .
.. _______ ________
Mississippi
_ _______ _ _ _ _
Tennessee.
_____________ _____
Mountain
__ _ _ ____________
Arizona. . ________ ___________
Colorado._ ____________________
Idaho
. .
_____ .
Montana
_______ ___ _____ _
Nevada
________ _______
New Mexico _ ______________
Utah . . .
____
________
Wyoming
________ __ _
West South Central _____ _______ __
Arkansas.
_ _______________
Louisiana.
________ _____
_____ _ ____ _
Oklahoma
Texas..
_______ _______ _____
South Atlantic. ______________ ____ _
D elaware__ . . . ______ ____ _____
Florida___ . . . .
......... ..............
Georgia. _____ __ ___________
Maryland _ __________________
North Carolina
_____________ .
South Carolina_______________
Virginia___ . _______________ . . .
West Virginia____________________
engineers
948
1, 544
343
402
268
531
2, 434
369
908
197
291
101
156
254
158
2,486
171
481
509
1, 325
3,920
195
626
592
628
421
295
678
485
4,674
934
322
2, 717
227
313
161
4,978
902
740
1,265
1, 224
398
172
277
5,651
4,389
427
835
10,977
3,689
1, 316
1,951
2,999
1,022
14, 977
3, 323
7,659
3,995
.
T a b l e 2 — Geographical distribution at end of 1934 of the 9 major professional
classes of engineers
Geographical division
Professional class i
Total
All classes_____ ____ 52, 589
Agricultural_______
Architectural____ _
Ceramic___________
Chemical __ _ _
397~
538
388
3, 512
Civil_________ ____ 19, 891
Electrical_____ ____ 11, 443
Industrial_________
1,007
Mechanical_______
13, 226
Mining and metal
lurgical__________ 2,187
Dis
West South
trict East Moun South
of Co South
At
tain Cen lantic
Cen
lum
tral
tral
bia
948
9~
10
3
37
1, 544
5T
8
11
107
2,434
20~
20
2
108
2,486
36~
22
5
213
3, 920
38~
29
22
291
West
East M id
New North
Pacif North dle
Eng
Cen
ic
Cen
At
land
tral
tral lantic
4,674
4,978
ffi
44
10
369
123
107
38
296
38
30
26
179
71
139
169
878
31
129
102
1,034
5,651 10,977
14,977
450
195
6
197
707
286
19
320
1,191
385
14
285
1,082
489
18
548
1,619
856
76
898
1,631
1,080
129
1,313
2,295
991
56
884
3,099
920
44
986
3, 294
2,412
270
3,343
4, 523
3, 829
375
4,452
41
65
409
73
91
88
188
329
401
502
i From the Office of Education returns it was found that, while the number of professional classes was
large (primarily due to specialization), nearly 90 percent of all engineering graduates in any one year were
confined to the 9 professional classes of agricultural, architectural, ceramic, chemical, civil, electrical, in
dustrial, mechanical, and mining and metallurgical engineering.
The number of engineers reporting other professional classes were so small that special analyses were not
warranted. These were combined with one or other of the major professional classes to which they were
most closely allied. These particular data are presented in appendix B, p. 218 table 1.
SCOPE AND METHOD'
23
On a national basis the range in the returns of each of the 9 pro
fessional classes was from 388 for ceramic engineers to 19,891 for
civil engineers (Table 2). It was not feasible consistently to analyze
separately the smaller groups: Agricultural, architectural, ceramic,
and industrial engineers. The first two are therefore at times merged
with civil engineers, the third with chemical, and the last with
mechanical engineers.
Comparison With Previous Studies
The gross number of returns, namely, 52,589, makes this survey
unique in size and comprehensiveness. W ith regard to size, three
previous major studies can be cited: (1) The one made in 1924 by the
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education 4 of engineering
graduates and nongraduating former students, which dealt with data
collected from 7,000 individuals; (2) the American Society of Mechani
cal Engineers’ study 5 of 1930, which was based on returns from ap
proximately 8,000 engineers; and (3) the American Society of Civil
Engineers’ study 6 of 1934, which included 16,000 engineers. The
present study is the first one in which it has been possible to collect
sufficient detail to compare the status of engineers in the several
branches of professional engineering activity under approximately
the same conditions on a Nation-wide basis.
The Components of the Sample
Although the returns covered members of nine major professional
classes of engineers, cognizance must also be taken of two other factors
which vitally affect the whole of the ensuing analysis: (1) Differences
in educational background, and (2) differences in the length of time
that the reporting engineers had been in the profession. Classifica
tions by education and by age or years since graduation have been
followed for each professional class.
In regard to differences in educational background, the reporting
engineers have been grouped in three classes to cover graduate engi
neers, while three others embrace those engineers who did not report
graduation after four years’ attendance at a recognized university or
college. M ore specifically, the three types of graduate education are:
(1) Postgraduate, (2) nonengineering graduates,7 and (3) first-degree
4
Bulletin No. 3, Report of the Investigation of Engineering Education, Engineering Education, vol. I,
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. Lancaster
Press, Inc., Lancaster, Pa., 1930.
8 1930 Earnings of Mechanical Engineers, Mechanical Engineering, September and November 1930 and
December 1931. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, N. Y.
6 Revised Report on Salaries of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineering, vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 423-425. August 1934.
American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, N. Y.
7 Primarily, graduates with liberal arts degrees and a major in some field closely allied to engineering, such
as mathematics, physics, or chemistry, and who reported they were actually engaged in engineering work for
one of the three periods.
24
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 -3 4
engineering graduates. The engineers classified in the three other
types of education have been collectively designated as “ other” 8
engineers and cover men who reported (1) an incomplete college engi
neering course, (2) noncollegiate technical school education, and (3)
secondary-school education only.9
Within each type of education, the differences in experience spans
comprise two broad groupings of the reporting engineers. First,
those who reported for the year 1929 and were, therefore, professionally
active prior to 1930; and, second, those engineers who had entered
the profession in one of the years 1930-1934, inclusive, and who could
not have reported for the year 1929. For purposes of this survey, the
former group are referred to throughout the discussion as “ older”
engineers, while the latter are designated as “ younger” engineers.
The gross returns received from the 52,589 professional engineers
comprise 33,841 who reported they were professionally active prior to
1930, and 18,748 who entered the profession in the period 1930-34.
A t this point it is pertinent to note that, in the absence of a satis
factory definition of the term “ professional engineer,” this report is
being based primarily on one criterion of professional engineering
status, namely membership in an engineering society. In the case
of the older engineers, this criterion may be applied without qualifica
tion. But even as regards the younger engineers, it also has consider
able merit. Their names, it will be recalled, were furnished by the
deans of practically every engineering school in the country. But
inquiry revealed that a substantial number of these names were
also furnished by engineering societies. This is explained by the
fact that even in the sophomore year many engineering students
obtain student memberships in one or another of the engineering socie
ties. In the junior and senior years there is a marked increase in the
number of such candidates.
Adequacy of Returns Received from Engineers Entering the
Profession Prior to 1930
T o check the returns received from those engineers who reported
they were professionally active prior to 1930, comparisons of these
figures were made with those on technical engineers as contained in
the Fifteenth Census, volumes IV and V, Population, U. S., 1930
census.
8 In the text, the term “ other” engineers is used interchangeably with nongraduate engineers. Whenever
possible, the former is preferred because engineers who attended noncollegiate technical schools received
diplomas after as many as 3 years of study. Strictly speaking, therefore, they are graduates.
9 Throughout this report, age and years after graduation are used interchangeably. Of course, in the case
of nongraduates (i. e., “ other” engineers) age only applies. The relationship between these two factors can
readily be derived from the fact that the median age of graduation of new entrants to the profession was
found to be 23 years.
SCOPE AND METHOD
25
The appropriateness of the census data as a basis for comparison
will be seen to be warranted in the discussion which deals with the
growth of the profession. A t this time, it needs merely to be noted
that these data do not permit of making separate analyses for the
reporting graduates and “ other,” or nongraduate engineers.
In order to insure that the returns from the older engineers ade
quately represented the engineering profession throughout the whole
country, consideration was first given to the reports received from
each of the 10 geographical divisions. For purposes of comparison
with the 1930 census data, it was necessary to make certain groupings
of the nine professional classes tabulated. These groupings comprise
(1) chemical, mining, and metallurgical engineers, (2) civil engineers
and surveyors and architectural engineers, (3) electrical engineers,
and (4) mechanical, agricultural, ceramic, and industrial engineers
and all other engineers not elsewhere classified.
The numbers of engineers so reporting in the survey without regard
to age and the corresponding figures on technical engineers in the 1930
census are presented in table 3.
Returns from the separate groupings of professional classes do show
a considerable variation. Of the chemical engineers group active
prior to 1930, apparently 24.7 percent reported in 1935. Reports
from mechanical engineers and all others embraced 17.7 percent; of
the civil engineers, 14.4 percent; and of the electrical engineers, 11.5
percent reported. Similar differences between the professional classes
were found in the separate regions, though, as was to be expected
when the national sample was broken down, differences in the propor
tions of returns became more accentuated when considered on a
regional basis. It should also be noted that in every district except
the Pacific and Mountain States a larger proportion of chemical and
mining and metallurgical engineers reported than in any other class.
Second in order of frequency of reporting were mechanical and other
engineers in every district. Civil engineers were third, except in the
South Atlantic and the Pacific States.
The causes of these variations cannot be determined. Their effect,
however, should be noted. For example, in connection with an analy
sis of earnings for all engineers without regard to professional class,
the presence of a relatively large proportion of chemical engineers will
raise the average somewhat above its true level. N o attempt has been
made to apply weighting factors for these differences in returns,
because the differences in the end products are not great enough to
necessitate it. But for this reason the analyses for the separate pro
fessional classes are probably more accurate than the analysis of all
engineering. As regards the analysis of the separate professional
classes, it may be noted that at least one-ninth of all engineers was
included even in the class with the smallest coverage, a large enough
26
T a b l e 3 .— Numbers of older 1 professional engineers reporting in sample and in 1980 census ,2 by geographical division
Geographical division
All professional
classes
Chemical, min
ing, and
metallurgical
Civil engineers
and surveyors
Electrical
Mechanical and
all others 3
All
profes
sional
classes
Chem
ical,
mining,
and
metal
lurgical
Civil
engi
neers
and
sur
veyors
Elec
trical
Mechan
ical
and all
others
Sample
Census
Sample
Census
Sample
Census
Sample
Census
Sample
Census
33,841
226,136
2,961
11,966
14,651
102,057
6,623
57, 775
9,606
54,338
15.0
24.7
14.4
11.5
17.7
District of Columbia___. . . ____ _
East South Central. __________
Mountain . .. . .
.
____
West South Central... . . .
_____
South Atlantic.._ .. . . . . . . ____
713
889
1, 590
1, 369
2,584
1,892
7, 362
7, 355
13,078
15,924
60
91
337
125
197
87
330
1,591
587
735
373
430
878
681
1,242
1,058
4, 509
3, 553
8, 212
9,080
123
151
189
216
474
373
1, 535
1, 342
2,505
3,440
157
217
186
347
671
374
988
869
1, 774
2, 669
37.7
12.1
21.6
10.5
16.2
69.0
27.6
21.2
21.3
26.8
35.3
9.5
24.7
8.3
13.8
33.0
9.8
14.1
8.6
13.8
42.0
22.0
21.4
19.6
25.1
New England
. . . . . ______
West North Central. _ __________
Pacific_________________________
East North Central_____________
Middle Atlantic. ______________
2,693
2, 940
4,343
6, 630
10,090
16, 370
15,401
27,138
51, 523
70,093
175
205
340
556
875
474
621
2,367
1,979
3,195
1,105
1, 622
2,628
2,312
3,380
6,922
8,918
14, 231
19,059
26,485
559
505
594
1,366
2,446
4,156
3, 387
5,589
13, 263
22,185
854
608
781
2,396
3, 389
4,818
2,445
4,951
17, 222
18. 228
16.5
19.1
16.0
12.9
14.4
36.9
33.0
14.4
28.1
27.4
16.0
18.1
18.5
12.1
12.8
13.5
14.9
10.6
10.3
11.0
17.7
24.9
15.8
13.9
18.6
Total for United States.
_ .
1 Includes those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 Data on technical engineers in the Fifteenth Census, vols. IV and V, Population, United States, 1930 Census.
3 Agricultural, ceramic, and industrial engineers and all other engineers not elsewhere classified.
EM P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
Percentage number reporting in sample formed
of 1930 census figures
Gross numbers reporting
SCOPE AND METHOD
27
coverage to warrant belief that it may be fully representative of the
professional class.
As regards all professional classes combined there were returns
from 15.0 percent of the engineers reported by the 1930 Census.
These were well distributed regionally. Returns from four regions
fell within the range of 14.4 percent and 16.5 percent. The lowest
percentage of returns was 10.5 percent for the West South Central.
The Mountain States averaged 21.6 percent. The District of Colum
bia, with 37.7 percent as many returns for older engineers in 1935 as
in the census of 1930, is an obvious exception.
None of these regional differences warrant efforts at reweighting
the sample covered by the survey. In point of fact, they are the best
quantitative index available of the shifts in economic opportunity for
engineers from 1930 to 1935. For example, the present study shows
an increase of 88.1 percent in Federal Government employment from
the end of 1929 to the end of 1934 among older engineers, thus con
firming the evidence of table 3, which at first glance shows an appar
ently disproportionate large number of returns from the District of
Columbia.
The method adopted to check the age composition of the returns
from the older engineers was as follow s: The number reporting in the
sample was tabulated with regard to age in 1930 by intervals corre
sponding to those used in the census of 1930. The number in each
age interval was calculated as a percentage of the grand total report
ing age and compared with a series of similar computations derived
from the 1930 census data. This was done for all engineers classified
in the four groupings of professional class within each geographical
division.
In this connection, it should be noted that age was reported by
33,494 of the 33,841 older engineers, that is, by all but 1.0 percent.
In the census, of the 226,136 technical engineers, age was reported by
all but 180. The data on age are, therefore, comprehensively enough
reported in both cases to permit close analysis.
The sample of returns appears to be fully representative of each
age group. Because of the particular incidence of death and retire
ment upon the older engineers, it follows as a matter of course that
it was impossible in 1935 to secure returns as of 1930 representing
each age group in 1930 in the true proportions which had existed in that
year. In the reporting sample, 5.7 percent of the engineers were 55
or older in 1930, whereas at the time of the census 9.7 percent of all
engineers enumerated were 55 or more. Similarly, in the age groups
45 to 54 years the sample shows 16.7 percent and the census 17.4.
The widening gap of returns with advancing age is precisely what
should be expected. Conversely, the sample taken in 1935 produced
a larger percentage of engineers who were 20 to 44 years old in 1930
28
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
CH ART I.
DISTRIBUTION CURVES OF ALL OLDER
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS REPORTING AGE
IN 1935 SURVEY AND IN 1930 CENSUS
ALL PROFESSIONAL CLASSES COMBINED
PERCENT
60
-
50
40
30
20
10
SAMPLE:
4,004
11,909
10,049
274
CENSUS:
93,273
77,21$
92,390
4.990
33,494
223,936
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
SCOPE AND METHOD
29
than did the census. The parallelism of the two curves in chart 1 and
the reasonableness and consistency of the discrepancies leads to the
conclusion that the whole sample is reasonably representative in
1934 of the age distribution of engineers who entered the profession
before 1930. It is in the nature of retrospective surveys that the data
for 1929 slightly underestimate the number of mature engineers in the
profession at that time.
Approximate allowance for survival to 1935 may be made from cen
sus estimates of the number of males in 1935 by 5-year intervals.
They may be compared with corresponding groups in 1930 to compute
survival rates. These have been applied to engineers 25-34, 35-44,
and 45-54 without developing any evidence of real differences in the
ratios reporting. Above 55 years of age, to support the belief that the
tendency to report was uniform at all ages, it is necessary to assume
that one-quarter of the engineers 55-64 in 1930 had retired by 1935
when they would have been 60-69, and that about one-half of those
65 or more in 1930 had retired. It is further necessary to assume that
those who retired did not, in general, respond to a questionnaire ad
dressed primarily to employed or unemployed engineers. These as
sumptions are at least sufficiently reasonable so that it is unnecessary
to reweight the relatively small number of reports involved for the
purpose of calculating averages for the profession as a whole.
A t worst, such underreporting as may possibly occur would only
affect upper decile and quartile incomes. The order of such influence
is indicated by the following com parison: Average annual income for
older engineers only in 1934 was $2,670, without weighting the sample
for different ages. If we increase the sample of those who were 50—64
in 1930 by one-third, and double the sample of those 65 or more, the
average would be $2,699. However, the upper decile for the un
weighted sample (i. e., the limit above which 10 percent of the earnings
are found) is $5,679, and would be $5,827 if the sample were weighted
as indicated. In the chapters which follow, each age group is sepa
rately analyzed.
This conclusion as to the representativeness of the data as regards
the age distribution of reporting engineers is further supported when
the data are broken down by professional classes and by regions.
Charts 2 and 2a present a comparison on a national basis of the age
distributions in 1930 of the engineers reporting in 1934 and in the
census for four groups of professional classes. Each distribution
shows the general characteristics described above, with evidence of
under-reporting by civil engineers and surveyors 20 to 34 and by
chemical engineers above 35. The curves may be interpreted to indi
cate a relative over-representation in the sample in the case of me
chanical engineers of those who were 25-34, and in the case of civil
30
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
CHART 2
DISTRIBUTION CURVES OF ALL OLDER
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS REPORTING AGE
IN 1935 SURVEY AND IN 1930 CENSUS
BY PROFESSIONAL CLASS
rvuntocrr n c r u m
S A M P L E ; 337
3.937
CENSUS:
937
in;
98/
903
530
ISO
34
0
3.933
3,093
3,397
1,143
468
79
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
yuMac.tr /rerununo in:
S A M P LE : 1,074
3,789
1,719
795
7,339
15,140
6,568
6,333
CENSUS .*
33,993
37>T3°
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR
163
13
O
3,839
389
43
OLDER ENGINEERS INCLUDE ALL GRADUATESAND “OTHER"
STATISTICS _____________________________________ ENGINEERS PROFESSIONALLY ACTIVE PRIOR TO 1930
31
SCOPE AND METHOD
CH ART 2 0 .
DISTRIBUTION CURVES OF ALL OLDER
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS REPORTING AGE
IN 1935 SURVEY AND IN 1930 CENSUS
BY PROFESSIONAL CLASS
CIVIL ENGINEERS a SURVEYORS, AND ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERS
S A M P L E : 1,851
14,808
CENSUS:
101,971
PERCENT
13,184
4,6/3
£7,££3
8,7/£
17,373
87£
7,583
158
£,644
0
54/
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS AND ALL OTHER*
S A M P L E : 1,04/
CENSUS:
4,598
33,343
3,493
3,840
/6,989
8, 8/8
1,576
478
69
16,985
H,0£7
4,57/
1,188
S4* 99
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
0
143
*SEE TABLE
3
OLDER ENGINEERS INCLUDE ALL GRADUATESAND "OTHER"
ENGINEERS PROFESSIONALLY ACTIVE PRIOR TO 1930
32
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
engineers of those who were 35-44. In no case are the discrepancies
serious.
On a regional basis, the comparison between 1930 and 1934, in view
of the influence of migration, is hardly an important test of the repre
sentativeness of the sample, though the data appear fairly representa
tive even on this basis. The data are themselves significant as indi
cating differences in the age distributions of engineers that have devel
oped in the several regions since 1930.10
Adequacy of Returns Received from Younger Engineers
As in the case of the older engineers reporting, the 18,748 returns re
ceived from newcomers to the profession in the period 1930-34 were
compiled on a professional class basis. Of this number, 195 were non
engineering graduates and 286 were classified as “ other” or nongradu
ate engineers. There is no means of testing the relative adequacy of
these samples. Because virtually all engineering school graduates
received questionnaires, whereas “ other” or nongraduate young engi
neers did so only if they were members of an engineering society, the
latter type may not be represented in its true proportions.
The remaining 18,267 reports for graduates in engineering may be
tested as regards representativeness against the total number of firstdegree engineering graduations, as compiled by the Office of Education
for 1930, 1932, and 1934 in their biennial surveys for the periods 192930, 1931-32, and 1933-34.11 This comparison for 5 professional
classes 12 is made in table 4 for each of the 3 years separately and
against an estimate for the 5-year total. These data indicate the
uniformity of the percentage of returns from this younger group of
chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers. It ranges from
an apparent coverage of 46.7 percent of the civil engineers in 1930
to a low of 33.3 percent coverage of electrical engineers in 1934. From
year to year there is marked regularity of coverage for these four
groups in combination. Returns from 1934 graduates are somewhat
lower than from 1930 and 1932 graduates, but returns for 1931 and
10
It may also be noted here that there is no means of testing the representativeness of the sample of older
engineers as regards income. Membership in engineering societies may tend to have eliminated some of
the lower incomes. There may have been somewhat less willingness to report high incomes than there was
for average incomes. But without exception, the several distributions of income follow a consistent pattern
even when analyzed in detail. Thus, the same type of distribution emerges when the data are analyzed by
ages, by professional classes, or even on a regional basis. This is true of both annual income and monthly
engineering income. We trust that the promise of confidence that accompanied the questionnaire removed
unwillingness to report income more or less uniformly at all levels. At all events 88.7 percent of the older
engineers reported income for 1929, without any great variation as between one age group and another.
It remains for those with a critical and intimate knowledge of the profession to evaluate the adequacy of the
returns of income.
n Totals for the 5 years have been computed by straight-line interpolation to estimate graduations in
1931 and 1933.
12 In the case of the survey figures for civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers, there are included engi
neers with minor professional classifications. Spot checks of these data show that the majority so reporting
were graduated prior to 1930. Hence, they do not unduly affect the comparisons for the younger engineers.
33
SCOPE AND METHOD
1932 graduates as compared with interpolated figures for graduations
in these years show the same percentage coverage as 1930 and 1932.
T a b l e 4 .— Numbers of 1 9 3 0 -8 4 engineering graduates reporting in survey and to
the Office of Education
Total, 1930-34
Professional
class
Sam
ple
1930
1932
1931
1933
1934
Office
Office
Office
Office
Office
Office
Sam
of
Sam
Sam
of
of
Sam
Sam
of
of
of
Edu
ple
Edu
ple Edu
Edu
ple
Edu
ple
ple
Edu
cation1
cation
cation
cation
cation
cation
Number
All classes___ 18,267 51,303
Chemical____
Civil________
Electrical-----Mechanical- _.
All others___
1,948
4,618
4, 558
3,926
3, 217
5, 562
10, 220
12, 438
10, 363
12, 720
3,284
8,947
3,629
(2)
319
924
905
605
531
818
1, 977
2,427
1, 674
2,051
327
990
959
706
647
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
3,866 10,374
3,872
(2)
3,616
11,420
1,148
2,100
2,480
2,085
2, 561
423
951
884
908
706
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
466
828
852
870
600
1, 359
2,036
2, 558
2, 454
3,013
413
925
958
837
733
Percentage
All classes___
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(2)
100.0
100.0
100.0
(2)
100.0
Chemical-----Civil________
Electrical-----Mechanical- - _
All others
10.7
25.2
25.0
21.5
17.6
10.8
19,9
24.2
20.2
24.9
9.7
28.1
27.6
18.4
16.2
9.1
22.1
27.1
18.7
23.0
9.0
27.3
26.4
19.5
17.8
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
10.7
23.9
24.7
21.7
19.0
11.1
20.2
23.9
20.1
24.7
10.9
24.6
22.8
23.5
18.2
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
12.9
22.9
23.6
24.0
16.6
100.0
11.9
17.8
22.4
21. 5
26.4
Percentage number reporting in sample formed of Office of Education figures
All classes___
35.6
36.7
Chemical____
Civil________
Electrical____
Mechanical.
All others - - _
35.0
45.2
36.6
37.9
25.3
39.0
46.7
37.3
36.1
25.9
(2)
37.3
(2)
31.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
36.0
44 0
38.6
40.1
28.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
34.3
40.7
33.3
35.5
19.9
1The Office of Education total for 1930-34 includes estimated graduations in 1931 and 1933. which were
computed by straight-line interpolation.
8Interpolated figures not shown.
The miscellaneous categories of the Office of Education were
covered apparently only to the extent of 25.3 percent.13
In view of the uniformity of the percentage of returns in the main
professional classes, it seems probable that this difference arises from
differences in the methods of classification used by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics and the Office of Education. The latter apparently
followed more detailed distinctions within various types of education
than did the Bureau. This cannot affect the later tabulations, how
ever, because in no event were there enough returns from the highly
specialized branches of engineering to permit their separate analysis
in this study. All branches were recombined into the first four shown
in table 4, with the addition of mining and metallurgical engineers.
13 In the sample, this classification also includes 1,908 engineers who reported a professional class different
from the field in which the degree was originally obtained. Due to the fact that all tabulations were con
trolled on the professional class reported, it was not feasible to make a separate analysis of these 1,908 reports.
34
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
Weighting Returns from Younger Engineers
Despite the fact that the preceding analysis shows that the returns
received from older and younger engineers can be accepted as repre
sentative of each of the groups within the engineering profession, the
disproportion in the numbers of each group reporting requires further
consideration.
The census of 1930 reported 226,136 technical engineers as of
April 1, 1930. Assuming that engineers in each age group in 1930
experienced the same mortality as the general male population between
1930 and 1935, as indicated by estimates of population in 1935 made
by the Bureau of the Census, 13,336 engineers would have died before
the questionnaires for the present survey were mailed. This would
leave in 1935 a total of 212,800 engineers who had been in the pro
fession in 1930. Usable returns were received from 33,841, or 15.9
percent.
From returns to the Office of Education of first degrees to graduates
from engineering colleges and universities from 1930-34, it is esti
mated that 51,303 persons prepared to enter the profession. Of these,
50,508 might have been expected to survive to 1935. Usable returns
were received from 18,267, or 36.2 percent of the 50,508.
It is evident from these figures that this younger group is more
heavily represented in the returns than the older group. A detailed
examination of the returns by the older group revealed no tendency
toward more complete coverage in the lower ages of this group. Nor
did 1932 or 1934 graduates differ materially from 1930 graduates in
the proportion of their number who responded. These facts lead to
the belief that the response of 16 percent by older engineers as against
a 36 percent response by younger engineers does not indicate a true
difference in the tendency of engineers of different ages to return the
questionnaires. On the other hand, older engineers were canvassed
only if they had been known to some engineering society, while younger
engineers were approached through comprehensive lists of graduates
many of whom, however, were members of engineering societies.
There is every reason to believe that the questionnaire reached a
larger proportion of the recent graduates than of the engineers who
had been in the profession in 1929. It is reasonable to assume that
in each group approximately the same proportion of those canvassed
responded.
This difference in the proportion covered does not affect separate
analyses of the group of younger and older engineers. But where an
attempt is made to describe the profession as a whole in 1932 or 1934,
the picture is distorted by the overrepresentation of the younger
graduate group. As there were more than 18,000 returns from such
men out of a total of about 52,600, it seriously distorts the balance to
SCOPE ANOD METHOD1
35
overrepresent the younger group in the ratio of about 2 to 1, or by
more than 9,000.
No perfect adjustment of the sample is possible. The important
thing was that the number of returns from younger engineers be cut
approximately in half before they were combined to present a com
posite picture of the professions. Actually in this case the various
tabulated totals for engineers graduating in 1930-34 were reduced by
53.1 percent before they were combined with reports for all “ other”
engineers or earlier graduates. In effect this reduced the number of
returns for 1934 from 52,589 to a more balanced sample of 42,787.
Similarly, in 1932 the unadjusted number of reporting engineers was
45,141, as against an adjusted total of 39,277. The importance of
some such adjustments may be seen from the fact that the median
monthly rate of compensation in 1934 for all engineers engaged in
engineering work is $210 for the adjusted sample, as against $189 had
there been no adjustment for the overweighting of new entrants to the
profession.14
14
There are too many unknown facts to allow the adjustment to be more than an approximation. For
example, no allowance could be made for retirements from the profession. It is, however, a useful check on
the processes of statistical reasoning that lead to approximate results, to arrive at an adjustment factor step
by step. Such a process leads in this case to the conclusion that there had been 15.9 percent reporting by one
group, 36.2 percent reporting by another, and that returns from the latter group could well be reduced by
56.0 percent to be in approximate balance with the returns by the former group. In point of fact, the adjust
ment factor used in this report is 53.1 percent. This figure was derived early in the study, since which time
new collateral data have become available; it is retained to avoid the confusion of unimportant changes in
tables already published in the Monthly Labor Review. For example, the average of $210 which has been
published would be changed to $213.
Chapter II
The G row th of the Engineering Profession,
1910 to 1934
The materials collected in this study deal only with the period 193034, but other data make it possible to trace the growth of the engi
neering profession against the background of that which occurred
from 1910 to 1930.
From 1910 to 1930, the number of technical engineers as reported
by the Census of Occupations increased from 88,744 to 226,136. This
included an increase of some 53.3 percent for the decade 1910-19,
during which time the absolute numbers increased from 88,744 to
136,080. In the decade 1920-29 the increase was 66.2 percent. This
growth, however, requires further consideration.
The 1930 Census of Occupations also shows a category of designers,
draftsmen, and inventors, embracing 93,518 males. Some of these
men were obviously eligible for membership in one or another of the
engineering societies, and especially so in view of the fact that many
college graduates serve an apprenticeship as draftsmen. Since persons
so reporting were not included in the census returns as technical engi
neers, the consequence was to lower the number reported by the
census who regarded themselves as in the profession in 1930. But all
persons in this census category cannot be considered exclusively as
subprofessional to engineering. For example, dress designers are
included as designers, while bridge designers should be excluded and
classified as technical engineers. Draftsmen in an architect’s office
and in the design room of a machine-tool establishment are lumped
together.
It is, however, worth noting that the number of male draftsmen
grew so nearly at the same rate as the number of technical engineers
from 1910-19 and again from 1920-29 that conclusions based on rates
of growth for technical engineers alone may be accepted.
The main question is whether or not the absolute growth in the
number of technical engineers as shown by the census may be accepted.
Representatives of the engineering profession incline to the belief
that there is a tendency to overreport professional status to the
census enumerator and thus to inflate the number reported to be
technical engineers. There is no way to tell whether or not there
36
GROWTH OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
1 9 1 0 -3 4
37
were in fact 226,000 technical engineers in 1930, but it does appear
probable that the indicated net growth of 90,000 occurred from
1919-29.
The census shows 32,020 technical engineers 45 years of age or
more in 1920 and 21,822 engineers 55 years of age or more in 1930.
(By professional class the figures for 1920 and 1930, respectively,
are: Civil engineers, 15,111 and 10,768; electrical engineers, 4,734
and 3,471; mechanical engineers, 9,894 and 5,896; and mining engi
neers, 2,281 and 1,687.) It may fairly be assumed that so few people
entered the profession at these ages from 1920-29 that the net loss of
10,200 at this age level may be accepted as representing death and
retirement. Since there are substantial numbers of new entrants to
the profession at lower ages, it is not possible to assume that the loss can
be estimated for the group 20-44. years of age in 1920 by comparing
it with the group 30-54 years of age in 1930. Rather some estimate
must be made of the number of deaths and disability retirements that
would probably have occurred out of the 103,875 technical engineers
reporting in 1920 at these ages.
The age distribution of the 1920 data is in intervals too wide to
permit of a reasonable estimate of probable survivals. On the other
hand, it may be assumed that comparatively few male workers enter
the labor market for the first time after they are 25, and that the
disappearance of engineers will approximate that for the total male
population within the age limits under discussion. There were
10.637.000 native white male workers in 1920 who were 25-44 and
10.246.000 in 1930 who were 35-54, a decrease of 3.7 percent. A pply
ing this ratio to the 103,875 engineers who were 20-44 in 1920, there
would have been a disappearance through death or disability of 3,800,
making a total loss in both groups of about 14,000.
Allowance cannot be made for two offsetting forces: The entrance
of men who were technical engineers in 1920 into nonengineering
work in 1930; the recruiting of technical engineers by 1930 from among
men who were in subprofessional occupations in 1930. The residual
of these two opposite tendencies is probably small enough to be dis
regarded without invalidating general conclusions.
Essentially, therefore, gross additions of 104,000 technical engineers
between 1920 and 1930 have to be accounted for—14,000 replace
ments and a net growth of 90,000. This represents net additions per
year of 10,400 men employed as technical engineers.
The largest source of supply was the influx of college graduates.
The Office of Education has reported biennially graduates with first
degrees in engineering.
Interpolating graduations for the other
years, it may be estimated that about 75,000 degrees were awarded
in the academic years 1919-20 to 1928-29. In passing, be it noted
2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 4 1 ------- 4
38
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
that the range in the estimate is from 74,600 to 75,600 because 1920-21
degrees may be estimated to fall either midway between those gradu
ated in 1919-20 and 1921-22, or it may be assumed that the increase
from 1920-21 to 1921-22 was like that in the following year. (See
appendix D, p. 233, table 1.)
N ot all of these men entered or remained in engineering. In the
sample obtained by the Bureau, 5.6 percent of the graduates of the
classes 1920-29 (who were also past or present members of engi
neering societies) reported that they were in nonengineering work.
They would probably have reported some other occupation to the
census in 1930 than that of technical engineering. Hence, the influx
of technical engineers by 1930 from college graduates was probably
about 70,440.
This disregards two facts— that a negligible number of these
engineers died before 1930 and that some of the graduates in the later
classes may still have been serving a subprofessional apprenticeship
in 1930. It is safe to assume that many of these would have called
themselves engineers. Moreover, professional engineering societies
accept them in membership.
In any event, the 70,440 graduates embrace 67.7 percent of the 104,000 engineers who apparently entered the profession from 1920-29.
In other words, 32.3 percent must have included men without col
lege degrees in engineering. In point of fact, the returns show that
of all men reporting for this decade and who had engineering jobs in
1929, some 29 percent comprised both nonengineering graduates and
“ other’ ’ or nongraduate engineers. Or if the engineering graduates
comprise 71 percent of the total number entering in this decade, it
is possible to account for the entrance into the profession of about
99,210 technical engineers. It is of course possible that the sample
obtained by the Bureau in 1935 underestimates nongraduate engineers
entering in this decade by about 3.3 percent and is probably accounted
for by the fact that the younger group of nongraduate engineers are
less likely to join engineering societies than graduates. A t all events
the reasonableness of the census figure of growth leads to the possible
inference that the absolute total as a whole is also reasonably repre
sentative.
From 1930-34, reports made in the present survey indicate a growth
of 26.4 percent. The adjusted data presented in table 5 show that
between the end of 1929 and 1934 the number of engineers in the
sample increased from 33,841 to 42,787.1
From the preceding figures it appears therefore that the annual
influx in absolute numbers during the two periods was quite similar.
It is estimated that in the twenties there was an average gross influx
1
The indicated growth of 26.4 percent makes no allowance for active engineers in 1929 who died or retired
by 1935 and did not respond to the questionnaire.
GROWTH OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
1 9 1 0 -3 4
39
of about 11,300 per year.2 In 1930-34, the average as estimated
from graduations reported by the Office of Education and from the
sample for nongraduates 3 was about 10,300.
Despite this similarity in annual influx, however, the rate of influx
of technically trained engineers during the depression was slightly
less than it had been in the decade of the twenties. In that decade
the profession was growing at the compound rate of about 5% percent
a year. This was the growth in the number practicing the profession
or regarding themselves as engineers even though unemployed and
classified as technical engineers in the census of 1930. In addition,
slightly more than one-twentieth of those trained in college and
receiving engineering degrees were going into non engineering fields
of employment. If for comparison with the growth in 1930-34, this
latter group be regarded as engineers, or at least as part of the gross
annual addition to the supply of engineers, the number of engineers
in the period 1920-29 was growing at the compound rate of about 5%
percent. In the period from 1930 to 1934, the compound rate of
growth was 4% percent.
T a b l e 5 .— Graduates 1 and “ other” engineers 2 reporting at end of 1 92 9 , 1 93 2 , and
1934
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Percentage
Number
Item
Total
Gradu “ Other”
ates 1 engineers2
Total
Gradu “ Other”
ates 1 engineers2
Professionally active in 1934. _____ - __
Professionally active in 1932_____________
Professionally active in 1929 ------ ---------
42, 787
39, 277
33, 841
33, 486
30,012
24, 826
9,301
9, 265
9,015
100.0
100.0
100.0
78.3
76.4
73.4
21.7
23.6
26.6
Entered profession 1933-34. ____________
Entered profession 1930-32 ____ ______
Professionally active in 1929----- -------------
3, 510
5,436
33,841
3, 474
5,186
24,826
36
250
9,015
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.0
95.4
73.4
1.0
4.6
26.6
1 Graduate engineers include all postgraduates, nonengineering graduates, and first-degree engineering
graduates.
2 ‘ ‘Other” engineers include all engineers with college course incomplete, noncollegiate technical school
course, and secondary school education.
The third point to be noted has regard to the marked change in
the source of supply of engineers in the two periods. From 1920-29
there was an annual absorption of 10,400 engineers in engineering
jobs and an average of college-degree awards of only 7,500. Further
more, the engineering profession had to compete for the services of
these graduates with nonengineering groups. There was room then
for men with a few years of college training.
In the depression years, however, these conditions did not prevail,
for the colleges were supplying as many engineers with degrees as
2 The basis of estimation accounts for an annual addition of 10,400 engineering jobs. Also counted in the
text are about 900 or 1,000 college graduates each year who went into nonengineering work.
3 Includes nonengineering graduates and “ other” or nongraduate engineers reporting.
40
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
were supplied in the twenties from all sources. The number of first
degrees awarded rose sharply, averaging more than 10,200 and reach
ing 11,421 in 1933-34. On the other hand, only 481 of the 18,748
reporting engineers entering the profession from 1930-34 did not
have college degrees in engineering. Yet, it has been noted that
the main source of supply of nongraduates in the twenties was from
among those with an incomplete college course.
This sharp contrast makes permissible the statement that the
extremely small number of such men reporting in the depression period
does not represent underreporting.
It may well reflect a profession
effectively closed to all but men with engineering degrees, and more
especially so when such a supply was more than adequate to meet
current demand.4
This raising of educational standards appears to be definitely
related to the change in the relationship of the demand for profes
sional services to the supply of trained engineers. What this change
meant, and also what occurred in the growth in numbers of professional
engineers in terms of employment and unemployment, is developed
in the following chapters.
4
In this regard, analysis of the figures of the Office of Education shows that during the decade of the
twenties slightly less than half of the enrollees were graduating. But while enrollment decreased from 74,000
in 1929-30 to 62,601 in 1933-34, degrees awarded increased from 8,947 to 11,421 (appendix D, p. 233, table 1).
It is most unlikely that engineering schools as a whole ever “ flunked out” half of the total enrollment (not
merely the freshman class; or seriously lowered standards during the depression. It seems probable that
“ college course incomplete” as the educational background of an engineer meant, in a great number of cases,
a man who had found a job after a year or so of college work. If educational requirements were raised by
employers during the depression, he stayed on in school if he could.
Chapter III
Educational Qualifications of Professional Engineers
Educational Requirements and Professional Engineering Status
If membership in an engineering society be accepted as a measure
of professional status, the reports furnished by engineers in this
survey clearly indicate that formal engineering education was not
the sole method of obtaining such a status. Thus, the data in table 6
show that some 69.4 percent of the 42,683 engineers reporting for
1934 specified that they had first degrees in engineering, while 5.8
percent also reported postgraduate work. Another 2.8 percent gradu
ated from liberal arts colleges usually with a major in mathematics,
physics, or chemistry. In later analyses these three groups are
discussed together. But some 21.8 percent of the engineers had
T a b l e 6 .— Distribution at end of 1934 of engineers in the 9 professional classes
reporting , in by type of education
[Figures adjusted as explained on p.34]
Professional class
Type of education
Total
Agri
cul
tural
Archi
Ce Chem Civil
tec
tural ramic ical
Min
ing
Me
Indus
and
Elec
trical trial chani
metal
cal
lurgi
cal
Number
All types____________ ___ - 42, 787
325
408
300
2, 410 17,020
8,926
743 10,802
1,853
First-degree engineering grad
uates...:__________ _____
Postgraduates__________ ... .
Nonengineering graduates..
College course incomplete___
Noncollegiate technical school.
Secondary school.......... .........
Not reporting....... .................
235
50
12
17
5
6
259
17
28
67
26
6
5
232
28
14
15
6
5
1,665 11,291
377
679
426
186
154 2,951
20 1,124
3
510
5
39
6,564
638
190
862
517
140
15
518
26
29
97
52
18
3
7,630
498
218
1,299
879
245
33
1,314
173
85
189
55
33
4
29, 708
2, 486
1,188
5, 651
2,684
966
107
....
_
Percentage
All types______ _____ ______
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
First-degree engineering grad
uates____________________
Postgraduates______________
Nonengineering graduates___
College course incomplete___
Noncollegiate technical school.
Secondary school___________
Not reporting______________
69.4
5.8
2.8
13.2
6.3
2.3
.2
72.3
15.4
3.7
5.3
1.5
1.8
63.4
4.2
6.9
16.4
6.4
1.5
1.2
77.3
9.3
4.7
5.3
1.7
1.7
69.1
15.7
7.7
6.4
.8
.1
.2
66.4
4.0
2.5
17.3
6.6
3.0
.2
73.5
7.2
2.1
9.6
5.8
1.6
.2
69.7
3.5
3.9
13.1
7.0
2.4
.4
70.7
4.6
2.0
12.0
8.1
2.3
.3
70.9
9.3
4.6
10.2
3.0
1.8
.2
—
41
42
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
attained professional status through following a less formal training.
Three-fifths of this group had attended engineering schools but had
not completed the college course. The “ other” or nongraduate
engineers included 967 men whose education did not extend beyond
graduation from a secondary school; the majority of these were
professionally active prior to 1930.
The indication from the preceding analysis that experience did
affect the obtaining of professional status makes possible some explana
tion of the small returns from “ other” or nongraduate engineers for
the period 1930-34. These, it will be recalled, covered but 1 percent
of all younger engineers reporting. On the other, hand, among the
older engineers the proportion so classified was 26.6 percent. Thus,
it appears that there is a “ time lag” during which the “ other” or
nongraduate engineers have to obtain sufficient experience to offset
the lack of formal engineering education.
Educational Specialisation by Professional Class
While first-degree graduates predominate in all professional classes,
chart 3 reveals that there are marked variations as regards educational
background among the several professional classes. For example,
the lowest proportion of first-degree engineering graduates embraced
63.4 percent of the 408 architectural engineers, while the highest pro
portion covered 77.3 percent of the 300 reporting ceramic engineers.
In the case of engineers with postgraduate training there are
reflected differences in the demand for a still higher degree of educa
tional specialization and for a more elaborate training. Some 15.4
percent and 15.7 percent, respectively, of the agricultural and chem
ical engineers had postgraduate degrees, and 9.3 percent in the case
of both ceramic and mining and metallurgical engineers. Next in
order came electrical engineers with 7.2 percent reporting postgrad
uate work. The range among the other four professional classes was
from 3.5 percent for industrial engineers to 4.6 percent for mechanical
engineers.
The opportunities for specialization for the several professions in
colleges other than engineering schools differ. This is partially
reflected in the relative distributions of the nonengineering graduates.
Thus, in chemical engineering, it will be noted that this type of educa
tion embraced 7.7 percent of this class and was as high as 6.9 percent
for architectural engineering. Among the other professional classes
the proportions ranged from 2.0 percent for mechanical engineers to
4.7 percent in the case of ceramic engineers.
Consideration of the reports from “ other” or nongraduate engineers
more clearly emphasizes the insistence upon rigid engineering educa
tion as a prerequisite to engineering experience. Thus, of engineers
NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE NINE P R O F E S S IO N A L C L A S S E S
BY TYPE OF EDUCATION-1 9 3 4
GRADUATES
OTHER ENGINEERS
POST
GRADUATES
1ST DEGREE
ENGINEERING GRADUATES
COLLEGE
COURSE
INCOMPLETE
NON-ENGINEERING
GRADUATES
NON-COLLEGIATE
SCHOOL
TECHNICAL SECONDARY
SCHOOL
CERAMIC
ELECTRICAL
AGRICULTURAL
MINING AND
METALLURGICAL
MECHANfCAL
INDUSTRIAL
CHEMICAL
CIVIL
ARCHITECTURAL
ALL PROF. CLASSES
O
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0
10
20
0
10
0
10
20 0
10 0
PERCENT
1935 - SURVEY OF THE ENGINEERING
PROFESSION
10
43
U. S BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
CHART3
44
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
with college courses incomplete, relatively the lowest proportions are
to be found in agricultural, ceramic, and chemical engineering,
and ranged from 5.3 percent to 6.4 percent. But among the other
professional classes the range was from 9.6 percent of the electrical
engineers to as high as 17.3 percent of the civil engineers. A similar
situation is to be noted in the distributions by professional class of
engineers with noncollegiate technical school training and those with
no education reported beyond secondary school.
Trends in Educational Background
Further consideration of the data permit of deriving certain find
ings in regard to two trends concerning educational background.
First, a comparison by corresponding age groups of the reports from
“ other” or nongraduate engineers reveals a distinct tendency for
formal college education to become a prerequisite to attaining pro
fessional engineering status. Thus from the data presented in table
7 it will be noted that 34.3 percent of the reporting engineers born
prior to 1875 entered the profession without a college degree. This
percentage decreases steadily and was 28.1 percent among engineers
born in 1885-94 and 25.7 percent among those born in 1895-99 and
graduating from college in 1918-27.
T a b l e 7 . — Percentage “ other” engineers formed of older 1 engineers reporting year
of birth
Year of birth
Total
Age in 1929
- _________________ ____ __________
1905-9 ____________________________________
_____________________ __________
1900-4
1895-99 - __ ___________ ____________ --1885-94 __________________________________
_______ _______ _____ _________
1875-84
Prior to 1875
__________________________
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-44
45-54
55 and over
Total report
ing
“ Other”
engineers
33,494
9,015
4,004
6,456
5,452
10,049
5,603
1,930
1,049
1,384
1,401
2,826
1,693
662
Percentage
“ other”
engineers
26.9
00
21.4
25. 7
28.1
30. 2
34.3
1Includes those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 The percentage for the figures as shown is 26.2.
The 1,049 “ other” engineers in this group were profes
sionally active in 1929. It is to be noted that returns from graduate engineers were tabulated not by age
but by year of graduation on the assumption that they were 23 years of age at graduation. Therefore, for
strict comparability, the 1905-9 group ought also to include engineering graduations in the period 1930-32.
Were this done, the adjusted total reporting in this age group would be 9,052, of which number the 1,049
“ other” engineers would comprise 11.6 percent. This percentage, however, may overemphasize the shift
which occurred in the change in the proportion with time of “ other” engineers in the profession. Certainly
the trend appears to have been continuous, but it may be expected that some additions will be made from
these age groups among “ other” engineers as they mature in their work.
Furthermore, within the several “ other” or nongraduate types of
educational background there have been distinct shifts. (Table 8.)
Thus, among the 1,293 engineers born prior to 1880 who had not
received a college degree 587, or 45.4 percent, were secondary-school
graduates or attended noncollegiate technical schools. Among those
bom from 1895-1904 only about one-third had such a background, the
others being engineers who did not complete a college course. The
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
45
highest percentage (17.1) of engineers with only secondary-school
education embraced men born in the years 1885-89. For noncollegiate technical school engineers the peak was reached some 5 years later.
B y contrast, it is significant to note that the highest percentage for
engineers with college courses incomplete embraced men bom in the
period 1900-4, or some 10 years later than that noted for noncollegiate technical school engineers. This situation may also reflect the
retention of memberships in engineering societies by engineers with
incomplete college courses which were obtained during their attend
ance at engineering schools.
T a b l e 8 .— Number at end of 1984 of “ other” engineers reporting , by age and specific
type of education
Total
Born in
period
College Nonengi
colleSec
neering giate ondary
course tech school
incom nical
plete school
Total
NonNonCollege colleCollege colleSec
Sec
course giate ondary
course giate ondary
incom tech school incom tech school
plete
nical
nical
plete
school
school
Percentage
Number
In each age group
In each type of education
Total____
9,301
5,651
2,683
967
100.0
60.8
28.8
10.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
18741_____
1875-79___
1880-84___
1885-89___
1890-94___
1895-99___
1900-4____
1905-9____
1910-14....
662
631
1,062
1,406
1,420
1,401
1,384
1,049
286
358
348
596
789
792
898
915
737
218
187
200
358
452
476
375
360
224
52
117
83
108
165
152
128
109
88
16
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
54.1
55.2
56.1
56.2
55.7
64.1
66.1
70.3
76.2
28.2
31.6
33.7
32.1
33.6
26.8
26.0
21.3
18.2
17.7
13.2
10.2
11.7
10.7
9.1
7.9
8.4
5.6
6.3
6.1
10.5
14.0
14.0
15.9
16.2
13.1
3.9
7.0
7.4
13.4
16.8
17.8
14.0
13.4
8.3
1.9
12.1
8.6
11.1
17.1
15. 7
13.2
11.4
9.1
1.7
i Or earlier.
Growth of Postgraduate Work in Engineering
The second trend to be considered has regard to the growth of post
graduate training in engineering. Thus, the proportions who sought
postgraduate work embraced 6.6 percent of all engineers reporting
in the graduating classes prior to 1905. (Table 9.) Of the classes
of 1905-9 the proportion was lower, namely 5.9 percent. Thereafter
there was a steady increase from 7.1 percent of the 1910-14 classes to
8.6 percent of those who graduated in the years 1920-24, and to 10.2 1
percent of those graduating in 1925-29. Clearly, there has been a
steady growth in postgraduate work in engineering. The preceding
analysis, however, showed that postgraduate work is extensive in but
a few professional classes.
1
The increase to 10.2 percent noted must be qualified, for it is highly probable that it reflects not only a
rising trend of the past but also the lack of engineering employment in the period 1930-34. Rather than
remain unemployed many engineering students continued their studies, a situation which may also have
affected engineers of the graduating classes 1933-34.
46
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
The decline in the ratio of postgraduate degrees among those gradu
ating in 1930-34, as the detailed figures in the table show, is no more
than a reflection of lack of time to complete graduate training.
T
able
9.'— Number of 'professional engineers reporting postgraduate degrees in
engineering at end of 1934
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Year first degree was obtained 1
Total ad
vanced
degrees
Total engi
neering
graduates
Percentage
advanced
degrees
formed
of total
engineering
graduates
Total___________________________________________________
2,486
33,382
7.4
1930-34__________________________________________________
1925-29__________________________________________________
1920-24__________________________________________________
1915-19__ _______________________________________________
1910-14__________________________________________________
1905-9
_____________________________________________
Prior to 1905________________________ ____ _
_
473
662
433
260
257
178
223
8,634
6,482
5,034
3, 225
3, 616
3,032
3, 359
5.5
10.2
8.6
8.1
7.1
5.9
6.6
1934___________ ______ __________________________________
1933________ _______ _____________________________________
1932______ ______ ______________________________________
1931____________________________________________________
1930____________________________________________________
______________________________
__ ______
1929 __
1928 __ _______________________________________________
1927_____________________________________________________
1926
____________________________________________
1925_____________________________________________________
14
77
134
137
111
162
133
123
122
122
1,675
1, 794
1,832
1, 738
1, 595
1,647
1, 255
1,185
1,172
1, 223
.8
4.3
7.3
7.9
7.0
9.8
10.6
10.4
10.4
10.0
1 In the ease of the graduating classes 1933-34, the year shown is that in which the advanced degree was
obtained.
The Extent of Transfers from Original Courses of Specialisation
In this section consideration is given to an aspect of engineering
education which apparently has been of some concern to the pro
fession, namely, to what extent do engineers transfer from their
original course of specialization to other fields of activity.
A t first glance the fact that 11.1 percent of the 31,839 reporting
graduates stated that they had transferred from their original course
of specialization appears significant. (Table 10.) But when con
sideration is given to the relative proportions so reporting within each
professional class, it will be noted that the tendency to transfer was
least for ceramic, chemical, and electrical engineers, in that the pro
portions practicing in these fields who had received a degree in another
ranged from only 4.4 percent to 6.5 percent. Among architectural
and civil engineers the proportions were approximately the same,
namely, 12.7 and 11.0 percent, respectively, while a similar corres
pondence will be noted in the case of mechanical and mining and
metallurgical engineers with 14.7 percent and 15.7 percent, respec
tively. On the other hand, in the case of agricultural engineers 31.3
percent, and in the case of industrial engineers no less than 51.0
percent, reported some other field of specialization in college.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
T able
47
10 ,— Number of engineers at end of 1934 reporting college course same as
and different from professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Professional class
Item
Total i Agri Archi
Chem Civil
cul
tec Ceram
ic
ical
tural tural
Min
ing
Me
Elec Indus chan
and
trical trial
met
ical
allur
gical
Number
Total i____________________ 31,839
284
276
260
2,029 11, 857
7,118
529
8,006
1,480
Course same as professional
class reported____________ 28,290
Course different from profes
sional class reported______ 3,549
195
241
243
1,918 10, 552
6,802
259
6, 833
1,247
89
35
17
316
270
1.173
233
111
1,305
Percentage
Total_____________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Course same as professional
class reported________
88.9
Course different from profes
sional class reported__ _^ 11.1
68.7
87,3
93.5
94.5
89.0
95.6
49.0
85.3
84.3
31.3
12.7
6.5
5.5
11.0
4.4
51.0
14.7
15.7
1 The totdl includes first-degree graduates and those reporting postgraduate work in engineering as shown
in table 6 exclusive of 355 reports covering men with (a) degrees in business administration, (b) courses
in fields other than engineering, and (c) advanced degrees in other fields.
Since the lowest proportions reporting change were among ceramic,
chemical, and electrical engineers, it is evident that some conditioning
factor must have affected these professional groups to keep the pro
portions so low. The obvious answer is, of course, specialization.
On the other hand, the excessively high proportion reporting a change
among agricultural and industrial engineers need not necessarily be
interpreted as one arising from change in activity as so much one in
change of name. It is, of course, well known that mechanical and
industrial engineering are closely correlated. Furthermore, industrial
engineering as a professional class was a much later development
than mechanical engineering. Therefore, it would obtain its source
of supply from men who had been trained or graduated in mechanical
engineering before engineering colleges began to teach specialized
courses in industrial engineering. Similar remarks also apply to
agricultural engineering, in that this field is closely allied to civil
engineering.
Despite the fact that, apparently, transfers among engineers is not
extensive, the subsequent discussion of employment in the engineering
profession does reveal certain aspects which might affect the programs
of engineering education, for this analysis shows distinct shifts in
regard to work of a nonengineering nature.
Chapter IV
Employment in the Engineering Profession, 1929 to 1934
Supply and Demand for Engineering Services, 1929 to 1934
E m ploym en t Status o f A l l Professional Engineers 1
Between December 1929 and December 1932 the total number of
professional engineers in the sample increased by 4,439, from 31,252
to 35,691. (Table 11.) There was a further increase of 3,470 to
39,161 by December 1934. Thus there was a quarter again as many
men with engineering training at the end of 1934 as at the beginning
of the depression.2
T a b l e 11 .— Em ploym ent status at end of 1 92 9 , 1 93 2 , and 1934 ° f o,U engineers
reporting
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Increase or decrease in
number
Percentage
Number
Employment status
1929 to 1932 to 1929 to
1934
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
31,252
35,691
39,161
100.0
100.0
100.0 +4,439 +3,470
Engineering employment ____ 29, 051
Private1 ______ _______ 22,456
6, 595
Public2... . ------------Nonengineering employment - _ 1,969
232
Unemployment______ ____ _
27, 787
19, 797
7,990
4,290
3,614
30, 299
20,619
9,680
5, 523
3, 339
93.0
71.9
21.1
6.3
.7
77.9
55.5
22.4
12.0
10.1
Total_______________________
77.4
52.7
24.7
14.1
8.5
-1,264 +2, 512
-2,659
+822
+1, 395 +1,690
+2,321 +1,233
-275
+3,382
+7,909
+1, 248
-1,837
+3,085
+3,554
+3,107
1 Includes employees of private firms, independent consultants, “ any other employment,” and teaching.
2 Includes employees of Federal, State, county, and municipal Governments, and other public authority.
1 For these particular purposes, there are utilized the data as derived from the reports furnished as answers
to question 6 of the questionnaire, in which the engineer was requested to check his employment status
against only 1 of 14 items for each of the 3 years ending Dec. 31, 1929, 1932, and 1934. In view of the smpll
number reporting in some categories, similarity in the detailed distributions, and the desirability of discuss
ing unemployment and related data as a whole, these 14 categories were reduced to 8 and are designated thus:
(1) Private firm (includes also those reporting as employees of private consulting firms and under “ any
other employment” in question 6), (2) independent consultant, (3) teaching, (4) Federal, (5) State and
county, (6) municipal and other public authority, (7) nonengineering employment, and (8) gross unemploy
ment (i. e., includes those reporting unemployment, on work relief, or on direct relief). In the ensuing dis
cussion items (1) to (3) inclusive, and (4) to (6) inclusive are hereafter referred to, respectively, as private
engineering employment and public engineering employment, and these 2 in combination as total engineer
ing employment.
2This increase of 25.3 percent in table 11 differs by 1.1 percent from that of 26.4 percent noted in the dis
cussion of the growth of the profession. This difference is explained by the fact that in tabulating the data
on employment status homogeneity of the sample of older and 1930-32 engineers was maintained. That is,
in the case of the former, only those reporting for the 3 years 1929,1932, and 1934 were used; in the case of the
latter, only those reporting for the 2 years 1932 and 1934 were included. While the difference between the
two percentages obviously does not materially affect the analysis, it does indicate that the percentage of
engineers eliminated from the tabulation was small.
48
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
49
This increase took place during 5 years of depression in which there
was at first an actual shrinkage in engineering opportunities. En
gineering employment as a whole declined 4.4 percent between 1929
and 1932. There was a rise by December 1934. The number in the
adjusted sample engaged in engineering work increased from 29,051
in December 1929 to 30,299 in December 1934.
The result was a large amount of unemployment and an intense
pressure to find nonengineering work. For December 1932, 3,614
reported that they were unemployed. The percentage of those
reporting unemployment declined from 10.1 at the end of 1932 to
8.5 at the end of 1934. But in the face of the continuing influx of
engineers, the absolute number of those unemployed declined only
slightly, to 3,339 at the end of 1934.
Furthermore, the amount of unemployment was held at these
levels only because large numbers of trained engineers went into
nonprofessional work. While the presence of 6.3 percent of the
professional engineers in nonengineering employment in 1929 indicates
this was even then an established and normal outlet for them, there
was an enormous increase in such work between 1929 and 1932.
There was a further, but smaller, increase in nonengineering work
between 1932 and 1934. The number reporting themselves as en
gaged in such work increased from 1,969 in 1929 to 5,523 by December
1934. Among the engineers reporting, 12.0 and 14.1 percent were
engaged in nonengineering work in December 1932 and 1934, respec
tively. In the subsequent analyses of the income data, it will be
seen that the specific nonengineering work of many of those reporting
in 1934 was much more frequently of a makeshift character than in
1929.
Had it not been for the large increase in the employment of en
gineers by public authorities, the effect of the depression would have
been even more disastrous. Private employment decreased by 11.8
percent from 1929 to 1932. Despite some increase from 1932 to
1934, it was still 8.2 percent below the 1929 level at the end of the
5-year period 1930-34. The dependence upon public employment is
further evidenced by the fact that although both classes of engineering
employment increased between December 1932 and December 1934,
the absolute increase reported in private employment was only half
of that obtaining in employment with public authorities. Relative
to the numbers so employed in 1932, the rate of increase in pub
lic employment was almost five times as great as that in private
employment.
Em ploym en t Status o f F ive Professional Classes
The preceding analysis was concerned with .the engineering profes
sion as a whole. Corresponding adjusted data are presented in
table 12 for each professional class.
50
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3
4
T a b l e 1 2 . — Em ploym ent status at end of 1929, 1932, and 1934, of all engineers
reporting, by professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Number of engineers
In engineering employment
Total
Professional class
Total private 1
1934
1929
1932
1934
All classes..-- ____________________ 31,252 35,691 39,161 22,456 19, 797 20,619
6,595
7,990
9, 680
103
5, 510
350
504
128
122
6,620
456
643
149
143
7,941
623
802
171
1929
Chemical and ceramic. __ _________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.
Electrical.-. . _____ _ _________
Mechanical and industrial_________
Mining and metallurgical_________
1932
1934
Total public 2
1,470 1,931 2,389
13, 786 15, 330 16,365
6,112 7, 276 8,117
8,455 9, 587 10, 609
1, 429 1,567 1,681
1932
1929
1, 217
7,477
5, 238
7, 374
1,150
1,322
5,760
4, 940
6, 729
1,046
1,640
5,191
5,137
7, 512
1,139
Number of engineers
In nonengineering
employment
Professional class
1929
All classes..
_ _____
Chemical and ceramic_________________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical-.. __________________________
Mechanical and industrial. . __________
Mining and metallurgical. _ ______ ____
1932
Unemployed 3
1934
1932
1929
1934
1,969
4,290
5, 523
232
3, 614
3,339
143
694
493
517
122
320
1,413
1,155
1,190
212
459
1, 556
1, 759
1, 518
231
7
105
31
60
29
167
1,537
725
1,025
160
147
1,677
598
777
140
1 Includes employees of private firms, independent consultants, “ any other employment,” and teaching.
2 Includes employees of Federal, State, county, and municipal Governments, and other public authority.
3 Includes direct relief and work relief.
While the total number of engineers during the 5-year period end
ing December 1934 increased by 25.3 percent, the corresponding in
creases for the separate professional classes ranged from 17.6 percent
for mining and metallurgical engineers to 62.5 percent in the case of
chemical and ceramic engineers. (Table 13.)
T able
13.-— Percentage change 1929 to 1934 in engineering employment, by profes
sional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34.]
Professional class
Percentage
increase in
each pro
fessional
class,
1929-34
Percentage increase or decrease,
1929-34 in—
Total en
gineering
employ
ment
Private1
engineer
ing em
ployment
Public2en
gineering
employ
ment
All classes____________ ____ _____ _____ _ _ _ ____
+25.3
+4.4
-8 .2
+46.8
Mining and metallurgical
______ _______ _ .
Civil, agricultural, and architectural__ ____ _ ___
Mechanical and industrial* . _ ____________
Electrical_____ __________ _ _________ ..
Chemical and ceramic... ___________________ _______
+17.6
+18.7
+25.5
+32.8
+62.5
+2.5
+1.1
+5.5
+3.1
+35.1
-1 .0
-3 0.6
+1.9
-1 .9
+34.8
+33.6
+44.1
+59.1
+78.0
+38.8
1Includes employees of private firms, independent consultants, “ any other employment,” and teaching.
2Includes employees of Federal, State, county, and municipal Governments, and other public authority.
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
51
In no professional class did total engineering employment keep pace
with the growing number of engineers. The closest balance between
the increase in number of engineers and the increase in total engineer
ing employment was 62.5 percent to 35.1 percent for chemical and
ceramic engineers. That is, without displacement of engineers already
in the profession in 1929 about half of the increased number of chemi
cal engineers could have been absorbed in engineering work. The
next highest increase in number of persons trained for engineering
work occurred among electrical engineers, among whom there was an
increase of 32.8 percent. This was met by an increase of only 3.1
percent in the total number employed as engineers. Mechanical and
industrial engineers fared somewhat better. Their numbers increased
by 25.5 percent, while opportunities for engineering employment
increased by 5.5 percent. Roughly, one-fifth of the total increase in
number of all engineers between 1930 and 1934 was provided for by
the growth of new jobs. Clearly, the wide variations in the rates of
increase in these professional classes had an important bearing upon
the nature of their employment distributions in the period 1929-34.
The data for private and public engineering in table 13 accentuate
the differences in available engineering opportunities for each profes
sional class. Thus over the 5-year period, although private engineer
ing employment for all engineers considered as a group declined by 8.2
percent, it increased by more than a third for chemical and ceramic
engineers. There was little increase or decrease for electrical, mining
and metallurgical, and mechanical and industrial engineers; but in the
case of the civil engineers, there was a decrease of about one-third in
private engineering employment.
B y contrast, no professional class was excepted from the increases
which took place in public engineering employment. It was, however,
the civil engineers who were most affected. For them public employ
ment was an important field in 1929 when 40 percent of all civil engi
neers were so engaged. The 44.1 percent increase by 1934 in the
amount of such employment reported meant an absolute increase of
2,431 jobs over the 5-year period in the sample covered. In contrast,
less than 6 percent of electrical and mechanical engineers had been
employed by public authorities in 1929. B y December 1934, although
the numbers of them so engaged had increased by 78.0 and 59.1 per
cent, respectively, the absolute increases in jobs reported were only
273 for electrical and 298 in the case of mechanical and industrial
engineers. For chemical and ceramic, and mining and metallurgical
engineers, the absolute increases were, respectively, 40 and 43.
Since the available engineering opportunities did not keep pace with
the increases in men trained to enter the profession, there must obvi
ously have been changes in the proportions, first, of those engaged in
engineering and second, of those unemployed, or engaged in nonengi-
52
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
neering work. This is evidenced by considering the adjusted data
presented in table 14.
T able
14 .— Percentage distribution of employment status at end of 1929, 1932, and
1934 of engineers reporting, by professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Percentage total in each professional class reporting—
Engineering employment
Professional class
Private1
Public2
Nonengineer
ing employ
ment
Unemploy
ment 3
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
Total, United States________________ 71.9 55.5 52.7 21.1 22.4 24.7
Chemical and ceramic______________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural. _
Electrical__________________________
Mechanical and industrial__________
Mining and metallurgical-----------------
82.8
54.2
85.6
87.3
80.6
68.5
37.6
67.8
70.2
66.8
68.7 7.0 6.3 579
31.8 40.0 43.2 48.5
63.1 5.8 6.3 7.8
70.8 5.9 6.7 7.6
67.9 8.9 9.5 10.1
6.3 12.0 14.1
9.7
5.0
8.1
6.1
8.5
16.6
9.2
15.9
12.4
13.5
19.2
9.5
21.7
14.3
13.7
0.7 10.1
.5
.8
.5
.7
2.0
8.5
8.6 6.2
10.0 10.2
10.0 7.4
10.7 7.3
10.2 8.3
1 Includes employees of private firms, independent consultants, “ any other employment,” and teaching.
2 Includes employees of Federal, State, county, and municipal Governments, and other public authority.
3 Includes direct relief and work relief.
Private engineering employment furnished by far the greatest
amount of employment to engineers. In 1929, even among civil
engineers, 54.3 percent were so employed. For the remaining 4
professional classes, the percentages ranged from 80.6 for mining and
metallurgical to 87.3 for mechanical and industrial engineers. These
proportions dropped sharply from 1929 to 1932 because of a decrease
in the number of private jobs and an increase in the number of engi
neers. By December 1932, only 37.6 percent of the civil engineers
reported as being in private engineering. The range for the remaining
4 professional classes was from 66.8 to 70.2 percent. B y the end of
1934, there was a further decrease in the proportions privately em
ployed among both civil and electrical engineers. The former de
creased to 31.8 percent. Among electrical engineers, private engineer
ing work had employed 67.8 percent in 1932 as compared with 63.1
percent in 1934. There was only a slight improvement over 1932 for
the remaining professional classes.
In all classes, excepting chemical and ceramic engineers, the pro
portions engaged in public engineering increased from 1929 to 1934.
The most pronounced shift occurred among the civil engineers,
namely, from 40.0 percent in 1929 to 48.5 percent in 1934. This, in
some measure, compensated for the large decline in the private en
gineering employment of this professional class. Indeed, as a result
of public employment, the proportion of civil engineers in total en
gineering employment in both 1932 and 1934 was slightly higher than
in any other professional class.
Lack of engineering employment opportunities in the period 1929-32
led to increases in both nonengineering employment and unemploy-
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
53
ment for all professional classes. In general, the loss of private em
ployment occurred from 1929 to 1932. Nonengineering employment
increased sharply, absorbing many more engineers than public en
gineering work, in which employment also increased. But despite the
fact that the proportion of all engineers in nonengineering rose from
6.3 percent in 1929 to 12.0 percent in 1932, there was an even larger
increase in unemployment. This situation was common to all pro
fessional classes.
There were further increases in the proportions engaged in nonen
gineering work among all professional classes in the period 1932-34.
Among electrical engineers, the rate of increase in the proportion who
were in nonengineering employment was three-fourths of that which
occurred in 1929-32. But for the remaining professional classes the
corresponding ra.tes of increase were only one-third or less. In the
case of civil engineers and mining and metallurgical engineers, there
were almost no increases in the proportions engaged in nonengineering
employment. For each of these groups there was a greater increase
from 1932 to 1934 in public than in nonengineering employment.
For civil engineers it was much larger. For mechanical engineers the
proportions in public engineering rose from 6.7 percent in 1932 to 7.6
percent in 1934, whereas nonengineering embraced 12.4 percent of all
mechanical engineers in 1932 and 14.3 percent in 1934. In their case,
therefore, the rate of expansion in public engineering employment was
less than that which occurred in nonengineering employment.
E m p loy m en t Status o f T w o G rou ps o f Y o u n g e r E ngineers
Comparison of the distributions of employment status in 1929 of
those reporting engineers who entered the profession in the period
1925-29, with that in 1934 of a comparable group who entered the
profession between 1930 and 1934, reflects the pressures to which new
entrants were subjected during the depression years. It also em
phasizes the abnormality of the employment status of the latter in
1934.
In 1929 only 5.3 percent of the most recent graduates with pro
fessional training were in nonengineering work and 0.4 percent were
unemployed. In other words, all.but one-twentieth of those who
entered the profession in these 5 years were employed in engineering
work in 1929. (Table 15.) But in 1934, two-fifths of the comparable
group of recent engineering graduates 3were not in regular professional
engineering work. No less than 10.6 percent of them were unem
ployed in December 1934, while 29.4 percent reported as being
engaged in nonengineering work.
3
The term “ engineering graduate” is used interchangeably with “ entered the profession.” The tabula
tions cover predominantly those who received first degrees in engineering in the years specified, but also
include all “ other” engineers (such as those whose college work was incomplete) who were 23 to 27 years old
at the date of reported employment.
285208°— 41------5
54
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 -3 4
T a b l e 15 .— Comparative employment status of 2 groups of younger engineers
Age group
In public engineering
employment
In pri
vate 1
engi
Total neering
Munici
pal and
employ Fed State
and
other
ment
eral county
public
authority
In
nonengi- Unem
neer- ployed 2
ing
em
ploy
ment
Number of engineers
1925-29 engineers, who were 23 to 27 years of age
in 1929____________________________________ 36,997
1930-34 engineers, who were 23 to 27 years of age
in 1934____________________________________ 316,872
5,151
452
618
6,910
1, 544
1,272
375
371
30
401 4, 959
1, 786
Percentage
1925-29 engineers, who were 23 to 27 years of age
in 1929____________________________________
1930-34 engineers, who were 23 to 27 years of age
in 1934________________ _________ ______
100.0
73.6
6.5
8.8
5.4
5.3
0.4
100.0
40.9
9.2
7.5
2.4
29.4
10.6
1Includes employees of private firms, independent consultants, “ any other employment,” and teaching.
2 Includes direct relief and work relief.
3 The absolute numbers are not comparable. About twice as high a proportion of the younger groups
returned schedules.
Of all recent engineers reporting both in 1929 and in 1934, approxi
mately one-fifth were engaged in the three categories of public en
gineering. Insofar as any differences existed, there appears to have
been a slight decline in the proportions of the 1930-34 group that
secured public employment. The decrease in the percentage in State
and county employment was only from 8.8 to 7.5. But municipal
and other public authorities in 1929 had employed 5.4 percent of the
1925-29 engineers, whereas in 1934 they employed only 2.4 percent
of those who entered the profession in the period 1930-34. On the
other hand, the Federal Government employed a larger percentage of
the recent graduates in 1934 than it had employed in 1929. For 1929,
6.5 percent of the 1925-29 engineers reported themselves as having
been employed by the Federal Government, whereas 9.2 percent of the
recent entrants to the profession were so employed in 1934.
In 1929 nearly three-fourths of the recent engineers were in private
engineering employment. Only 40.9 percent of the 1930-34 engineers
so reported for December 1934. Clearly, the abnormally large pro
portion of the new entrants to the profession who were unemployed or
were compelled to find work of a nonengineering nature in 1934 was
due primarily to the lack of opportunities in the principal field of
engineering activity.
E m p loy m en t Status o f O ld er and Y o u n g e r E ngineers
This dependence upon private engineering employment is common
to the greater part of the engineering profession. A substantial
number, however, are normally in the employ of public authorities.
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESfSION,
55
19 2 9 - 3 4
This is borne out by considering the distributions of employment
status of all engineers reporting. These data are shown in table 16,
divided into three broad classes, by age.4
T a b l e 16 . — Distribution of older and younger engineers reporting , by employment
status at end of 1 92 9 , 1 93 2 , and 1934
Percentage
Number
Employment status
Older
engineers 1
Younger
engineers
1930-32 2
1929
1932
1934
1932
1934
1933<343
Older
engineers i
Younger
engineers
1930-322 1933343
1934 1929 1932 1934 1932 1934 1934
Total________________________ 31, 252 31, 252 31,252 9,469 9,469 7,403 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Engineering employment--------- 29,051 25,327 25, 548
Private em ploym ent--____ 22,456 18,142 17,378
Private firm. - - - ___ 19,424 14,894 14,422
Independent consultant- 1, 303 1,459 1,243
Teaching______ _______ 1,729 1, 789 1, 713
Public employment_______ 6, 595 7,185 8,170
Federal_______________ 1, 647 2,063 3,149
State and county___ _ 2, 632 2, 884 2,882
Municipal and other
public authority_____ 2,316 2, 238 2,139
Nonengineering employment - __ 1,969 3, 047 3,202
232 2, 878 2, 502
Unemployment--. . ____
4,070
2, 984
2,892
17
75
1,086
536
400
93.0
71.9
62.2
4.2
5.5
21.1
5.3
8.4
258
251
150
2,651 2, 655 2, 304
757 1,029
1,570
7.4
6.3
.7
5, 248
3,532
3,247
50
235
1, 716
531
927
6,057
3, 926
3, 748
25
153
2,131
1,008
872
81.1
58.1
47.7
4.7
5.7
23.0
6.6
9.2
81.8
55.7
46.2
4.0
5.5
26.1
10.1
9.2
55.4
37.3
34.3
.5
2.5
18.1
5.6
9.8
64.0
41.5
39.6
.3
1.6
22.5
10.6
9.2
55.0
40.4
39.2
.2
1.0
14.6
7.2
5.4
7.2 6.8 2.7 2.7 2.0
9.7 10.2 28.0 28.0 31.1
9.2 8.0 16.6 8.0 13.9
1 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to
1930.
2 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the years 1930-32.
3 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the years 1933 and 1934.
Of all older engineers reporting for December 1929, it will be noted
that 71.9 percent were engaged in private engineering, 21.1 percent
in public engineering, 6.3 percent in nonengineering work, and only
0.7 percent were unemployed. Of the 71.9 percent in private engi
neering, 62.2 percent were in the employ of private firms, 4.2 percent
in independent consulting work, and 5.5 percent in teaching. In
public engineering, the percentages for Federal, State and county,
and municipal and other public authorities ranged from 5.3 to 7.4.
This situation had an important bearing on the changes which
occurred in the subsequent period, especially with regard to substitute
employment.
Over the 5-year period there was a net change in the distributions
of employment affecting 16.8 percent of the “ older” engineers; that
4
Table 16 presents the absolute figures for all reports received without adjustment. It deals with the older
and younger engineers separately and, therefore, no adjustment was required in these broad age classifica
tions, though allowance did have to be made for the relatively large number of reports received from young
engineers when the groups were treated in combination.
Older engineers comprise those who reported they were active in professional engineering prior to 1930. The
younger engineers are those who entered the profession in the years 1930-34, inclusive, and are divided into 2
broad-age groups, each designated by the graduating classes which they embrace, namely, 1930-32 engineers
and 1933-34 engineers. Furthermore, in tabulating the data on employment status, homogeneity of the older
and 1930-32 engineers was maintained. That is, in the case of the former, only those reporting for the 3 years
1929,1932, and 1934 were used; in the case of the latter, only those reporting for the 2 years 1932 and 1934 were
included. Analysis shows that the percentage eliminated was small.
56
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
is, of engineers who had entered the profession prior to 1930. In
other words, out of every 1,000 engineers reporting, there were net
changes in the employment status of 168 between 1929 and 1934. In
absolute numbers, there were shrinkages of 5,255 jobs for engineers
graduating prior to 1929. N o less than 5,002 were separated from
private firms. The remaining net losses of employment were dis
tributed among those engaged in independent consulting (60), in
teaching (16), and in municipal and other public employment (177).
These decreases in employment opportunities for older engineers
were not counterbalanced by increases in the other classes of engineer
ing employment. In fact, 2,270 engineers reporting graduation prior
to 1930 were still unemployed in December 1934, while 1,233 found
employment in nonengineering work. Only 1,752 had been absorbed
by increases in public engineering employment, one-sixth with State
and county authorities, and five-sixths, or 1,502, with the Federal
Government.
The m ajor part of the loss of employment for older engineers
occurred from 1929 to 1932. In this period net shifts in employment
had affected the status of 14.7 percent of these men. The net change
in the period 1932-34 involved only 4.0 percent of them. Obviously,
by December 1932 the engineering profession had suffered the major
impact of the depression. Between December 1929 and December
1932 there were net losses of employment involving 4,608 engineers.
Only two of the categories of employment were involved, namely,
that with private firms, and that with municipal and other public
authorities. But of the 4,608 positions concerned, the shrinkage of
employment with private firms affected 4,530; the latter, only 78.
O f these engineers, only 884 were able to find other types of engineer
ing employment by December 1932; nea^y 50 percent of them
entered Federal Government employment, while a third entered State
and county employment. There were 156 additional engineers
reporting themselves as being independent consultants and 60 as
engaged in teaching. Of the remaining 3,724 engineers, 2,646 were
unemployed and 1,078 were engaged in work of a nonengineering
nature.
The shifts noted in the period 1929-32 are, therefore, indicative of
two trends affecting engineers who had been in the profession in 1929:
(1) The pronounced increase in Federal employment and the decrease
in private employment; and (2) the comparative stability of the
remaining classes of engineering employment. These trends are
further accentuated by a consideration of the shifts which occurred
between December 1932 and December 1934.
In 1932-34, all categories of engineering work, with the exception
of that with Federal Government, decreased as regards employment
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
57
of engineers who had been in the profession in 1929. Thus, an addi
tional net total of 472 engineers graduating before 1930 were sepa
rated from private firms. The decreases in jobs in the remaining
engineering classes ranged from 2 in the case of State and county
employment to 216 for independent consultants. Incidentally, it
will be noted that the proportion engaged in the latter class was only
slightly less than the proportion so engaged in 1929. This would
seem to indicate that the increase which had taken place from 1929
to 1932 was an artificial one, in which otherwise unemployed engineers
set themselves up as consultants. Altogether, the decreases in en
gineering employment between 1932 and 1934 affected 865 older
engineers. Despite these decreases in many types of job opportunity,
there was also a decrease of 376 in the number of engineers reporting
unemployment. Only 155 found opportunities in nonengineering
employment. The Federal Government gave engineering employ
ment to the remaining 1,086 (87.5 percent) of those whose status
shifted from 1932 to 1934.
The net result of the changes in employment status among the
older engineers was such that by December 1934 only 46.2 percent
were in the employ of private firms, whereas 62.2 percent had been
so engaged at the end of 1929. Federal employment provided for
10.1 percent in December 1934, as against only 5.3 percent in 1929.
All other classes of engineering employment remained comparatively
stable over the period 1930-34, especially if State, county, and mu
nicipal employment are considered together. In December 1934
there were 8.0 percent unemployed, but it is obvious that had not
10.2 percent of the older engineers found work of a nonengineering
nature, the proportion unemployed would have been larger by that
amount. It is also obvious that by December 1934 it was primarily
the increased engineering employment by the Federal Government
that ameliorated employment conditions for these older engineers.
The contrast between the job status of recent graduates in 1929 and
1934 has already been noted. But certain outstanding shifts from
1932 to 1934 may be noted among the engineers who entered the
profession during the depression. In the first place employment
opportunities increased from the end of 1932 to the end of 1934
among those who graduated in 1930-32. Slightly more than half
of the 16.6 percent of this group who had been unemployed or on
work relief in 1932 found employment by 1934. Furthermore, they
had found nonrelief engineering employment. There was no change
in the proportion engaged in nonengineering work. The gain was
almost equally divided between private employment and public
employment. Fewer engineers graduating in 1930-32 were teaching
or engaged in what they called consulting work. The increase in
58
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
employment by private firms, however, absorbed 5.3 percent of all
engineers in these classes. Similarly, there was a slight decline in
the proportions employed by States and counties, but this was much
more than offset by an expansion of Federal engineering employment
that absorbed an additional 5.0 percent of the total number.
A comparison of the distributions of employment of 1933-34 grad
uates in 1934 may be made with employment in 1932 of those grad
uating in 1930-32 to show how conditions had changed as regards the
most recent graduates. This comparison is not perfect because in the
one case 3 graduating classes are considered and in the other only
2. From 1932 to 1934 there was almost no change in the proportions
of the most recent graduates who found engineering employment.
Unemployment was slightly lower, primarily because 3.1 percent more
1933-34 graduates were in nonengineering work in 1934 than had been
true of 1930-32 graduates in 1932.
While recent graduates in 1934 had as much opportunity for engi
neering employment as a comparable group had had in 1932, this was
because of an expansion in private employment and particularly em
ployment with private firms. Of the 1933-34 graduates, 4.9 percent
more were employed by private firms and 1.8 percent fewer were
in teaching or acting as independent consultants than had been the
case in 1932 among 1930-32 graduates.
The total opportunities for public employment were less in 1934
among the most recent graduates than had been true of a similar
group in 1932. The Federal Government did employ 1.6 percent
more of them in 1934, but this could not offset the decline of employ
ment opportunities with State, county, and municipal authorities
from 12.5 percent of the 1930-32 graduates in 1932 to 7.4 percent of
the 1933-34 graduates in 1934.
E m p lo y m e n t O p p o r tu n itie s fo r O ld er and Y o u n g e r E n gineers
C on tra sted
The preceding discussion has shown the barriers that the depression
threw in the way of newcomers to the profession. It now remains to
examine the effect that even the partial absorption of the newcomers
had upon the employment opportunities of the older engineers.
This interrelationship is best studied in two different phases of the
employment cycle: (1) During a period of an absolute contraction in
job opportunities, and (2) during a period of expansion. These
conditions are represented respectively by the two periods 1929-32
and 1932-34. In the first, it will be recalled that total engineering
employment for the adjusted sample decreased from 29,051 to 27,787.
In the second period, it grew to 30,299 by the end of 1934. The
adjusted data are presented in table 17.
59
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T
a b l e
17 .— Increase or decrease, 1929 to 1934, in employment of older engineers
and younger engineers , by employment status
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Total number reporting
Increase or decrease
1929 to 1932
1932 to 1934
Employment status
1929
1932
1934
Total____________________________________
27, 988
28,694
32, 735 -2 , 862 +3, 568
+668
+3,373
Private fir m ____ _
______________
State, county, and municipal government
and other public authority_______________
Federal Government------- -- --------------------Nonengineering___________________________
19,424
16,416
17, 534 -4 , 530 +1, 522
-472
+1, 590
4,948
1,647
1,969
5, 677
2, 312
4, 289
5,804
+174
+555
-101
3,872
+416
+249 +1, 086
5, 525 +1,078 +1, 242
+155
+228
+474
+1, 081
Older1 New 2 Older i New 3
engi
en
engi
en
neers trants neers trants
1 Includes those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 Includes those engineers who entered the profession in the years 1930-32.
3 Includes those engineers who entered the profession in the years 1933 and 1934, and also those who came
in during this period from classes of 1930-32.
B y December 1932 employment with private firms had declined by
15.5 percent. The loss of employment by private firms among older
engineers was even greater than this. In absolute numbers, 4,530
were put out of work. Despite the enormous drop, even at this period
of the depression no less than 1,522 of those engineers who entered
the profession in the period 1930-32 found opportunities for engineer
ing employment with private companies. Thus, approximately twothirds of the loss of employment among older engineers was due to
a decrease in the amount of private employment available. Onethird was due to the fact that older engineers were unable to secure,
or unwilling to take, employment which newcomers to the profession
secured.
B y the end of the second period, private firm employment increased
by 1,118, or 6.8 percent, over that reported for December 1932. Here
again there was a repetition of the condition noted for the period
1929-32. Even in this period there was a reduction in employment
with private companies, affecting 472 of the older engineers. In
passing, it should be noted that this decrease did not affect those who
entered the profession from 1925 to 1929, but was confined to those
who graduated prior to 1925. Essentially, therefore, those who entered
the profession in the years 1930-34 secured all the net new employ
ment that developed with private firms and also continued to find
some openings at the expense of older engineers. Over the entire
5-year period 1930-34, although 5,002 older engineers suffered loss
of employment with private firms, no less than 3,112 of the new
entrants found engineering work.
60
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 -3 4
A considerable number of the younger engineers were able to enter
engineering activity with private firms, apparently at the expense of
the older engineers. This admission of younger engineers into privatefirm employment was probably not the result of a direct displacement
on a particular job of any one group of older by younger engineers.
The explanation is to be found in the relative ease with which a
younger engineer found a new job as compared with an older one
who had lost a job. The older engineer inevitably had a greater
concern with the suitability of the employment and remuneration
offered than had the man without an established position. Further
more, the enormous influx of new entrants to the profession caused
keen competition for all kinds of engineering employment, which,
under the then prevailing conditions, were very definitely not of the
type to suit the older engineers and which further depressed salary
rates for the more elementary types of work.5
The changes effected by the depression upon the engineers in the
employ of State and county, and municipal and other public authori
ties, are in striking contrast to those which occurred among older
engineers in private firms. Between 1929 and 1932 there was a 14.7
percent increase over the total of 4,948 who were engaged by State
and county and municipal and other public authorities in 1929. The
increase was shared by both the older engineers and new entrants.
The number of the former increased by 174, the latter by 555. B y
December 1934 the total so employed had increased to 5,804. But
in this second period only the new entrants increased— by 228—
whereas the older engineers decreased b y 101, a net change in favor
of the younger engineers of 127. It will, however, be noted that 73
of the net number of older engineers who entered these fields of em
ployment b y December 1932 were retained.
Clearly, the older engineers in the employ of these particular public
authorities held on tenaciously to their jobs during the depression.
The most marked shift as regards this type of employment was the
decrease in the proportion of younger engineers who found work with
such authorities. The decrease in the number of older engineers so
employed b y December 1934 may not have been due wholly to the
increase of new entrants. M any of the older engineers may have
found this employment an easier passage to Federal employment,
which, in the period 1932-34, required a large number of engineers
as administrators and supervisors for the work-relief programs then
6 In this regard, it may here be noted that for men with advancing years of experience engaged in engineer
ing, the monthly earnings of engineers who were 23^ years in 1929 and 28^ years in 1934 actually increased,
whereas for succeeding age groups the decline in earnings became progressively greater. For men of cor
responding years of experience the greatest decline occurred for engineers who had only from 2 to 5 years’
experience in engineering work, as against relatively equal declines for newcomers and men with more than
5 years’ engineering experience.
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
61
under way. These positions may have been more in keeping with the
older e n g in e e r previous training and experience.
This last statement is substantiated by the changes which occurred
in Federal employment. In both periods the absolute number of
older engineers who found this kind of work was greater than that
for the younger engineers. Thus, by the end of December 1932
Federal employment increased by 40.0 percent from 1,647 to 2,312.
This increase covered 665 engineers, which comprised 62.5 percent
older and only 37.5 percent younger engineers. In the second period,
the total number in the employ of the Federal Government increased
from 2,312 to 3,872, an increase over 1932 of 68.0 percent. The
absolute increase was divided in the ratio of 70.0 percent of the older
to 30.0 percent of the younger engineers. Over the 5-year period,
the respective total absolute increases were 1,502 and 723. It will
also be noted that, while in the period 1929-32 the rate of increase of
older to younger engineers was two to one, it increased to two and
one-half times for the older by the end of December 1934. From
this marked preference for older engineers in Federal Government
employment, it can only be assumed that the nature of the work did
more closely meet their criteria for reemployment, at least for such
opportunities as were available.
This contrast of employment opportunities for older and younger
engineers indicates that, taking all factors into consideration, between
1930 and 1934 there was a substantial net loss of employment by the
engineers active before 1930 and a considerable absorption in employ
ment of newcomers to the profession. As indicated, some of this
shift may have been due to direct displacement; some of it to the
securing of newly created positions by the younger men. The exact
proportions affected by these two tendencies cannot, of course, be
determined from the reports furnished in this survey. But considera
tion of the data on a more detailed age basis does reveal the general
incidence of this situation.
E m p loy m en t Status o f P rofession a l Classes b y A g e G rou ps
This analysis of the employment status data reported by engineers
of different ages is confined to two groupings of the nine professional
classes. In this regard it is necessary to recall that in the discussion
of employment status for all engineers combined (table 16) it was
there noted that in 1929 engineering employment was reported by
29,051 older engineers. Of this number, 22,456, or 71.9 percent, were
in private engineering and 6,595, or 21.1 percent, were in public
engineering. Further analysis of these data shows that of the 22,456
engineers engaged in private engineering in 1929 only 7,477, or 33.3
percent, were civil, agricultural, and architectural engineers, whereas
62
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 -3 4
this same professional class comprised 5,510, or 83.5 percent, of the
6,595 in the employ of all public authorities. This marked contrast in
engineering activity warrants separate analysis of the employment
status of civil engineers, more especially as they constitute about half
of the entire reporting sample. On the other hand, the close similarity
in engineering activity of the other four professional classes permits
of presenting their data in combination in view of the fact that the
numbers in the samples for mining and metallurgical, and for chemical
engineers are too small to support as detailed an analysis as is possible
for civil engineers.
These particular data by age are presented in table 18 and in graphic
form in chart 4.
The engineers in each professional group are classified by age and
employment status in each of the 3 years. Thus, there were 2,310
civil engineers who were 50 years old in 1932 and who were over 47 in
1929. The employment status of this group is traced from year to
year. The 4,280 who were 41-50 years of age in 1932 are treated as a
second group, those 31-40 in 1932 as a third, and finally those 26-30
in 1932 as the fourth age group of the reporting engineers who had
been in the profession in 1929. The sample was increased by 1,544 6
newcomers by 1932 and by a further 1,035 6 by 1934.
What happened to the distribution of jobs in civil engineering in
connection with this addition of 2,579 engineers to the 13,786 already
in the profession in 1929? In the first place, total private-firm em
ployment for civil engineers declined from 6,181 in 1929 to 4,008 in
1934. But even with this limitation in opportunity, 483 newcomers to
the profession found jobs with private firms in 1934. There was,
therefore, a net displacement between 1929 and 1934 of 2,656 or
43 percent, of the civil engineers who had been with private firms in
1929. The displacement was greatest from 1929 to 1932 and for those
civil engineers entering the profession from 1925-1929. Thus, of this
group nearly half of those employed by a private firm in 1929 were not
so employed in 1932. This proportion decreases in each higher age
group. Among those over 50 the displacement amounted to about
one-quarter.
For all those civil engineers who had been with private firms in
1929 there was a net loss by 1932 of 2,113 jobs, or 34 percent, while
312 newcomers to the civil engineering profession had jobs with
private firms in 1932. From 1932 to 1934 there was a further net
displacement of 543 of the older civil engineers, but in this period the
loss of employment with private firms affected all age groups about
equally, averaging nearly 13 percent of the 1932 employment.
6 On an adjusted basis as explained on p. 34.
CHART 4.
CIVIL, AGRICULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL
STATE a COUNTY
GOV'T.
PRIVATE FIRM
MUNICIPAL GOV'T.
a OTHER PUBLIC
INDEPENDENT
AUTHORITY TEACHING CONSULTANT
NONENGtNEERING
WORK
UNEMPLOYED ft
DIRECT RELIEF
VZZZZA
///////A
SgSgSSgf
i
f
i
■
ALL OTHER PROFESSIONAL CLASSES COMBINED
3 8 -4 7 E
4 1 -5 0
4 3 -5 2
2 8 -3 7
3 1 -4 0
3 3 -4 2
2 3 -2 7
2 6 -3 0
2 8 -3 2
2 3 -2 5
2 5 -2 7
2 0 -2 4
2 0 25
30 35 4 0 45
50 55 6 0 65 70 75 80 85
0 5
10 15
0
5
10 15 20 25 30 55
0
5
10
0
5
EMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
BY AGE GROUP AT END OF 1 9 2 9 ,1 9 3 2 a 1 9 3 4
10 15 SO
PERCENT
EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN 1929
U. S. BUREAU OF LAtfOR STATISTICS
V7Z^\
1932 ES553
1934
__________________________ ^CHEMICAL, CERAMIC, ELECTRICAL, INDUSTRIAL, MECHANICAL, MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS
00
64
T a b l e 18 ,— Number of engineers reporting employment status at end of 1929, 1982, and 1984, by professional class and age
[Without regard to type of education reported]
Total1
Y ounger3 engineers
Older2engineers
Employment status by professional class
1934
Over
47
years
in
1929
Over
50
years
in
1932
Over
52
years
in
1934
38-47
years
in
1929
41-50
years
in
1932
43-52
years
in
1934
28-37
years
in
1929
31-40
years
in
1932
33-42
years
in
1934
23-27
years
in
1929
26-30
years
in
1932
28-32
years
in
1934
23-25
years
in
1932
25-27
years
in
1934
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_____ 13,786 15,330 16,365
1929
1932
20-24
years
in
1934
2,310
2,310
2,310
4,280
4,280
4,280
4, 429
4,429
4,429
2,767
2,767
2,767
1,544
1,544
1,035
Private firm____________ - ______ 6,181
Independent consultant_____________
736
Teaching______________________ ___
560
Federal Government.__ . . . ______ 1,177
4,380
772
608
1,693
4,008
610
573
2,936
944
259
109
180
701
250
105
200
608
212
100
319
1,858
307
186
319
1,339
303
187
406
1,177
234
180
649
2,023
160
173
338
1,335
181
179
445
1,138
128
180
727
1,356
10
92
340
693
30
107
454
602
28
92
674
312
8
30
188
273
5
17
369
210
3
4
198
State and county government_______ 2, 451
Municipal and other public authority. 1,882
Nonengineering work... ___________
694
2
Work relief ______
____
Unemployed and direct relief. . . . _.
103
3,047
1,880
1,413
127
1, 410
3,190
1,815
1,556
1,016
661
284
359
135
284
337
166
115
169
686
596
291
40
281
352
162
17
242
37
722
574
375
33
341
723
564
371
208
174
904
621
191
1
18
974
578
343
43
351
997
543
324
291
101
577
306
77
1
8
688
286
227
26
256
660
240
216
177
78
382
90
306
8
220
363
76
264
127
50
163
55
215
98
89
All other professional classes i ___________ 17,466 20, 361 22, 796
2,462
2,462
2,462
4, 522
4, 522
4,522
6,252
6,252
6,252
4,230
4,230
4, 230
2,895
2,895
2,435
Private firm_____ _______ _____ _ 13, 243 12,039 13,539
Independent consultant___________
567
709
651
Teaching__________________________ 1,169 1,289 1,238
Federal Government____ ___ _____
470
614
940
1, 524
247
241
81
1,253
261
245
92
1,226
254
234
113
3, 337
192
308
125
2,810
220
307
139
2,812
211
306
199
4,898
112
427
152
4,107
165
435
181
4,114
138
417
252
3,484
16
193
112
2, 656
49
224
146
2, 745
38
204
216
1, 213
14
78
56
1,492
6
50
106
1,150
4
27
54
33
90
195
35
85
228
13
250
38
88
245
45
219
54
131
343
3
29
60
133
465
38
350
60
139
467
99
229
78
151
673
41
421
75
145
754
140
217
41
69
294
46
79
574
27
429
45
83
659
84
156
57
32
937
17
491
44
42
979
62
114
25
15
863
78
219
State and county government______
181
Municipal and other public authority.
434
Nonengineering work___ . . . . . . . . . 1,275
W ork relief__ ______
_ _ _ _ ___
4
Unemployed and direct relief________
123
276
480
2,877
136
1,941
287
512
3,967
508
1,154
51
.
53
144
443
1
22
21
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
Number
Percentage
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Private firm_______________________
Independent consultant_____________
Teaching__________________________
Federal Government_______________
44.9
5.3
4.1
8.5
28.6
5.0
4.0
11.0
24.6
3.7
3.5
17.9
41.0
11.2
4.7
7.8
30.4
10.8
4.5
8.7
26.3
9.2
4.3
13.8
43.4
7.2
4.3
7.5
31.2
7.1
4.4
9.5
27. 4
5.5
4.2
15.2
45.8
3.6
3.9
7.6
30.2
4.1
4.0
10.0
25.6
2.9
4.1
16.4
48.9
0.4
3.3
12.3
25.0
1.1
3.9
16.4
21.8
1.0
3.3
24.3
20.3
0.5
1.9
12.5
17.4
0.3
1.3
24.0
20.1
0.3
0.7
19.2
State and county government_______
Municipal and other public authority
Nonengineering work_______________
Work relief________________________
Unemployed and direct relief________
17.8
13.7
5.0
(«)
.7
19.9
12.3
9.2
.8
9.2
19. 5
11.1
9.5
6. 2
4.0
12.3
15.5
5.8
12.3
14.6
7.2
5.0
7.3
16.0
13.9
6.8
1.7
12.2
15.2
7.0
0. 7
10.5
0.9
16.8
13.4
8.8
0.8
8.0
16.8
13.2
8.7
4.9
4.1
20.4
14.0
4.3
(®)
0.4
22.0
13.1
7.7
1.0
7.9
22.5
12. 3
7.3
6. 6
2.3
20.9
11.1
2.8
(«)
0.3
24.9
10.3
8.2
0.9
9.3
23.9
8.7
7.8
6.4
2.8
24.5
5.8
19.8
0.5
14.2
23.5
4.9
17.1
8.3
3.2
15.7
5.3
20.7
9.4
8.6
All other professional classes 4___________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Private firm_______________________
Independent consultant_____________
Teaching__________________________
Federal Government_______________
75.9
3.2
6.7
2.7
59.1
3.5
6.3
3.0
59.4
2.9
5.4
4.1
61.9
10.0
9.8
3.3
50.8
10.6
10.0
3.7
49.8
10.3
9.5
4.6
73.8
4.2
6.8
2.8
62.2
4.9
6.8
3.1
62. 1
4.7
6.8
4.4
78.4
1.8
6.8
2.4
65.7
2.6
7.0
2.9
82.3
65.8
0.4
2.2
6. 7 • 4. 6
4.0
2.6
62.8
1.2
5.3
3.5
64.8
0.9
4.8
5.1
41.8
0.5
2.8
1.9
51.4
0.2
1.8
3.6
47.2
0.2
1.2
2.2
State and county government_______
Municipal and other public authority.
Nonengineering work_______________
Work relief________________________
Unemployed and direct relief________
1.0
2.5
7.3
(«)
.7
1.4
2.4
14.1
.7
9.5
1.3
2.2
17.4
2. 2
5.1
1.3
3.7
7.9
1.4
3.5
9.3
0. 5
10.2
1.5
3.6
10.0
1.8
8.9
1.2
2.9
7.6
0.1
0.6
1.3
2.9
10.3
0.8
7.7
1.3
3.1
10.3
2. 2
5.1
0.8
2.3
7.1
(«)
0.4
1.2
2.4
10.8
0.7
6.7
1.2
2.3
12.1
2.2
3.5
1.1
1.9
13.6
0.6
10.1
1.1
2.0
15.6
2.0
3.7
2.0
1.1
32.4
0.6
16.9
1.6
1.4
33.9
2.2
3.9
0.6
35.5
3.2
8.9
2.1
1 Figures for 1932 and 1934 have been adjusted as explained on p. 34.
2 Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
3 Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the periods 1930-32 and 1933-34.
4 Includes chemical, ceramic, electrical, mechanical, industrial, mining, and metallurgical engineers.
5 Less than 0.05 percent.
0.5
1.0
19 2 9 - 3 4
1.0
1.6
7.0
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_____
Oi
Oi
66
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
In the remaining professional groups in combination this situation
differs chiefly in the fact that, although employment reported with
private firms also declined from 13,243 in 1929 to 12,039 in 1932, it
rose sharply to 13,539 in 1934. Between 1929 and 1932, 1,213 new
engineers were added and, therefore, a net of 2,417 older engineers
were displaced. It is impossible to determine the extent to which this
represented a loss of jobs by the older groups and the filling of other
new jobs that developed with younger men. Between 1929 and 1932,
25 percent of those who entered the profession from 1925-29 were
displaced from private firms, whereas this proportion dropped to 12
percent among those 41 to 50. This resembles the experience of civil
engineers, among whom also the senior group had the least insecurity.
But the proportion rises again to 17 percent among those over 50.
From 1932 to 1934 there was a general expansion of private-firm
employment among these professional groups. Recruiting was almost
without exception from among engineers under 30 years of age. There
was an actual net loss of 27 more jobs among those who were over 50
years of age in 1932 and a net gain of only 7 among the group 31-40
years of age in 1932.
The group that were 26-30 years of age in
1932 were reemployed to the extent of 89 jobs; about one-tenth as
many as they lost from 1929 to 1932. On the other hand, 279 more
engineers were hired who had graduated in 1930-32 and 1,150 who
graduated in 1933-34. Put slightly differently, there was no net
increase in employment opportunity with private firms for men over
30. M en graduating in 1933-34 had an even chance of finding em
ployment with a private firm by the end of 1934. Men who had been
employed as junior engineers in 1929 but had lost their jobs had only
one chance in 10.
Except for Federal Government employment, the men displaced
from private firms found limited opportunities in the other four kinds
of engineering employment shown in table 18. For example, engi
neers of all ages classified as independent consultants showed small
changes in their numbers in the 3 years for which data were reported.
In the case of all civil engineers reporting, the adjusted figures are
736 in 1929, 772 in 1932, and 610 in 1934. For all other professional
classes, the corresponding figures are 567, 709, and 651. A similar
situation is to be noted for men engaged in the teaching of engineering
subjects and those in the employ of municipal and other public author
ities. State and county governments, however, did offer a larger
number of opportunities for engineering work, in that, for both groups
of engineers the numbers so reporting steadily increased over the
period 1929-34. The civil engineers, however, were the chief bene
ficiaries of this gain, for their numbers increased from 2,451 in 1929
to 3,047 in 1932 and to 3,190 in 1934, as against corresponding figures
of 181, 276, and 287 for the other professional classes combined.
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFEiSlSIiON, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4 *
67
As regards Federal Government employment, all age groups par
ticipated in the increase of jobs. In the case of civil engineers some
1,177 were so engaged in 1929, but by 1932 the number had increased
by 516 to 1,693. B y 1934, 2,936 were in the employ of the Federal
Government, an increase of 1,243 engineers even over that reported
for 1932. B y contrast, among the other professional classes, the in
crease in absolute numbers of men with the Federal Government was
only from 470 in 1929 to 940 in 1934, that is, a change of only 470, or
but one-quarter of the increase in the number of civil engineers for the
same period.
Since employment opportunities in engineering were practically
nonexistent in the period 1930-34, except for jobs obtained with the
Federal Government, engineers displaced from private firms were left
with the possibilities of going into nonengineering work, on work
relief, or remaining unemployed. As regards nonengineering work,
the data in table 18 clearly demonstrate that engineers of all ages
were compelled to seek work of a nonengineering nature. Relatively,
however, this situation was more acute for the two groups of younger
engineers who entered the profession in the period 1930-34. On the
other hand, as between civil engineers and the other professional classes
combined, the data also show that, relatively, this shift into non
engineering work was smaller for the civil engineers, of whom 694 so
reported in 1929 and 1,556 in 1934, an increase of 868 as against an
increase of 2,692 over the same period among the other professional
classes. Even in 1929 a smaller proportion (5.0 percent) of the civil
engineers were engaged in nonengineering than was true of the other
professional groups (7.3 percent). Relatively, at all ages this relation
ship held in 1934 but the span increased, especially in the case of those
who graduated in the period 1925-29 and were 28 to 32 years of age
in 1934, for in 1934, while 7.8 percent of civil engineers of these ages
reported non engineering work, the proportion was as high as 15.6
among the other professional classes. Similarly, in the case of the
two groups of younger engineers there was a wide variation as between
civil engineers and members of the other professional classes engaged
in non engineering work.
As regards work relief and unemployment, these data for the three
stated periods are shown merely to indicate the over-all situation in
regard to employment status. A detailed discussion of unemploy
ment is to be found in chapter 6.
Employment in Relation to Engineering Experience
The preceding discussion has traced the apparent relationship be
tween age and changes in employment status from 1929 to 1934. The
shifts are obviously for the most part a reflection of the impact of the
depression. But it must also be noted that certain kinds of shifts are
68
CHART 5.
BY PROFESSIONAL CLASS
FEDERAL
STATE ft COUNTY
PRIVATE FIRM
MUNICIPAL GOVT.
a OTHER
PUBLIC AUTHORITY
TEACHING
NONENGINEERING
WORK
INDEPENDENT
CONSULTANT
OVER 47
CIVIL,AGRICULTURAL
AND
ARCHITECTURAL
38. 47
CHEMICAL
AND
CERAMIC
ELECTRICAL
MECHANICAL
AND
INDUSTRIAL
MINING
AND
METALLURGICAL
10
IS
tO tO
30 35
40
43
SO
60 63
70
75
6 0 65 0
10
IS 0
PERCENT
U. S BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ALL ENGINEERS ENGAGED IN ENGINEERING WORK PRIOR TO 1930
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
DISTRIBUTION OF KINDS OF ENGINEERING EMPLOYMENT
OF OLDER ENGINEERS AT END OF 1 9 2 9
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
69
to be expected in any event, if the status of individual engineers is
compared at the beginning and end of a 5-year period. The distri
bution of employment status in 1929 of the four age groups of engineers
who reported that they were professionally active prior to 1930 seems
to indicate that there are certain types of employment into which
younger engineers flow and from which they move, with increasing
experience, into other fields. (Table 19 and chart 5.)
As of December 1929 the m ajority of the new additions to each
professional class found their first jobs with private firms. Despite
the exodus into other fields which occurred with advancing age and
experience, the proportions so employed remained substantially large.
Even among engineers over 47 years these proportions ranged from
41.0 percent of the civil to 65.7 percent of the mechanical and indus
trial engineers. It will also be noted that the rates of decrease with
age in the proportions employed by private firms among chemical
and ceramic, electrical, and mechanical and industrial engineers
closely paralleled each other. Mining and metallurgical engineers,
however, show a more rapid decline even at low ages and a drop from
63.5 percent for those 38-47 years to 44.2 percent for engineers over
47 years of age. Over the four age groups the percentages for civil
engineers declined gradually from 48.9 to 41.0.
In the case of civil engineers, the three categories of public engi
neering employment follow in importance after private-firm employ
ment. The most important in 1929 was that of State and county
government. As a training ground its usefulness extended through
to the age of 37. During this time, slightly more than 20.0 percent
of the civil engineers were so engaged. Between 37 and 47 years the
proportion declined to 16.0. There was a further decline to 12.3
percent for civil engineers over 47 years of age. Next in order came
Federal Government. In 1929 this gave employment to 12.3 percent
of civil engineers 23-27 years. Thereafter it was primarily a field of
final employment, as indicated by the fact that the proportions so
employed remained fairly constant after 27 years of age, ranging
from 7.5 to 7.8 percent. Municipal and other public authority
employment constituted both a training ground and a field of final
employment for civil engineers. Between 28 and 37 years a sub
stantial number transferred from other fields of activity. This pro
portion remained fairly constant up to 47 years of age. Beyond this
there was a sharp rise to 15.5 percent.
Teaching was not an important field of training for civil engineers.
Thus, the proportions in this category of employment increased very
gradually from 3.3 to 4.7 percent. Throughout, the proportions
reported in each age group were relatively less than those reported
for any other professional class. In the case of nonengineering em2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 41-------- 6
70
T a b l e 19 .— Distribution of all older 1 engineers reporting employment status at end of 192 9 , by professional class and age
[Without regard to type of education reported]
Chemical and ceramic
Mechanical and
industrial
Electrical
Employment status
Mining and
metallurgical
j
Over
Over
Over
Over
23-27 28-37 38-47 Over
47 23-27 28-37 38-47 47 23-27 28-37 38-47 47 23-27 |28-37 38-47 47 23-27 28-37 38-47 47
Number of engineers in each specified age group in 1929
Total_____________ ____ ___________________ 2,767 4,429 4,280 2,310
374
576
367
153 1,810 2,265 1,447
Private firm a______________________________ 1,356 2,023 1,858
Independent consultant
160
307
10
Teaching___________________ ____ _______
92
173
186
Federal Government__ ____ __________ _ 340
319
338
944
259
109
180
278
430
11
47
15
251
19
33
16
88 1,506 1,805 1,088
4
22
21
13
18
76
157
103
6
36
38
30
State and county governmentMunicipal government and other public
authority________________________________
Nonengineering work____________
_______
Unemployment3__________ _______ _________
21
9
590 1,861 2,961 2,218 1,415
185
450
490
304
372 1,550 2,340 1,687
9
36
74
108
56
87
191
137
11
63
79
56
150
3
9
4
323
14
32
20
311
43
35
23
134
67
29
15
930
123
138
49
10
14
11
12
15
24
25
16
8
8
16
5
38
133
7
64
167
7
56
133
4
30
60
13
19
106
12
59
187
7
52
138
15
47
86
26
3
7
1
10
37
6
8
43
11
8
35
11
............................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
100.0
577
904
686
284
8
7
2
306
77
9
621
191
19
596
291
37
359
135
40
9
48
1
11
52
3
15
29
2
5
14
1
Percentage of engineers in each specified age group in 1929
Total................
Private firm3______________________________ 48.9
Independent consultant_____________________
.4
Teaching__________________________________
3.3
Federal Government_______________________ 12.3
45.8
3.6
3.9
7.6
State and county government_______________
Municipal government and other public
authority _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _
___ _
N onengineering work_____________ _______
Unemployment3___________________________
20.9
20.4
16.0
12.3
2.1
1.2
.5
11.1
2.8
.3
14.0
4.3
.4
13.9
6.8
.9
15.5
5.8
1.7
2.4
12.8
.3
1.9
9.0
.5
4.1
7.9
.5
43.4
7.2
4.3
7.5
41.0
11.2
4.7
7.8
74.4
5.6
2.4
74.7
1.9
8.2
2.6
68.4
5.2
9.0
4.4
57.4
13.7
11.8
3.9
83.2
.2
4.2
2.0
79.7
.6
6.9
1.7
.6
.6
.8
2.0
.8
.8
3.3
9.2
.7
2.1
7.3
.4
2.8
7.4
.3
3.9
9.2
.3
5.1
10.2
2.2
1.0
5.7
.6
2.0
6.3
.2
1 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 Includes employees of private consulting firms and in “ any other employment.”
3Includes direct relief and work relief.
75.1
1.5
7.1
2.1
63.0
6.1
9.5
1.9
83.3
.5
4.7
3.4
79.0
2.5
6.5
2.7
76.2
4.9
6.2
2.5
71.8
3.1
7.1
4.4
63.5
8.8
7.1
4.7
4.3
1.8
3.3
1.6
1.6
3.8
.5
2.2
8.2
1.3
1.6
8.8
2.2
2.6
11.5
3.6
65.7
8.7
9.8
3.5
81.1
1.6
4.9
2.2
1.1
1.1
2.3
6.2
.6
3.3
6.1
1.8
44.2
22.1
9.5
4.9
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
Civil, agricultural, and
architectural
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
71
ployment, the progressive increase with age was much sharper than
that indicated for teaching. After the age of 47, however, the pro
portions declined from 6.8 to 5.8 percent. Independent consulting
did not attain importance for civil engineers until between 28 and 37
years of age. Over the four age groups this category of employment
showed the sharpest increase with age. The most marked change
occurred after 47 years, at which time the proportions engaged in
independent consulting rose from 7.2 to 11.2 percent.
Among chemical and ceramic, electrical, mechanical and indus
trial, and mining and metallurgical engineers, the two most important
sources of employment for recent graduates, after private-firm em
ployment, were teaching and nonengineering. Throughout all four
age groups the proportions reported in these two fields were relatively
very much higher than they were for the corresponding age groups in
any one of the three categories of public engineering. This was also
the case with regard to independent consulting, but only up to the age
of 47. B y comparison with nonengineering employment, the most
marked uniformity of trend with age obtained in teaching. Thus,
for the latter, after the age of 27, the relative increases were practically
the same for all four professional classes. These proportions remained
fairly constant up to the age of 47. Beyond this age limit, there were
sharp rises. It will also be noted, that, in the case of chemical and
ceramic engineers, teaching embraced a higher proportion in each age
group than any other professional class. (The proportions of the
latter were consistently the same throughout.) Thus, over the four
age groups, the percentages of chemical and ceramic engineers so
engaged ranged from 5.6 to 11.8. The corresponding percentages
reported by electrical, mechanical and industrial, and mining and
metallurgical engineers averaged from 4.6 to 9.6 percent.
In nonengineering employment, slightly higher proportions were
reported by electrical and mining and metallurgical engineers. The
progressive increases with age were also more sharply defined for the
latter. In the case of electrical engineers, the proportions increased
gradually from 7.3 percent of the youngest to 10.2 percent of the oldest
of the four age groups. B y contrast, mining and metallurgical engi
neers increased sharply after 27 years of age from 3.8 to 8.2 percent.
There was a further increase to 8.8 percent for engineers 38 to 47
years; after which there was another sharp rise to 11.5 percent of
engineers over 47 years. For mechanical and industrial engineers,
the percentages reported for nonengineering employment remained
fairly constant. Of the oldest chemical and ceramic engineers, 9.2
percent were engaged in nonengineering work.
As in the case of civil engineers, members of the other four pro
fessional classes showed the same trends with age in the three cate
gories of public engineering employment. That is to say, they con-
72
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
stituted both a training ground and a field of final employment. The
only progressive increases with age occurred in Federal Government
employment for mining and metallurgical engineers; and in positions
with municipal and other public authorities for electrical and mechani
cal and industrial engineers. The remaining proportions reported
for public engineering followed the same general tendency— they
decreased after 27 years of age and increased between the ages of 38
and 47. In most instances, there were further increases reported
for engineers over 47 years.
Independent consulting was, of course, practically nonexistent as a
type of employment for the recent graduate. It was, however, the
one field in which the respective proportions were sharply defined.
B y the age of 37, relatively a larger number of mechanical and indus
trial, and mining and metallurgical engineers were established as
independent consultants than was the case for chemical and ceramic
and electrical engineers. The latter reported only 0.6 percent. The
highest percentage for this age group, namely 3.1, occurred among
mining and metallurgical engineers, which class maintained this
relative differential for the two remaining age groups, and between
the ages of 38 and 47, covered 8.8 percent. B y contrast, only 5.2
and 4.9 percent, respectively, of the chemical and ceramic and mechan
ical and industrial engineers were so engaged. Again electrical
engineers were the lowest with 1.5 percent. The proportionate
increases for all four professional classes were very marked indeed
after the age of 47. This covered 22.1 percent of the mining and
metallurgical and 13.7 percent of the chemical and ceramic engineers,
whereas the proportions of electrical, and mechanical and industrial
engineers over 47 years engaged in independent consulting were
6.1 and 8.7, respectively.
Employment in Relation to Type of Education
Elsewhere the statement has been made that there is quite an
apparent tendency to increase the educational requirements for entry
into the engineering profession. Broadly speaking, however, each
of the six types of education for which data have been compiled will
continue for some time as components of the engineering profession.
Hence, an examination of the relation of each type of education to the
seven categories of employment is warranted. Again only the data
for those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior
to 1930 are presented in table 20.
Irrespective of type of education, engineers are overwhelmingly
dependent upon private industry for employment. Thus, among the
graduates of both engineering colleges and noncollegiate technical
schools, almost two-thirds were employed by private firms in 1929.
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
73
19 2 9 - 3 4
Approximately three-fifths of the engineers with a secondary school
education or whose college course was incomplete were so employed.
Only among postgraduates did private firms employ as little as onehalf.
T a b l e 2 0 . — Em ploym ent status at end of 1929 of all older 1 engineers reporting ,
by type of education
Type of education
Graduate engineers
Employment status
All
types
of edu
cation
Firstdegree
engin Post
eering gradu
grad
ates
ates
“ Other ’ ’engineers
Non
Nonengin College
Sec
course collegieering incom
ate
ondary
grad
technical school
plete
uates
school
Number
Total____________________________________
31, 252
20, 721
1,865
814
4,665
2,334
853
Private firm 2____________ ______ _________
Independent consultant___________________
Teaching________________________________
Federal Government_____ _•_______________
State and county government_____________
Municipal government and other public
authority-------------- ------------------------------Nonengineering work------------------------- -----Unemployment3-------------------------------------
19, 424
1,303
1, 729
1,647
2, 632
13, 274
816
1, 050
1,113
1.514
926
45
549
92
80
463
48
59
113
44
2, 713
247
56
223
613
1, 523
101
13
69
265
525
46
2
37
116
2, 316
1,969
232
1, 366
1,440
148
61
102
10
42
43
2
507
265
41
229
109
25
111
10
6
Percentage
Total____________________________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Private firm2____________________________
Independent consultant____ ________ ....
Teaching_________________________________
Federal government___________ _________
State and county government--------------------Municipal government and other public
authority_______ ____ ______ - ___
Nonengineering work_________ _____ _ _
Unemployment3----------- -------------------------
62.2
4.2
5.5
5.3
8.4
64.0
3.9
5.1
5.4
7.3
49.7
2.4
29.4
4.9
4.3
56.9
5.9
7.2
13.9
5.4
58.1
5.3
1.2
4.8
13.1
65.2
4.3
.6
3.0
11.3
61.6
5.4
.2
4.3
13.6
7.4
6.3
.7
6.7
6.9
.7
3.3
5.5
.5
5.2
5.3
.2
10.9
5.7
.9
9.8
4.7
1.1
13.0
1.2
.7
1 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 Includes employees of private consulting firms and “ any other employment.”
3 Includes direct relief and work relief.
The second largest employment outlet was clearly defined only
among postgraduates. No less than 29.4 percent reported as being
engaged in teaching. Of the nonengineering graduates 13.9 percent
were in the employ of the Federal Government. The proportions
engaged in the remaining kinds of employment for these two types of
education did not show a large variation. For first-degree engineer
ing graduates, State and county government work followed in
importance after private-firm employment. Only 7.3 percent were
so employed, but it should be noted that this differed but slightly
from 6.9 percent who were engaged in nonengineering work and 6.7
percent embraced by municipal and other public authorities.
After private-firm employment, all “ other” engineers had, as close
options for employment, the same two categories of public engineering.
74
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
For all three types of education, State and county government
employment was only slightly more important than that with munici
pal and other public authorities. Furthermore, in both instances,
the secondary-school engineers reported the higher proportions.
Thus, while 13.6 percent of them were in the employ of State and
county governments, those whose college course was incomplete and
graduates of noncollegiate technical schools reported 13.1 and 11.3
percent, respectively. A similar order was noted for positions with
municipal and other public authorities, in which the percentages
ranged from 9.8 for noncollegiate technical school engineers to 13.0
percent for the secondary-school engineers.
Except for the 13.9 percent of nonengineering graduates who were
in the employ of the Federal Government, there was no extreme
variation among the remaining proportions reported by graduates
and “ other” engineers. The highest (5.4 percent) occurred for
first-degree engineering graduates; the lowest (3.0 percent) for non
collegiate technical school engineers. This was also the case with
Regard to the percentages reported for independent consulting.
A similar condition was noted in nonengineering employment for all
types of education, except secondary school engineers. Only 1.2
percent of this number were engaged in nonengineering work.
The greatest divergence in the proportions reported by each type
of education occurred in teaching. It has already been noted that
29.4 percent of the postgraduates were so engaged. But although
the numbers in each of the other two types of graduate education
were much lower, relatively they were much higher than those for the
“ other” engineers. Thus, while 5.1 percent of all first-degree engineer
ing graduates found employment as teachers of engineering subjects,
the highest percentage reported among “ other” engineers was only 1.2.
Clearly, the educational requirements for teaching of engineering are
exceptionally high. This is further exemplified by a consideration of
the relation of the proportions reported for each type of education
in terms of the grand total engaged in each employment category.
Of the 1,729 engineers engaged in the teaching of engineering sub
jects, 60.7 percent were first-degree engineering graduates and 31.8
percent were postgraduates. Nonengineering graduates and collegeincomplete engineers embraced nearly the same proportions, averaging
but 3.3 percent of the whole. The next highest percentage of 0.8
referred to noncollegiate technical school engineers. Clearly, in
relation to the whole, teaching does demand a higher standard of
educational requirement. Furthermore, it is unquestionably one
in which engineers with postgraduate training are in greatest demand.
A similar analysis of the remaining engineering employment classes
also evidenced another slight differential in educational requirements.
Thus, among the graduate engineers, and for private-firm and Fed-
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROPESiSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
75
eral Government employment, the several proportions were consis
tently higher than those for State and county, and municipal and
other public authorities. Among the “ other” engineers, this condi
tion was reversed. Furthermore, the percentages reported by the
“ other” engineers for these particular employment classes showed a
greater divergence than was the case for the graduate engineers.
Thus, while college-incomplete engineers averaged 23.0 percent of all
engineers employed by State and county, and municipal and other
public authorities, those employed by private firms and the Federal
Government only averaged 13.7 percent of the whole. The noncollegiate technical school engineers included only 4.2 percent of the total
working for the Federal Government. For the other two employ
ment categories of public engineering, they averaged 10.0 percent.
Their private-firm employment embraced 7.8 percent. Relatively,
the secondary school engineers showed the smallest differential. Thus,
in positions with private firms and the Federal Government, they
averaged 2.5 percent as against 4.6 percent of all engineers reported
for State and county and municipal and other public authorities.
It was previously indicated that independent consulting was essen
tially a field of employment that became markedly important only
after the age of 47. T o a lesser extent, this was also noted for non
engineering employment and teaching. It has been demonstrated
that teaching does demand a higher educational standard. B y con
trast, it is evident that experience is an important criterion for entry
into independent consulting and nonengineering work; for both the
two highest proportions covered first-degree engineering graduates
and college-incomplete engineers. Those reported by the remaining
types of education were very much less. In each instance, however,
it was noted that noncollegiate technical school engineers followed
after those whose college course was incomplete. These relative pro
portions were 19.0 and 7.8 percent for independent consulting and
13.5 and 5.5 percent in the case of nonengineering employment.
Fields of Engineering Activity 7
Although the distributions by fields of engineering activity presented
in table 21 merely reflect in more detailed form the activity peculiar
to each professional class, they again show that for the m ajority of
engineers the choice of employment in such activities is somewhat
narrowly confined. In general, chemical and ceramic and mechan
ical and industrial engineers are dependent primarily upon manufac
turing industries for their employment. To a lesser extent, so are
mining and metallurgical and electrical engineers, while civil engineers
predominate in the construction field of employment.
7 Fields of engineering activity are synonymous with zones of interest in question 12 of the questionnaire.
76
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
Relatively, however, chemical and ceramic engineers are more
dependent upon manufacturing industries for their employment than
any of the other four professional classes, for of their older engineers
no less than 66.6 percent were so engaged in December 1934. In the
other fields of engineering activity, the proportions of chemical and
ceramic engineers reporting were very small. Thus, for all three age
groups the proportions employed by public utilities and extractive
industries were practically the same and embraced, respectively, 4.5
percent and 5.7 percent of men professionally active prior to 1930.
Transportation and construction work were practically nonexistent
as fields of employment for chemical and ceramic engineers. In the
combined fields of public employment, however, 8.5 percent of the
older engineers reported as being engaged, while 11.6 of this same
group were engaged in teaching and personal service.
In general, mechanical and industrial engineers closely paralleled
the distributions noted for chemical and ceramic engineers. They
followed second in order in regard to the proportions embraced in
manufacturing with 53.8 percent of their older engineers so employed
and in personal service 11.3 percent of this same group were so engaged.
So also in the three categories of public employment there was a close
similarity between chemical and ceramic and mechanical and indus
trial engineers. However, in the fields of engineering activity desig
nated public utilities, extractive industries, transportation, and
private construction, the proportions were much higher, averaging
from 4.1 to slightly over 9 percent over the three age groups.
B y contrast to the distributions just discussed, it is of interest to
note that both mining and metallurgical engineers and electrical
engineers had alternative fields of engineering activity to manufac
turing, covering, respectively, extractive industries and public
utilities. The figures show that, in the case of mining and metallur
gical engineers, manufacturing and extractive industries together
accounted for 86.6 percent of the younger engineers and as many
as 72.2 percent of the men professionally active prior to 1930. The
corresponding proportions for electrical engineers in manufacturing
and public utilities were 74.4 percent and 72.7 percent. It is, however,
to be noted that over the three age groups the proportions of each of
these professional classes in manufacturing steadily declined, while
those reported for both extractive industries and public utilities
steadily increased. In general, these two professional classes show
similar distributions in the remaining fields of engineering activity.
Civil, agricultural, and architectural engineers again present the
same situation as was noted in the discussion of kinds of engineering
employment, namely, that they predominate in the construction
fields of private industry and public employment, while their oppor
tunities in other fields of employment were very low. Thus, in
,
T a b l e 2 1 — Number of engineers reporting field of engineering activity at end of 1 98 4 » % professional class and age group
Chemical and ceramic
Civil, agricultural, and
architectural
Electrical
Younger
engineers
bom
Younger
Younger
Younger
Older
Older
Younger
Older
Older
engineers
engi
engi
engi
engineers
engi
engineers
engineers
born
born
born
born
neers
neers
neers
neers
born
born
born
born
prior to
prior to
prior to
prior to
1907-92 1907 3 1910-14i 1907-92 1907 3 1910-14i
1907-92 1907 3 1910-141 1907-92 1907 3 1910-141 1907-92
1910-141
Older
engi
neers
born
prior to
1907 3
Number
All fields___________________________ ______
627
658
1,279
1,310
1, 556
7,061
172
209
1,146
755
1,177
4,949
1,328
2,131
11,532
Manufacturing_______________________________
Public ut ilities_________________________
Extractive industries___ ______________________
Transportation____________________ ____ _ __
Construction (private)________________________
481
35
35
5
9
545
15
53
2
6
853
58
73
15
24
825
91
68
75
106
942
146
68
64
117
3,792
604
243
328
639
84
79
8
83
333
228
31
23
24
442
458
31
28
40
1,559
2,033
70
164
125
79
30
74
21
215
99
60
85
40
261
617
441
317
495
1,885
Federal Government4________________ ________
State and county government4_________________
Municipal government4___ _____________ ___ _
Personal service 8________________ _________ ___
23
9
9
21
10
7
2
18
42
23
43
148
56
19
11
59
89
41
10
79
412
110
137
796
2
2
262
12
564
4
23
11
4
11
11
1
14
79
39
22
141
43
23
9
41
63
30
26
59
204
83
204
507
415
388
65
41
711
678
114
83
2, 523
3,011
1,448
795
65
6
Percentage
All fields............. ....... ............ .............................
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Manufacturing__ ___________________________
Public utilities_____
________ __ ________
Extractive industries______________ _____ ______
Transportation________ _______ _
_ _____ ___
Construction (private)________________________
76.8
5.6
5.6
.8
1.4
82.8
2.3
8.1
.3
.9
66.6
4.5
5.7
1.2
1.9
63.0
6.9
5.2
5.7
8.1
60.6
9.4
4.4
4.1
7.5
53.8
8.6
3.4
4.6
9.0
48.8
37.8
3.8
39.6
1.2
1.0
22.9
1.0
49.3
.3
2.0
44.2
30.2
4.1
3.0
3.2
37.6
38.9
2.6
2.4
3.4
31.5
41.2
1.4
3.3
2.5
5.9
2.3
5.6
1.6
16.2
4.6
2.8
4.0
1.9
12.2
5.4
3.8
2.7
4.3
16.3
Federal Government4______ - _____________ __
State and county government4_________________
Municipal government 4_ __ ___ ____________
Personal service 6______ _
- __ - ________
3.7
1.4
1.4
3.3
1.5
1.1
.3
2.7
3.3
1.8
3.4
11.6
4.3
1.5
.8
4.5
5.7
2.6
.6
5.1
5.8
1.6
1.9
11.3
6.4
2.3
5.3
5.3
.5
6.7
6.9
3.4
1.9
12.3
5.7
3.0
1.2
5.4
5.4
2.5
2.2
5.0
4.1
1.7
4.1
10.2
31.2
29.2
4.9
3.1
33.5
31.8
5.3
3.9
21.9
26.1
12.6
6.9
1Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the period 1933-34.
2 Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the period 1930-32.
3 Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
4 Primarily engineers engaged on construction work.
5Includes engineers engaged in teaching, publications, professional, trade organizations, etc.
37.8
3.5
<1
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
Field of engineering activity
Mining and metal
lurgical
Mechanical and
industrial
78
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
manufacturing, only 5.4 percent of their older engineers were so em
ployed, in public utilities 3.8 percent, in extractive industries 2.7
percent, and in transportation 4.3 percent. The 6.9 percent reporting
in persona] service was relatively the lowest of the five professional
classes.
Types of Engineering Work 8
Consideration of the distributions of engineers by type of work
(table 22) shows that operation was the most important one for the
younger engineers in all five professional classes, except civil engi
neering. Thus, while 62.7 percent and 56.8 percent of the younger
chemical and ceramic engineers reported operation as their type of
work, only 35.5 percent of the older engineers in this professional
class were so engaged. Similarly, declines are to be noted for mining
and metallurgical, electrical, and mechanical and industrial engineers,
although from 20.8 percent to 37.1 percent of the older engineers in
these three classes were in operation. Among civil engineers operation
as a type of work embraced only 18.7 percent and 14.2 percent of the
younger engineers, and but 11.2 percent of those professionally active
prior to 1930.
After operation, and except for civil engineers, the next highest
proportions are to be noted for men engaged in design and research.
The general tendency in this type of work was for the percentages to
increase with age. This was especially so for chemical and ceramic
engineers and electrica] engineers, and to a lesser extent for mining
and metallurgical engineers. For the other two professional classes
the proportions remained fairly constant. Over the five groups of
older engineers the range in the numbers in design and research was
from 19.3 for mining and metallurgical engineers to 34.2 percent of
the chemical and ceramic engineers.
As regards construction, it is to be noted that in this type of work
civil engineers predominated. N o less than 49.0 percent and 52.6
percent of the younger engineers and 43.7 percent of the older engi
neers of this professional class so reported. The lowest proportions
in construction work covered chemical and ceramic engineers and
averaged only 2.6 percent. Among the other three professional
classes, from 7 percent to 10 percent of their members were engaged
in construction.
The numbers reporting sales work seem to indicate that this type of
work was relatively more important only to electrical and mechanical
and industrial engineers. Thus, while the former averaged 4.0 percent
of their younger engineers, the latter was slightly higher with nearly
6.0 percent. For the older engineers in these two professional classes
8 Types of engineering work are synonymous with functional classification in question 13 of the question*
naire.
T
a b l e
2 2 . — Number
of engineers reporting type of engineering work at end of Dec. 1934, by professional class and age group
Chemical and ceramic
Mining and metal
lurgical
Older Younger engi
neers born
engi
neers
born
prior to 1910-144 1907-92
1907 3
Younger engi
Older
neers born
engi
neers
born
prior to 1910-141 1907-9 2
1907 3
Civil, agricultural, and
architectural
Older Younger engi
neers born
engi
neers
born
prior to 1910-141 1907-9 2
1907 3
O der
engi
neers
born
prior to
1907 3
Number
All ty p e s_________________________
________
Operation.-. _ _ _________
Design and research____________________________
Construction 4________ ______________ _____
Sales __ ___ .
__ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _
General administration and management____ __
Consulting 3______ ______________ __ ________
Teaching______ _______ _____ ___ ______ _____
645
611
1,203
168
198
1,069
725
861
4,975
1,254
1,479
6,628
1,286
2,052
10,947
405
192
10
8
7
13
10
347
195
17
11
12
11
18
427
412
29
50
90
75
120
116
29
13
2
2
4
2
110
44
16
3
7
11
7
397
206
67
24
113
142
120
385
158
69
32
24
35
22
342
291
113
36
20
30
29
1, 515
1, 378
524
362
411
353
432
530
405
95
67
87
32
38
565
500
124
98
103
44
45
1,378
2,128
661
640
761
494
566
240
320
630
3
34
44
15
291
491
1,079
20
60
63
48
1,225
2, 301
4, 789
157
1,102
795
578
Percentage
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Operation .. _ .
_
___ ___ ___ ____ _ __
Design and research_____ ____________________
Construction 4_____ ____ ________
_ ______
Sales_____________________ ___________________
General administration and management____ _ _
Consulting
__ ____ __
_ _ ____
Teaching_______ _______ __________________
62.7
29.8
1.6
1.2
1.1
2.0
1.6
56.8
31.9
2.8
1.8
2.0
1.8
2.9
35.5
34.2
2.4
4.2
7.5
6.2
10.0
69.0
17.3
7.7
1.2
1.2
2.4
1.2
55.6
22.2
8.1
1.5
3.5
5.6
3.5
37.1
19.3
6.3
2.2
10.6
13.3
11.2
53.2
21.8
9.5
4.4
3.3
4.8
3.0
39.7
33.8
13.1
4.2
2.3
3.5
3.4
30.4
27.7
10. 5
7.3
8.3
7.1
8.7
42.3
32.3
7.6
5.3
6.9
2.6
3.0
38.2
33.8
8.4
6.6
7.0
3.0
3.0
20.8
32.0
10.0
9.7
11.5
7.5
8.5
18.7
24.9
49.0
.2
2.6
3.4
1.2
14.2
23.9
52.6
1.0
2.9
3.1
2.3
11.2
21.0
43.7
1.4
10.1
7.3
5.3
1 Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the period 1933-34.
2 Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the period 1930-32.
3 Includes graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
19 2 9 - 3 4
All types.................................. ...............................
EM PLOYM ENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
Older Younger engi
neers born
engi
neers
born
to
1910-141 1907-9 2 prior
1907 3 1910-144 1907-92
Younger engi
neers born
Type of engineering work
Mechanical and in
dustrial
Electrical
4 Includes both private and public construction.
6 Includes both independent consultants and engineers employed as consultants with private firms.
CD
80
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
the respective percentages were 7.3 and 9.7. By contrast, among the
younger members of the other three professional classes, the percentage
engaged in sales did not exceed 2 percent, and ranged from 1.4 to 4.2
percent of their older engineers.
As would be expected, general administration and management
covered a higher proportion of younger mechanical and industrial
engineers than that reported by any other professional class. The
numbers so reporting embraced 7.0 percent, as against only 3.5 percent
of the 1933-34 mining and metallurgical engineers. Among the older
engineers reporting, however, there was little difference in the several
proportions so engaged.
For the case of older chemical and
ceramic engineers some 7.5 percent were in general administration and
management, while the highest percentage reported covered 11.5
percent of the mechanical and industrial engineers.
Consulting and teaching both present the same characteristics.
First, they apparently do not offer a wide range of employment to
younger engineers. Second, there was a close similarity in the pro
portions of older engineers engaged in these two types of work. Thus,
while for consulting the proportions ranged from 6.2 to 13.3 percent,
they ranged from 5.3 percent to 11.2 percent for teaching.
Chapter V
Conditions of Employment in the Engineering
Profession
One of the effects of the depression years was to bring about a
quickening of interest in the whole subject of economic security of
professional groups, for, prior to the onset of the depression in 1929,
such topics were primarily the concern of nonprofessional workers.
Because of this a series of questions relating to economic security was
incorporated in this survey of the engineering profession. In effect
they supplement the preceding discussion of employment and the
subsequent one on unemployment among professional engineers.
The particular aspects covered are as follows: (1) Means used to obtain
employment, (2) civil-service status, (3) the employment and separa
tion contract, and (4) provision for retirement on pension. The data 1
were derived from reports furnished only by engineers who had
engineering jobs in December 1934.
Means Used to Obtain Employment
The data furnished by engineers concerning the medium through
which they obtained employment are presented in table 23.
These figures demonstrate that for the engineering profession as a
whole, placement was not the function of any particular organization.
The vast majority of professional engineers obtained their jobs through
personal contacts and recommendations. This was the means used
to find the position held in 1934 by no less than 68.4 percent of the
35,559 engineers who also reported the field of engineering activity
in which they were engaged. This medium of finding employment
was reported b y three-quarters o f the chemical, electrical, and mining
and metallurgical engineers, and b y slightly more than 70.0 percent
1 The numbers reported in this chapter as engaged in engineering work in December 1934 cannot be com
pared with those shown in the discussion of employment. The former were derived from all of the 35,890
engineers who reported the field of engineering in which they were engaged. The discussion of employment
dealt with all those older engineers who reported in the 3 years 1929,1932, and 1934, and all 1930-32 engineers
who reported in 1932 and 1934. The grand total, including the 1933-34 engineers, was 35,675.
■Of the 35,890 engineers who gave income data in their special field, 331 did not report the year of their birth.
Hence, 35,559 constitutes the base for all subsequent relationships with field of engineering activity engaged
in. But 1,458 of these engineers did not report as to type of work engaged in, and hence 34,101 was used as a
base figure for all subsequent relationships with type of engineering work.
Furthermore, the data shown in the tables of this chapter are unadjusted, as spot checks of the figures
showed that the adjusted data did not differ sufficiently to affect the general discussion and conclusions
derived therefrom.
81
82
EM P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 23.— Distribution at end of 1934 of all engineers reporting medium of ob
taining employment, by professional class
Engineers utilizing each specified medium
Medium used to obtain employment
All
profes
sional
classes
Chemi Civil,
agricul
cal
and
tural,
ce
and
ramic architec
engi
tural
neers engineers
Elec
trical
engi
neers
Mechan
ical
and
indus
trial
engi
neers
Mining
and
metal
lur
gical
engi
neers
Number
35, 559
2,538
14,861
6,816
9,833
1,511
24, 312
Personal contacts and recommendations__
3,706
Civil service._ ----------- _ ___ ___ -------------841
E ngineering society. _ ______________________
Private employment agency. _ _______ _____
576
567
Newspapers______________ _____ ___________ _
363
Technical journals. ___ ^ ._
___________ _
United States Employment or Reemployment
264
_
------- _ _ _
Service___
268
Other public employment service. ________ _
2, 551
Any other medium__________________________
Medium not reported........................................... 2,111
1,927
63
36
49
27
54
9,179
2, 941
274
113
152
142
5,106
289
130
112
120
64
6,960
343
360
285
255
85
1,140
70
41
17
13
18
7
15
259
101
190
169
706
995
14
26
655
300
46
54
849
596
7
4
82
119
All media_________ _ _ _ _ _ _
-------
-------
Percentage
All media___________________________________
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Personal contacts and recommendations_______
Civil service.__ ---------------------------------- ------Engineering society--------------------------------------Private employment agency--------------------------Newspapers____ _
_
_
__ ___ ___ __
Technical journals----------- -----------_ ----United States Employment or Reemployment
Service. __ ------- -- ------------- -- ------------------Other public employment service. _
_-------Any other medium------ -- --------- ----------------Medium not reported _ ____________ ___ __ __
68.4
10.4
2.4
1.6
1.6
1.0
75.9
2.5
1.4
1.9
1.1
2.1
61.7
19.8
1.8
.8
1.0
1.0
75.0
4.2
1.9
1.6
1.8
.9
70.7
3.5
3.7
2.9
2.6
.9
75.4
4.6
2.7
1.1
.9
1.2
.7
.8
7.2
5.9
.3
.6
10.2
4.0
1.3
1.1
4.8
6.7
.2
.4
9.6
4.4
.5
.5
8.6
6.1
.5
.3
5.4
7.9
of the mechanical and industrial engineers, but by only 61.7 percent
of the civil engineers. The civil engineers, however, also secured a
substantial number of jobs through civil-service agencies. They were
the only professional group of which this was true. Of the engineers
who had engineering jobs in December 1934, 19.8 percent of the
civil engineers stated that these were found through the civil service,
whereas among the remaining four professional classes, the range
was from only 2.5 percent for the chemical and ceramic engineers
to 4.6 percent for the mining and metallurgical engineers. Thus,
2,941, or four-fifths of the total of 3,706, who used the civil service
as a means to a job were civil engineers.
It will, however, be noted that personal contacts and recom
mendations, together with civil service, accounted for 74.2 percent
of the mechanical and industrial engineers. For each of the remaining
professional classes, these two media covered approximately fourfifths of their respective totals, ranging from 78.4 percent of the chemi
cal and ceramic to 81.5 percent of the civil engineers.
O O N D IT T O IN S :
OF EMPLOYMENT IN ENGINEERING PROFESSION
83
In all professional groups there was a relatively high proportion of
unclassified means of securing a job, although the several professional
groups show marked differences. “ Any other medium” may well
include a substantial number placed through their colleges, a point
not covered in the questionnaire and one likely to affect the percentage
noted in this classification.
Although the percentage distributions for the remaining avenues to
employment do not embrace large numbers of each professional class,
relatively they do present some striking contrasts. Only 2.4 percent
of all engineers reported that they obtained their position through an
engineering society. Some 3.7 and 2.7 percent, respectively, of the
mechanical and industrial, and of the mining and metallurgical engineers
were so classified. For the three remaining professional classes, the
percentages ranged from 1.4 to 1.9. Despite the fact that so few
engineers reported an engineering society as their employment
medium, it must be recognized that such societies are an important
factor in obtaining employment for professional engineers. It is
obvious that through their members there must inevitably be a pool
ing of information on employment prospects, both locally and nation
ally. Furthermore, the officials of the various societies are kept in
close touch with local and national employment conditions as a result
of their meetings and conventions; but such appointments as are made
would depend rather upon personal contacts and recommendations
than upon contacts made through the society’s employment service.
The fact, therefore, that only 2.4 percent of all engineers reported
the engineering society as their medium of employment must be
interpreted in the light of these conditions.
The securing of employment through newspapers and technical
journals was reported by 1.6 and 1.0 percent, respectively, of all
engineers making returns. It will be noted however that, relatively,
electrical and mechanical and industrial engineers found more jobs
through newspapers than did any of the other professional classes;
this medium was reported by 1.8 percent of the electrical and 2.6
percent of the mechanical and industrial engineers, whereas among
the other classes the highest percentage was 1.1. On the other
hand, technical journals as a medium of employment were of more
assistance to chemical and ceramic engineers (2.1 percent); among the
remaining professional classes the percentages ranged from 0.9 to 1.2.
Private employment agencies were used by only 1.6 percent of all
engineers reported. When considered together, the two public em
ployment agencies embraced approximately the same proportion,
namely, 1.5 percent. A similar comparison among the five pro
fessional classes showed that, relatively, public agencies were of more
importance to civil engineers, of whom 2.4 percent so reported, where
as the next highest percentage was 1.0 percent for mechanical and
84
EM P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
industrial engineers. Only 0.8 percent of the civil engineers used
private employment agencies to obtain jobs, but 2.9 percent of the
mechanical and industrial engineers did so; for the remaining pro
fessional classes, the percentages ranged from 1.1 to 1.9 percent.
Economic Security in the Engineering Profession
A written contract of employment and pension privileges are two
important criteria of economic security. The efficacy of any such
schemes, however, depends to a marked extent upon the nature of the
employment. This is demonstrated by a comparison of the data
concerning economic security among professional engineers who re
ported as being engaged in public engineering, personal service, and
private engineering.
Civil^Service Status
The importance of civil-service status as a factor in stability of
employment is shown in table 24.
.
T a b l e 2 4 — Distribution at end of 1984 of all engineers reporting civil-service status,
by field of engineering activity and professional class
Number
Field of engineering activity and
professional class
Total
Percentage
Not
With With Not
re Total With With re
sta
out
out
sta
port
port
status tus
status tus
ing
ing
Federal Government- _______ ____ ___________ 4,649
74
Chemical and ceramic________ - ________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_______ 3, 620
Electrical_____________________ _______
306
Mechanical and industrial___
___ ______
549
Mining and metallurgical_________________
100
2,084 2, 250
22
44
1, 649 1, 734
143
138
272
240
62
30
315
8
237
25
37
8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
44.8
29.7
45.6
46.7
43.7
30.0
48.4
59.5
47.9
45.1
49.6
62.0
6.8
10.8
6.5
8.2
6.7
8.0
State and county governments --------------------- 4,438
Chemical and ceramic. __________________
37
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_______ 4, 044
134
Electrical____ ____
_ _ ________
Mechanical and industrial___=. _________ _
170
Mining and metallurgical_______________ _
53
2,487 1,604
30
3
2, 203 1, 535
91
33
28
123
5
40
347
4
306
10
19
8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100 0
100.0
100.0
56.1
81.1
54.4
67.9
72.3
75.5
36.1
8.1
38.0
24.6
16.5
9.4
7.8
10.8
7.6
7.5
11.2
15.1
Municipal governments___________ ____ ______ 2,090
54
Chemical and ceramic.. - ________________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_______ 1, 617
238
Electrical - .
___
_ ___________ ____
158
Mechanical and industrial____________
Mining and metallurgical_________________
23
1,028
28
829
88
70
13
952
23
709
136
77
7
110
3
79
14
11
3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
49.1
51.8
51.3
37.0
44.3
56.6
45.6
42.6
43.8
57.1
48.7
30.4
5.3
5.6
4.9
5.9
7.0
13.0
Despite the fact that 11,177 of the engineers reporting were in the
employ of public authorities in December 1934, only 45.0 percent of
them reported as being under civil service. The proportion of all
engineers with civil-service status was 48.4 percent in the case of
positions under the Federal Government, and for employment under
State and county and municipal governments, 36.1 and 45.6 percent,
respectively. The percentage under civil service of the engineers
employed by the Federal Government was higher than in the two
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT IN ENGINEERING PROFESSION
85
other public employments, despite the very great increase in Federal
Government employment by December 1934, as a result of temporary
employment under the work-relief programs; it may be assumed that
relatively few of the engineers so employed would be classified under
civil service. Consequently, under normal circumstances, the pro
portion of all engineers under civil service with the Federal Govern
ment would be higher than 48.4 percent. On the other hand, with
regard to the other two classes of public engineering, it will be recalled
that the numbers of engineers so engaged remained comparatively
stable over the period 1930-34. Hence, the proportions reported as
being under civil service are representative of the situation.
The relative proportions of each professional class under civil
service differed very markedly among the three classes of public
engineering employment. The smallest range occurred in Federal
positions— from 45.1 percent for electrical engineers to 62.0 percent
for mining and metallurgical engineers. These two professional classes
also constituted the extremes of the range of the proportions embraced
by municipal governments, but in reverse order. Thus, of the mining
and metallurgical engineers in municipal employment 30.4 percent,
and of the electrical engineers 57.1 percent, had civil-service status.
Relatively, the smallest numbers of each professional class under
civil service were found in State and county governments. This is
best exemplified by the comparative data for civil engineers; of their
number, 47.9 and 43.8 percent respectively, in Federal and municipal
employments, but only 38.0 percent in State and county positions,
had civil-service status. But since the civil engineers comprised
approximately 80.0 percent of the 5,038 engineers who were under
civil service, it is obvious that such a status is a significant contribu
tory factor to the stability of employment.
T R e Em ploym en t C ontract
For the engineering profession as a whole, the data in table 25
clearly evidence a lack of economic security in terms of a written con
tract which would secure employment over a substantial period of
time. In all, only 3,169, or 8.9 percent, of the 35,559 engineers who
reported employment in an engineering field 2 were covered by written
contract. Of these, some 0.8 percent had a contract for less than 1
year, 3.5 percent a contract for between 1 and 2 years, and only 0.9
percent for 2 years or more. Engineers who did not report as to period
of contract formed 3.7 percent of the whole. No less than 91.1 percent
either answered “ N o ” or did not furnish specific information.
2Throughout the whole of this discussion, only engineering employment is considered. Consequently,
no cognizance has been taken of the economic security of engineers engaged in nonengineering employment.
2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 4 1 ------- 7
86
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
Comparison of the positive returns on employment contract from
all engineers in the three broad fields of engineering activity shows
that use of the contract was most common in personal service—
primarily education.
For engineers under contract in the personal service field the most
common contract period (reported by 25.6 percent of the 2,778 engi
neers so engaged) was from 1 to 2 years. Some 4.0 percent were
under contract for periods of 2 years or longer. Although the cor
responding percentages for public engineering were much lower than
for personal service, they were higher than for private engineering.
For employment contracts under 1 year, however, private exceeded
public engineering (1.0 percent, as against 0.5 percent). Of all
reporting engineers engaged in public engineering, 2.0 percent had
contracts for 1 and under 2 years, and 1.1 percent for periods of 2
years and over. The corresponding percentages for private engineer
ing were 1.4 and 0.5 percent.
.
T a b l e 2 5 — Distribution at end of 1934 of all engineers reporting
employment
contract, by field of engineering activity
Number
Field of engineering
activity
All fields________________
Un
Under contract
der
for—
con
tract, Not
Total
2 no pe report Total Un land
2
Un land
ing i
years riod
years
der 1 under
re
der 1 under
2
and
2
and
year years over port
year years over
ed
Under contract
for—
35, 559
295 1,234
0.8
3.5
0.9
99
12
6
8
2
71
637 20, 358 100.0
113 3, 217 100.0
60 1,743 100.0
50 4,088 100.0
17 1,227 100.0
397 10,083 100.0
1.0
.9
.6
.4
.4
1.4
1.4
1.8
1.1
.5
.3
1.7
.5
.3
.3
.2
.2
.7
121
34
295 10,484 100.0
181 4,359 100.0
.5
.7
2.0
.9
1.1
.7
2.6 93.8
3.9 93.8
81
4,167 100.0
.3
2.8
1.1
1.8 94.0
33
1,958 100.0
.2
2.7
1.8
1.6 93.7
378
1,548 100.0
1.1
25.6
4.0
13.6 55.7
212
32
11
16
5
148
298
63
21
21
4
189
Public engineering_______ 11,177
Federal Government, _ 4, 649
State and county gov
ernments___ _______
4,438
M u n icip a l g o v e r n
2,090
ments
______
53
33
224
42
15
125
50
5
57
37
2,778
30
712
110
_______
Un
der
con
tract, Not
no pe re
riod port
re ing i
port
ed
330 1,310 32,390 100.0
Private engineering______ 21, 604
Construction ___, , ,
3,437
Extractive industries __ 1,841
Public utilities_______
4,183
Transportation______
1, 255
10, 888
Manufacturing, ___
Personal service,
Percentage
3.7 91.1
2.9
3.3
3.3
1.2
1.4
3.6
94.2
93.7
94.7
97.7
97.7
92.6
1 Also includes those who reported “ No,” which number could not be separated in the tabulation.
For the separate fields of engineering activity under private engi
neering, relatively, the largest proportion of engineers under contract
in their jobs occurred in manufacturing, with 408, or 3.8 percent of
the 10,888, reporting as so engaged. In the construction and extrac
tive industries 3.0 and 2.0 percent, respectively, had written contracts.
The smallest proportions under contract were reported by engineers
in the employ of public utilities or engaged in transportation (1.1 and
0.9 percent, respectively). There was a marked contrast in contract
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT IN ENGINEERING PROFESSION
87
status between Federal positions and those in the two other categories
of public engineering. Thus, while only 2.3 percent of the 4,649
reporting engineers in Federal employ were on contract, the propor
tion working on this basis for State and county and for municipal
governments formed respectively 4.2 and 4.7 percent of their grand
totals.
The type of work in which engineers under contract were engaged
is presented in table 26.
T a b l e 26.— Distribution at
end of 1934 of all engineers reporting employment
contract, by type of engineering work
Percentage
Number
Un
Under contract
for—
der
con Not
tract, re
Total Un
2
2 no pe port Total Un 1 and
land
der un years
der un years riod
re ing i
1 der 2 and
1 der 2 and
year years over
year years over port
ed
Under contract
for—
Type of engineering work
All types, ______________ 34,101
288 1,196
Design and research ____
Construction _______ __
Operation ___ ______ _
Consulting_____________
Teaching________________
Sales-----------------------------General administration
and management- ___
9,050
8,233
8, 276
2,146
2,050
1,513
106
39
57
26
24
15
119
153
79
30
692
59
52
63
38
11
98
7
305
209
148
80
350
56
2,833
21
64
42
88
Un
der
con
tract,
no pe
riod
re
port
ed
Not
re
port
ing!
0.8
3.5
0.9
3.6
91.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1.2
.5
.7
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.9
1.0
1.4
33.8
3.9
.6
.8
.5
.5
4.8
.5
3.4
2.5
1.8
3.7
17.1
3.7
93.5
94.3
96.0
93.2
43.1
90.9
2,618 100.0
.7
2.3
1.5
3.1
92.4
311 1,236 31,070 100.0
8, 468
7, 769
7, 954
1, 999
886
1,376
i Also includes those who reported “ N o,” which number could not be separated in the tabulation.
In general, the distribution followed the same trend as shown in
table 25, that is to say, the largest groups had written contracts for
periods from 1 and under 2 years. Table 26 also confirms the previous
finding that engineers engaged in teaching are relatively more secure
with regard to employment than other members of the engineering
profession: 33.8 percent of their number reported written contracts
for periods of from 1 to 2 years. Sales employments, next in order,
had under contract for a similar period only 3.9 percent of their 1,513
reporting engineers, and general administration and management only
2.3 percent. Each of the other types of work had less than 2.0 percent.
Even for the contract periods of 2 years and over, teaching covered
4.8 percent of the total reported for this type of work. The next
highest percentage, namely, 1.5, was reported for general administra
tion and management. In no one of the remaining employments did
the percentage of engineers with written contracts for 2 years and over
exceed 0.8 percent.
Thus, with regard to fields of engineering activity or the types of
work within them, the engineering profession cannot be said to have any
substantial security of employment provided through a written
88
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
contract for a period of time. On the other hand, professional
engineers are not generally restricted with regard to the seeking of
employment similar to that in which they may be engaged. This is
evidenced by a consideration of the data furnished by professional
engineers concerning their separation contract status.
Tables 27 and 28 indicate the percentage of the engineers who are
bound for indicated periods of time after leaving their present employ
not to accept similar employment. Thus, while 8.9 percent of the
engineers reported that their present employment status was pro
tected by contract, 1.7 percent reported that they were bound by
contract in some respect with reference to accepting similar employ
ment with another employer after separation from their present job.
This included 0.8 percent whose separation contracts were for less
than 1 year, 0.2 percent for a period of from 1 to 2 years, and 0.4
percent for 2 years and over. Clearly, restrictions upon professional
engineers with regard to new employment were few.
T able
2 7 . — Distribution
at end of 1984 of all engineers reporting separation
contract, by field of engineering activity
Number
Percentage
Un
Under contract
der
for—
con
Field of engineering activity
tract, Not
Total
pe report Total
2 no
2
Un land years
Un land
riod ing i
years
der 1 under
re
der 1 under
2
and
2
and
year years over port
year years over
ed
Under contract
for—
All fields________________
35, 559
287
77
128
95 34,972 100.0
0.8
0.2
0.4
Private engineering______ 21, 604
Construction _ ______
3, 437
Extractive industries-_ 1.841
Public utilities.4,183
Transportation _____
1,255
Manufacturing _____ 10,888
180
32
19
16
2
111
67
5
1
2
124
8
2
2
.8
.9
(2)
.6
.2
.1
(2)
112
.4
.2
1.0
.3
.1
.1
59
38 21,195 100.0
10 3, 382 100.0
4 1,815 100.0
4 4,159 100.0
2 1,251 100.0
18 10,588 100.0
Public engineering_______ 11,177
Federal Government.
4,649
State and county gov
ernments . . .
4, 438
Municipal govemments. 2,090
50
16
3
1
2
2
26 11,096 100.0
8 4,622 100.0
.4
.3
(2)
(2)
27
7
1
1
10
8
4,400 100.0
2,074 100.0
.6
.3
(2)
2, 778
57
7
31
2,681 100.0
2.1
Personal service__________
2
1.0
.5
1.0
(2)
(2)
Not
re
port
ing!
0.3 98.3
.2
.3
.2
.1
.2
.2
98.1
98.5
98.6
99.5
99. 6
97.3
.2 99.4
.2 99.5
.2 99.2
.4 99. 3
(2)
.3
Un
der
con
tract,
no pe
riod
re
port
ed
.1
1.1 96.4
1 Also includes those who reported “ N o,” which number could not be separated in the tabulation.
2 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
The purpose of the separation contract is to prevent the transfer of a
special capacity to a competitor. M ore particularly it is designed to
protect the employer’s interest in secret processes and developmental
research. This being so, it is difficult to account for the fact that 4.3
percent of those engaged in teaching reported a separation contract
covering the obligation not to engage in similar employment for a
period of time, as against the obligation to work out the period of the
89
'CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT IN ENGINEERING PROFESSION
T able
28.— Distribution at end of 1934 of all engineers reporting separation
contract, by type of engineering work
Number
Percentage
Under contract
for—
Un
Under contract
der
for—
con
tract, Not
2 no pe report Total Un
Total Un
1
1
2
der and years riod ing i
der and years
1 under and
1 under and
re
year 2
over port
year 2
over
years
ed
years
Type of engineering work
All types
274
72
122
9,050
8, 233
8,276
2,146
2,050
1, 513
68
45
52
10
51
28
33
9
12
62
2
33
9
2,833
20
6
______________ 34,101
Design and research ____
Construction___________
Operation._ __________
Consulting .. ___________
Teaching_____ . . . ____ _
Sales___ ________________
General administration
and management_______
6
6
93 33,540 100.0
5
15
18
16
8
31
1
11
4
0.8
0. 2
0.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
.8
.5
.6
.5
2. 5
1.9
.4
.1
.1
.7
(2)
.4
.4
.3
.4
.3
2,792 100.0
.7
.2
.4
8,872
8,159
8,163
2,119
1,962
1, 473
Un
der
con
tract,
no pe
riod
re
port
ed
Not
re
port
ing 1
0.3 98.3
.2
.2
.2
.4
1.5
.1
97.9
99.2
98.7
98. 7
95. 7
97. 3
.1 98.6
1Also includes those who reported “ No,” which number could not be separated in the tabulation.
2 Less than Mo of 1 percent.
employment contract (table 28). It seems probable that there may
have been confusion in the reports. Sales and design and research
are, as should be expected, the other two types of work in which the
separation contract appears most frequently. But whereas 2.7 per
cent of those engineers in sales work reported a special contractual
limitation upon taking up similar work with another employer, the
period to which they bound themselves was generally less than 1 year.
In design and research a smaller percentage, 2.1 percent, were bound
by a special separation contract but in one-third of the cases the period
specified was 2 years or more, and was over a year in more than half
the cases where such a contract existed. In construction, of course,
such contracts are least frequently reported and again are for periods
of less than a year.
Provision for Retirem ent on Pension
An analysis of the data furnished by professional engineers concern
ing their pension privileges is presented in table 29.
As of December 1934 almost one-third (10,641) of the 35,559 pro
fessional engineers reporting who had engineering jobs at that time
stated that they had pension privileges. Of this number, 6,684, or
18.8 percent, were covered by contributory pension schemes, and
3,957, or 11.1 percent by noncontributory schemes. Some 57.8
percent were in employments for which no pension provision had
been made. About 12.3 percent did not furnish information.
Of the engineers in pensionable positions, the smallest relative pro
portion, 26.2 percent, were engaged in private engineering. By
contrast, 37.4 percent of the engineers engaged in public engineering
90
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 29. — Distribution at end of 1934 of all engineers reporting pension privileges,
by field of engineering activity
Number
Percentage
Pension
privileges
Field of engineering activity
Total
No
pen
sion
Con
tribu
tory
plan
Pension
privileges
Noncontributory
plan
Not
No
re
port Total pen
sion
ing
Con
tribu
tory
plan
Noncontributory
plan
Not
re
port
ing
All fields_____________________ 35,559 20,556
6,684
3,957 4,362 100.0
57.8
18.8
11.1
12.3
Private engineering---------------- 21, 604 13, 207
Construction-------------------- 3,437 2,445
Extractive industries_____ 1, 841 1,109
Public utilities----- -------- 4,183 1,833
Transportation----------------- 1, 255
576
Manufacturing___________ 10,888 7,244
2,265
174
272
341
120
1,358
3,387 2,745 100.0
138
680 100.0
200
260 100.0
1, 555
454 100.0
143 100.0
416
1,078 1, 208 100.0
61.1
71.1
60.2
43.7
45.9
66.5
10.5
5.1
14.8
8.2
9.6
12.5
15.7
4.0
10.9
37.2
33.1
9.9
12.7
19.8
14.1
10.9
11.4
11.1
357 1, 202 100.0
542 100.0
248
51.8
39.8
34.2
43.2
3.2
5.3
10.8
11.7
Public engineering___ _______
Federal Government_____
State and county govern
ments. ________ . . .
Municipal governments. __
11,177
4, 649
5,791
1, 850
3,827
2,009
4, 438
2,090
2, 723
1, 218
1,193
625
58
51
464 100.0
196 100.0
61.3
58.3
26.9
29.9
1.3
2.4
10.5
9.4
Personal service______________
2,778
1, 558
592
213
415 100.0
56.1
21.3
7.7
14.9
and 29.0 percent of those in personal service had pension privileges.
It will also be noted that for public engineering and personal service
the contributory scheme predominated. On the other hand, of the
engineers engaged in private engineering, the largest proportion was
covered b y noncontributory systems. However, within the private
engineering group marked differences were shown; the same was true
of the three categories of public engineering.
The largest number of professional engineers covered by a pension
plan were those in the employ of the Federal Government. Out of a
total of 4,649 engineers in Federal employment reporting, 43.2 percent
were under a contributory and only 5.3 percent under a noncontribu
tory plan. The corresponding proportions in positions with State
and county, and municipal governments were very much less— 26.9
and 1.3 percent, and 29.9 and 2.4 percent, respectively. This order of
difference parallels that of the proportions of engineers under civil
service in these three classes of employment, but only in the case of the
Federal Government are the two proportions closely related. This
arises from the fact that, whereas all persons under Federal civil
service must contribute to the retirement fund, this is not true to the
same extent for employments under State and county, and municipal
governments, where age, length of service, and salary are also taken
into consideration.
Among the remaining fields of engineering activity, public utilities
and transportation reported the next highest proportions (after Federal
employment) as having pension privileges. Public utilities and trans
portation used the noncontributory scheme; this type of plan covered
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT IN ENGINEERING PROFESSION
91
37.2 percent in utilities and 33.1 percent in transportation; contribu
tory systems covered only 8.2 and 9.6 percent, respectively, of those
reporting. For the three remaining pursuits shown under private
engineering, the largest number of engineers with pension privileges
did not exceed 25.7 percent, and in all cases contributory schemes
predominated.
From the preceding discussion of the pension privileges it is quite
evident that the kind of employment has a marked effect upon the
question of the installation of a pension scheme. In no type of engi
neering employment was a majority of the reporting engineers pro
tected by such a plan.
Chapter VI
Unemployment in the Engineering Profession, 1929 to
1934
Although unemployment has for decades been recognized as a
major form of insecurity affecting wage earners, it was not formerly
regarded as an immediate problem of the professional worker. Fairly
reliable data concerning wage-earner unemployment have been made
available from time to time, but for professional workers little more
has been known than that in this depression unemployment grew to
such proportions among professional workers as to constitute a major
problem. It is, therefore, of fundamental interest to trace in more
detailed form how engineers fared in regard to unemployment during
the depression.
This survey of the engineering profession presents for the first time
a substantially reliable picture of the incidence of unemployment
upon a professional group. There are unfortunately no comparable
data for the other professions. The information furnished1 has made
it possible to measure not only the proportions who were unemployed
at the end of each of the 3 years covered in the survey, but also to
measure the incidence of unemployment over the 5-year period and
the duration of such unemployment. The extent of relief is also
measured.
Unemployment at End of 1929, 1932, and 1934
The first part of the discussion will be concerned with trends in
unemployment. For the country as a whole there was an appreciable
decrease in unemployment among professional engineers between
December 31, 1932, and December 31, 1934. Thus, while the pro
portion unemployed on December 31 rose from 0.7 percent in 1929
to 10.1 percent in 1932, it had declined to 8.5 percent by 1934 (table
30).
i See questions 6 and 7 of the questionnaire.
92
(Appendix A, p. 214.)
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
93
T a b l e 30.— Percentage of engineers reporting u n em p loym en t 1 at end of 1929, 1 93 2 ,
and 1934, by professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Percentage unemployed on Dec. 31—
Professional class
1929
1932
1934
All classes...... .................................. ................................ .....................
0.7
10.1
8.5
Chemical and ceramic___ _ _ ____________ ____________ _____
_________ ____
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_________
Electrical..________ _____________ . ______________ ___________
Mechanical and industrial____
__ __________ _
___
Mining and metallurgical__________ ____ ____ _______
_ .
.5
.7
.5
.7
2.0
8.6
10.0
10.0
10. 7
10.2
6. 2
10.2
7.4
7.3
8.3
i Includes direct relief and work relief.
It has already been shown that the decreases in unemployment
among engineers from 1932 to 1934 do not imply an increase in the
proportion engaged in engineering activities. While a larger pro
portion of the engineers were employed in 1934 than in 1932, the
gain, if all professional classes are considered in combination, occurred
in nonengineering work. Increases of nonengineering employment
were particularly important to electrical engineers. Only in the case
of mining and metallurgical engineers was there a large increase in the
percentage reporting engineering employment.
The most striking fact in table 30 is the narrow range in the propor
tions of unemployment among the various professional groups for each
of the three periods. This is especially true for 1932 with a range
of from 8.6 percent for the chemical and ceramic engineers group to
10.7 percent for mechanical and industrial engineers.2
In 1929, although 2.0 percent of the mining and metallurgical engi
neers reported unemployment, the range for the remaining profes
sional classes was only from 0.5 to 0.7 percent. The fact that mining
and metallurgical engineers differed so markedly probably indicates
that they were affected earlier by the drop in business activity.
So also in 1934 there is a narrow range for all professional groups,
except civil engineers. In their case the proportion of unemployment
increased from 10.0 to 10.2 percent, which presumably reflects less
building in 1934 than in 1932. The unemployment situation among
the remaining professional classes improved the most in the case of
mechanical and industrial engineers.
B y type of education.— The type of education the engineer had
received affected the extent of unemployment (table 31). Thus, in
2
This is especially noteworthy because, according to the Federal Reserve Board indexes for 1929 and 1932,
general manufacturing activity declined from 119 to 63; manufacturing wage-earner employment from 105
to 65; whereas building permits for nonresidential construction decreased from 142 to 40. In part, the
stability of employment among civil engineers was due to the large proportion in public employment. The
high instability among mechanical engineers may have been due to a relatively large employment in the
“ heavy industries” where the index of wage-earner employment declined from 103.7 to 51.3. But the 1932
data do indicate an apparently extensive interrelationship of activity for various professional classes.
94
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
1932 the proportion of all postgraduates who were unemployed was
only two-thirds that of graduates with a first degree in engineering.
Among chemical engineers and mechanical engineers, the difference
in favor of the postgraduates was greatest. The smallest difference
occurred among civil engineers. The same characteristic relation
ships occurred in 1934, though, for all but civil engineers, in each
case the decrease in unemployment was marked.
There is no clear evidence in this table of a relationship between
the extent of unemployment among those engineers whose college
work was incomplete, or who attended noncollegiate technical schools,
and those who had first degrees.3
T a b l e 31 .— Percentage of engineers reporting u n em p loym en t 1 at end of 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 ,
and 1934, by type of education and professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Percentage unemployed on Dec. 31—
1932
1929
Professional class
1934
Non
Col Non
First- Col
lege colle Post Firstlege colle Post FirstPost de course
de course
de
giate
giate grad gree
grad gree
gree
tech grad grad
in
tech uates grad in
uates grad com
uates
com nical
nical
uates plete course
uates plete
uates
course
All classes__________
0.6
0.7
0.9
Chemical and ce
ramic
Civil, agricultural,
and architectural __
Electrical _______
Mechanical and in
dustrial__________
Mining and met
allurgical ______
.4
1.6
.6
.8
.7
.3
.8
.6
10.5
10.4
11.1
5.8
2.6
7.2
10.1
10.6
10.2
9.6
11.7
10.3
8.8
4.8
10.2
7.5
1.1
7.5
5.8
9.7
1.4
1.4
9.2
7.3
8.7
Col
lege
course
in
com
plete
Non
colle
giate
tech
nical
course
10.3
10.0
11.9
9.3
13.3
8.6
.5
.8
.9
.4
6.0
11.0
11.9
10.5
4.3
7.8
8.2
6.3
.7
2.1
2.1
3.8
8.8
11.2
8.3
9.6
7.2
8.9
8.4
11.2
i Includes direct relief and work relief.
B y age.— The outstanding feature of table 32 is that a larger pro
portion of the older engineers remained unemployed on December
31, 1934, than was true of those graduating from 1905 to 1932. In
the table the engineers are classified on the basis of their age in 1934.
The first four groups shown in the table include both engineers with
out college degrees who were over 28 in 1934, and those who graduated
prior to 1930. The last two groups shown entered the profession
during the depression and, therefore, could not have been employed
in December 1929. As of December 31, 1929, the percentage range
3
The striking lower percentages of unemployment among secondary-school engineers, namely, 6.6 in 1932
and 3.4 in 1934, are not shown in the table because the number of cases is small, and because it may be that
some secondary-school engineers ceased to be engineers when unemployed. This may have also been the
case even for the college incomplete and noncollegiate technical-school engineers.
Percentages for nongraduate chemical engineers have been omitted from table 31. They are based on
such a small number of cases as probably to be without significance. The percentages are: For engineers
whose college training course was incomplete, 7.9 in 1932 and 6.8 in 1934; for those with noncollegiate tech
nical-school training, 25.0 in 1932 and 23.8 in 1934.
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
95
of unemployment was from 0.4, in the case of the youngest engineers,
to 1.9 for engineers 48 years and over as of that period, and 53 years
or over as of 1934.
B y December 1932 unemployment had increased markedly for all
age groups. Unemployment was least (8.0 percent of the total) for
engineers 31 to 40 years of age in 1932 (33 to 42 years of age in 1934).
Unemployment rose to 10.9 percent among the oldest engineers,
those over 50 years of age in 1932. The possibility of voluntary
retirement makes it impossible to determine whether the proportion
unemployed at the end of the year was larger among the oldest group
of engineers than among those who were 26 to 30 years of age in 1932,
10.6 percent of whom were unemployed. The youngest group, com
posed for the most part of those who attempted to enter the pro
fession after graduation in the depression years of 1930-32, had the
largest unemployment at that time; on December 31, 1932, one-sixth
of them were unemployed.
,
T a b l e 3 2 — Percentage of all engineers reporting u n em p loym ent 1 at end of 1929,
1932, and 1934, by age and year of graduation 2
Percentage unemployed on Dec. 31—
Approximate age in 1934 of engineers and year of graduation
1929
53 j^ears of age and over, and graduates prior to 1905___ _ . -. _
43 to 52 years of age, and graduates during 1905-14________________
33 to 42 years of age, and graduates during 1915-24____ __________
28 to 32 years of age, and graduates during 1925-29________________
25 to 27 years of age, and graduates during 1930-32________________
23 to 24 years of age, and graduates during 1933-34________________
1.9
.7
.4
.4
1932
10.9
8.7
8.0
10.6
16.6
1934
11.5
8.1
7.0
7.0
8.0
13.9
1 Includes direct relief and work relief.
2 In order to obtain a datum whereby direct comparisons could be made between engineers with and with
out degrees, the median age of graduation among the several professional classes was computed. This was
found to be 23 years. Consequently, the data were so tabulated to permit of grouping by years of graduation
and corresponding year of birth for each of the periods 1929, 1932, and 1934. In this table, engineers with colege degrees in the years indicated are combined with “ other” engineers of the ages given in the table.
Further inspection of table 32 shows very clearly that by December
1934 many of the older engineers were still unable to obtain work,
and there is a very strong presumption that the preference in new
hirings was given to the younger men. This is partly explicable on
the grounds that: First, the older engineers probably were in a better
position financially to weather the continuing depression; and second,
the available professional employment opportunities were of such
a nature as not to be in keeping with their experience or their
customary salary status. In any event, it will be observed that unem
ployment among those who graduated4 in 1925 to 1929 was cut
from 10.6 percent in December 1932 to 7.0 percent in December 1934.
The proportion of those who had graduated from 1930 to 1932 and were
unemployed on December 31, 1932, was cut in half by December 31,
4
Includes also corresponding group (i. e., 28-32 years), the year of graduation and age being used
interchangeably.
96
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
1934. B y way of contrast, the percentage of unemployment among
those 41 to 50 years of age in 1932 was reduced from 8.7 percent in
1932 to 8.1 percent in 1934. The proportion of those over 50 in 1932
reporting unemployment rose from 10.9 percent in December 1932
to 11.5 percent in December 1934.5
T a b l e 33. — Percentage of engineers reporting u n em p loym ent 1 at end of 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 ,
and 1 9 3 4 , by age, year of graduation , and professional class
Percentage unemployed on Dec. 31—
1929
Approximate age in 1934 of engineers and year of
graduation
53 years of age and over, and graduates prior to 1905----------43 to 52 years of age, and graduates during 1905-14------------33 to 42 years of age, and graduates during 1915-24------------28 to 32 years of age, and graduates during 1925-29------------25 to 27 years of age, and graduates during 1930-32______ -.
23 to 24 years of age, and graduates during 1933-34_____- - _
Civil,
Mechan Mining
Chemi agricul
tural,
Electri ical and
and
cal and
and
cal
indus metal
ceramic archi
trial
lurgical
tectural
0.7
.5
.5
.3
1.7
.9
.4
.3
2.2
.3
.3
.4
1.8
.6
.2
.6
3.6
2.2
1.3
.5
11.3
9.6
8.7
11.9
15.6
12.8
9.6
6.0
12.4
17.5
10.2
7.7
6.0
6.0
5.8
10.4
14.2
7.5
6.2
7.5
6.1
10.7
1932
53 years of age and over, and graduates prior to 1905----------43 to 52 years of age, and graduates during 1905-14________
33 to 42 years of age, and graduates during 1915-24________
28 to 32 years of age, and graduates during 1925-29________
25 to 27 years of age, and graduates during 1930-32-----------23 to 24 years of age, and graduates during 1933-34____ -
3.9
7.0
5.0
8.8
15.8
11.2
8.8
8.9
10.2
14.7
10.0
7.1
6.6
9.9
20.2
1934
53 years of age and over, and graduates prior to 1905----------43 to 52 years of age, and graduates during 1905-14....... ........
33 to 42 years of age, and graduates during 1915-24________
28 to 32 years of age, and graduates during 1925-29------------25 to 27 years of age, and graduates during 1930-32________
23 to 24 years of age, and graduates during 1933-34------ ___
5.9
4.1
4.4
5.5
4.9
11.9
12.3
9.0
8.9
9,2
11.5
18.0
11.4
7.3
5.5
5.3
6.9
14.6
i Includes direct relief and work relief.
Evidence of the improved employment opportunity for younger men
between the end of 1932 and 1934 is also shown in the smaller per
centage of unemployment among the most recent graduates. M ore
than a sixth6 of those graduating in 1931-32 were unemployed on
December 31, 1932. On December 31, 1934, the plight of the new
comer was still hard, worse than that of any of the group that had
5
The criticism has been made that the percentages of unemployment shown in the table relate to the
indefinite group of those “ 53 and over.” The figures would presumably be smaller if the group were closed
at 62 years of age. It is quite certain from the contour of the percentages both in 3932 and 1934 that the per
centage continues to rise with age. It is also certain that the high percentages shown are due to the per
sistence of unemployment when it occurs, rather than to a rising risk of unemployment.
« It is impossible to say how much more; the 16.6 percent, shown in the table, includes 193 Ograduates as
well.
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
97
“ experience” ;7 nevertheless, the percentage of unemployment among
those graduating in 1933-34 was 13.9, a better record than the corre
sponding one in 1932 for 1931-32 graduates.
These findings are borne out by table 33, in which the same type of
information is presented for each of the five professional groups of
engineers. In each of these groups, with the possible exception of the
chemical engineers, the percentage of unemployment at all three dates
was higher for those who were 53 years of age or over in 1934 than for
the younger men who entered the profession in the period 1925-29.
In chemical engineering, long experience appears to have been
particularly valued. A smaller proportion of the chemical engineers
in the group over 50 years of age in 1932 were unemployed in December
1932 than in any of the other age classes. The brunt of unemploy
ment in this profession was being borne by those who graduated in
1925 or later. Chemical engineers graduating from 1905 to 1932
had only a slightly more favorable experience as regards unemploy
ment than those of similar ages in the other professions. In the
period from 1932 to 1934, the percentage of unemployment among
chemical engineers was materially reduced among all groups graduat
ing after 1905 but rose in the case of the oldest group. It is note
worthy, however, that the proportion of unemployment was only
half as great among the oldest group of chemical engineers in 1934
as in any of the other professional classes, and was only slightly larger
than the proportion of unemployment among the younger chemical
engineers.
In electrical engineering, also, engineers who entered the profession
in 1925 or later were more likely to be unemployed in December 1932
than were those who entered the profession before 1925. But in
December 1934, the percentage of the oldest electrical engineers who
were unemployed was about the same as that for the group graduating
in the period 1925-29. From December 1932 to 1934, the total
percentage of electrical engineers who were unemployed declined, but
there was a rise from 10.0 percent to 11.4 percent among engineers
in the oldest group. This group reported twice as large a proportion
of unemployment in December 1934 as did the group graduating during
the period 1925-29. Mechanical engineering shows a somewhat
similar pattern to that just described for electrical engineering, except
that unemployment declined slightly from 1932 to 1934 in the oldest
group.
Mining and metallurgical engineering followed closely the general
trend in 1929 and 1932. In 1934, however, unemployment was
lowest in the group 33 to 42 years of age, and rose somewhat in the
group over 42 years of age. Among those 53 years of age and over,
7
Note, however, that the engineering graduate had a better opportunity of employment than the general
male population of an industrial State. Of the male population of Massachusetts 21-24 years of age who
either had a job or were looking for a job on Jan. 1,1934, 33.7 percent were unemployed.
98
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
14.2 percent were unemployed— a substantially higher figure than
for this age group in any of the other professional classes.
The relationship of unemployment to age in the case of the civil,
agricultural, and architectural group of engineers followed the general
trend in 1929 to 1932. This class, however, showed less improvement
in employment opportunity between 1932 and 1934 than did the
other professional classes. The fact that the general percentage of
unemployment continued to rise for civil engineers led to a distinctive
pattern of unemployment by age groups for this profession in 1934.
The largest percentage of unemployment was still found among those
who had come to the profession most recently, but from December
1932 to December 1934 there was a decline in unemployment among
those who graduated between 1925 and 1932. The extent of unem
ployment in 1934 remained unchanged among civil engineers 33 to 42
years of age, but increased among those 43 years of age and over.
In 1932 all classes of engineers who attempted to enter the profes
sion in the period 1930-32 had similar experiences. About 15 percent
of these chemical engineers, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers
were unemployed on December 31, 1932, as were 17.5 percent of the
mining and metallurgical engineers and 20.0 percent of the electrical
engineers. The proportions of those unemployed declined more in
this age group from 1932 to 1934 than in any other age group. By
1934, the unemployment of these newcomers was essentially the same
as for those who graduated prior to 1929.
Civil engineers alone showed a relatively small improvement as
regards unemployment for those graduating from 1930-32. It will
be recalled (table 30) that the percentage of unemployment for all
civil engineers rose from 10.0 in December 1932 to 10.2 in 1934. A
rise in the percentage unemployed in 1934 occurred for those over 43
years of age; and was as great in 1934 as in 1932, for those who were
33 to 42 years old. Those graduating in the years 1925-29 showed a
decline, in proportion unemployed, from 10.2 to 9.2 percent. Addi
tions to the ranks of civil engineers were mainly from among the
newcomers, in the two depression years of 1932 and 1934. Unemploy
ment among the 1930-32 graduates fell from 14.7 to 11.5 percent.
In summary, this analysis of trends shows (1) that there was a
distinct improvement in the unemployment status of professional
engineers between December 31, 1932, and December 31, 1934;
(2) that there were but slight differences in the incidence of unemploy
ment among the various professional classes in 1932 and, except for
civil engineers, in 1934; (3) that engineers who had received post
graduate degrees fared better than engineers with other types of
training; and (4) that as between older and younger engineers, the
former not only felt the effect of the drop in business activity earlier
than the latter but unquestionably were still lagging, at least until
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
99
December 31, 1934, in the return to professional activity. In general
it may be said that in this period of contraction of business activity,
the inexperienced newcomer had greater difficulty in securing a pro
fessional status than any other class, that those with 5 to 25 years’
experience fared best as regards unemployment, and that there was
little difference (except in the case of chemical engineers) in the per
centages of unemployment at a given date between those with less
than 5 years’ experience and those with more than 25 years’ experience.
In a period of expansion the younger and the more inexperienced
engineers have a definite advantage. The normal method of recruit
ment at the bottom is followed. It is to be noted from table 33 that by
December 31, 1934, the percentage of unemployment in all professional
classes showed little variation between the age groups that entered the
profession as late as 1932 and those with an upper limit of 53 years of
age. However, there is evidence that in the 4 largest professional
classes unemployment continued to be relatively high among the group
of engineers who were more than 53 years of age in 1934.8
Incidence of Unemployment, 1930 to 1934, Inclusive
The preceding discussion traced the general trend of unemployment
which prevailed among professional engineers over the period from
December 31, 1929, to December 31, 1934. The percentages referred
to the number unemployed as of given dates. They gave no measure
either of the number who were unemployed at other times during the
5-year period or of the length of unemployment. Light is shed on
these points by the data obtained as to the period of unemployment,
i. e., the number of months during which the engineers were on work
relief 9 or were without work of any kind. The data in this section,
therefore, afford a measure of the gross or over-all period of displace
ment from regular employment, without regard to the mitigating
effects of the various types of relief.
8 While it is theoretically possible that part of this larger unemployment for the oldest group shown may
be due to retired members of the profession who have maintained membership in engineering societies, the
extent of the difference appears to indicate in fact that even in 1929 there was greater unemployment among
the more experienced engineers.
The method of sampling used involved the compilation of a mailing list from the past and present member
ship of engineering societies. Undoubtedly, there are a certain number of retired engineers who reported
unemployment in reply to the question as to type of employment. As there was no specific heading,
“ retirement,” a retired engineer had the alternative, in replying to the question on employment, of reporting
himself as unemployed, reporting himself engaged in nonengineering work, or leaving the question un
answered. From the internal evidence in table 31 and in other tables it appears that retirement is not a
sufficiently important factor to explain the differences in the percentages of unemployment as between the
younger and the older engineers. This is most convincingly illustrated in tables 34 and 35 which show,
not the number of unemployed at a particular date, but the total number unemployed in the 5-year period
following Jan. 1, 1930. In these tables, the percentage for the oldest group of engineers, is no larger than
it is for the group aged 43-52, and is smaller than the percentage for any of the younger engineers. Further
more, the consistency of the movements shown in table 32 would indicate that retirement is not a dominating
influence.
9 Excluding work on P. W. A. projects and in nonrelief administrative positions in the public service.
100
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
M ore than 34 percent of all the engineers reporting were unem
ployed at one time or another within these 5 years, as against about
10 percent who were unemployed on December 31, 1932. The per
centage who reported unemployment at some time during the 5 years,
January 1, 1930, to December 31, 1934, with a classification by age
and type of education, is shown in table 34. For all graduates com
bined, including those with postgraduate degrees, no less than 33.9
percent experienced unemployment. This percentage differs but
slightly from the general average of 35.4 and 35.6 percent, respectively,
for engineers who did not complete a college course and for engineers
with a noncollegiate technical-school training.10 This slightly lower
incidence of unemployment for the “ other” engineers is explicable on
two grounds: (1) As a statistical “ freak,” arising out of slight differ
ences in the age distribution of graduates and “ other” engineers, and
(2) the longer experience record of “ other” engineers, for the graduate
sample is especially heavily weighted by newcomers to the profession
during the depression period 1930-34. For each particular age group
shown in the table there is a slightly higher percentage of unemploy
ment.
It is evident from this table that unemployment was greatest among
the newcomers to the profession and decreased with the age of the
engineer. In all professional groups there appeared an age beyond
which there was apparently a common risk of unemployment. (Table
35.) That age varies among the several professional classes. For
civil engineers it was 43 years, whereas for electrical, and mechanical
and industrial engineers it occurred after 33 years of age.11
It will be noted that in the case of the 2 youngest age groups the
percentages affected by unemployment are practically the same for
all 3 types of education, with roughly half of the engineers who entered
the profession during the depression period reporting some period of
unemployment.
These findings seem definitely to extend the conclusions reached
earlier as regards the influence of educational background. Table 31
showed less unemployment in 1932 and 1934 among those with post
graduate degrees than among those with first degrees, but there were
no decisive differences in the over-all figures between first-degree
graduates and “ other” engineers. It may now be stated that this
was due to the age composition of the two groups, for when age is
considered (table 34) the older college graduate does appear to have
an advantage.
10 The table does not show the percentage of unemployment among engineers with only a secondary-school
education, for their number was too small to warrant classification by age. The percentage of unemploy
ment among all such engineers was 22.6.
11These are the ages as of the end of the 5-year period, 1930-34.
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
101
T a b l e 34 .— Percentage distribution of all engineers reporting a period of gross 1
unemployment , 1930 to 1 9 3 4 , by age 2 and type of education
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
All graduating classes_____ __ _____________ ______ __________
College grad
uates: Percent
age reporting
unemployment
Age (in years)
in 1934
Graduating class
_
33.9
Entered profession during 1930-34:
Graduated in—
1933-34_________________________________ ____ _____________ _
1930-32 ______________________________ ______ ________
Entered profession in 1929 or earlier:
Graduated in—
1925-29 ___________________________________________ ____
1915-24
____________________________________
1905-14
____________________________________ __
Prior to 1905_______________________________________________
23-24
25-27
47 1
53.5
28-32
33-42
43-52
53+
36. 0
27.1
23! 8
23! 5
“ Other” engineers with—
Year of birth
Age (in
years) in
1934
College
course
incomplete
Noncollegiate
technical
course
Percentage reporting
unemployment
All ages
35.4
35.6
20-24
47.9
48.2
25-27
28-34
35-39
40+
50.0
41.6
33.4
30.4
47.6
43.8
34.1
32.3
- ______________ ________________________________
Entered profession during 1930-34:
Born in 1910-14
____ _____ ______________________
Entered profession in 1929 or earlier:
Born in—
1907-9
________________________________ ___
1900-8
- ......................... ......................... ............
1895-99 .
________________________ _______ ________
Prior to 1895 _ ___________________________________
i Includes direct relief and work relief.
» It will be noted that the age groups of “ other” engineers shown in the table differ slightly from those
shown in table 36. The latter, however, correspond to those shown in appendix F, p. 229, table 1.
This difference is due to the fact that the age groups in table 36 were used in the original tabulation of the
data. The age groups in tables 34 and 35 were derived from the former by hand tabulation to obtain a better
comparison by age with the graduates 25-27 years of age.
For further consideration of the incidence of unemployment by age,
the data in table 34 are shown for two distinct groups of engineers,
those entering the profession during the depression years 1930-34 and
the four older groups who had entered the profession prior to 1930.
These four older groups had a common experience as regards the
period during which they were exposed to the risk of unemployment.
On the other hand, the younger engineers were exposed to a shorter
period of risk, a factor which is of great importance when the length
of their employment is considered. They were also subjected to the
necessity of making their way into the profession under singularly
difficult conditions. Length of exposure appears to have been a fac
tor even as regards the general incidence of unemployment, for a
slightly larger proportion of those who graduated in the period 1930-32
were unemployed during this 5-year period than was the case for those
graduating in 1933-34.
2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 4 1 ------- 8
102
EM P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 3 5 . — Percentage distribution of graduate and college course incomplete en
gineers reporting gross1 unemploym ent , 1930 to 1 9 3 4 » by age2 and professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34.]
Percentage reporting unemployment
Graduating class or year of birth
All graduating classes_________
Age (in
years)
in 1934
Graduate engineers
Mining
Chemical Civil, ag
ricultural Electri Mechan
and
and
ical and
archi
cal
met
ceramic and
industrial
tectural
allurgical
________
Entered profession during 1930-34:
Graduated in—
1933-34__________________________
1930-32__________________________
Entered profession in 1929 or earlier:
Graduated in—
1925-29__________________________
1915-24_________________ _________
1905-14__________________________
Prior to 1905......................................
23-24
25-27
28-32 l
33-42 f
43-52 l7
53+
29.2
38.0
31.6
31.0
30.2
40.3
44.3
55.1
59.7
48.9
54.7
40.7
48.5
45.6
54.7
O ff
f
1
* 11
1 0.
\
41.9
34.4
26.8
27.0
31.3
19.6
17.2
17.1
34.2
25.4 1
24.7 \
23.3 I
23.9
OQ
Z
a. C
33.7
Engineers with college course incomplete
All ages-------------------------------------------------Entered profession during 1930-34:
Born in 1910-14.. ----------------------------- 20-24
Entered profession in 1929 or earlier:
Born in—
1907-9___________________________
25-27
1900-6. __________________________
28-34
1895-99__________________________
35-39
Prior to 1895_________________
_
40+
00
39.1 ___ 00
(*)
55.9
00
*41.8
00
00
00
00
00
60.3
46.4
37.8
33.3
00
00
00
00
441.1
436.7
429.3
426. 3
00
00
00
00
431.2
00
1Includes direct relief and work relief.
aIt will be noted that the age groups of “ other” or nongraduate engineers shown in the table differ slightly
from those shown in table 36. The latter, however, correspond to those shown in Appendix F, p. 229, table 1.
This difference is due to the fact that the age groups in table 36 were used in the original tabulation of
the data. The age groups in tables 34 and 35 were derived from the former by hand tabulation to obtain
better comparison by age with the graduates 25-27 years of age.
3Included with mechanical and industrial.
4Includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, and mining and metallurgical.
In the case of the four older groups, all entering the profession before
1930, the largest percentage of unemployment occurred among those
who entered slightly before the beginning of the depression. There
appears to have been no greater incidence of unemployment among
the engineers 53 years of age and over than there was among those
43 to 52 years of age. Therefore, relating this analysis to the preced
ing discussion of table 33, it can only be concluded that the higher
percentage of unemployment for the oldest age groups as of December
31, 1932, and as of December 31, 1934, is due not to the more frequent
occurrence of unemployment but to the greater length of the period of
unemployment when loss of position occurs.
These findings as regards the extent of unemployment among engi
neers in general are confirmed by analysis of the separate professional
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
103
classes of engineers.12 Thus, table 35 shows that for the country as a
whole, approximately two-fifths of the civil engineers reported some
unemployment within the 5 years covered, whereas slightly less than
one-third so reported in the other professional classes. Of the engi
neers with college degrees the lowest proportion was 29.2 percent, for
chemical and ceramic engineers; the highest was 38.0 percent, for
civil, agricultural, and architectural engineers. Among those with
an incomplete college course, 39.1 percent of the civil engineering
group reported unemployment, whereas only 31.2 percent of the
remaining engineers so reported.
A t all ages civil engineering showed the greatest unemployment.
Thus, among engineers graduating in 1930 to 1932, 59.7 percent of
the civil engineers reported unemployment at some time during the
5 years covered. The next highest percentage, 54.7, was found
among electrical, and mining and metallurgical engineers. Among
civil engineers graduating prior to 1914, approximately 27 percent
reported unemployment, whereas approximately 24 percent of the
mechanical and industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers so
reported. So also examination of those with an incomplete college
course shows unemployment persistently higher for civil engineers
than for other professional groups in every age category.
The unemployment experience of civil engineers graduating in 1914
or earlier differed only slightly from that found in the case of mechani
cal and industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers. In elec
trical engineering13 and chemical engineering the proportion unem
ployed was distinctly less among the older engineers, amounting to
about 17 percent in the case of electrical engineers and to less than
15 percent14 in the case of chemical engineers.
12It should be noted that in the case of all graduate engineers, it was necessary to make certain combina
tions of professional classes. Thus, a small number of ceramic engineers were combined with chemical
engineers. Civil, agricultural, and architectural engineers were combined, but the group was dominated
by civil engineers. Mechanical and industrial engineers were combined, as were also mining and metal
lurgical engineers. In the case of the “ other” engineers there were too few cases of noncollegiate technicalschool graduates to warrant tabulation of the period of unemployment by both age and professional class;
hence, only the data for those whose college course was incomplete were tabulated. This group has been
divided to distinguish civil, agricultural, and architectural engineers from mechanical and all other classes
of engineers. Inasmuch as the unemployment experience of civil engineers differed from that of all other
classes, this grouping into two categories makes possible general comparisons between the unemployment
experience of graduate engineers and those with an incomplete college course. The percentages of these
various professional classes of engineers who reported unemployment ajt some time during the 5-year period,
1930-34, are shown in table 35 by the age groupings heretofore shown.
13 The high general average for electrical engineers shown in the table is due to an especially high rate
among the newcomers to the profession.
n The figure of 15.1 percent for chemical engineers covers all those graduating prior to 1924. Table 31
suggests that this figure would be slightly lower if it referred only to the graduates of the pre-war years.
104
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
Periods of Unemployment, 1930 to 1934, Inclusive
“ Gross unemployment” is used in this section to cover periods of
work relief or periods without work of any kind. The figures show
the median periods of unemployment.15
Table 36 shows the median periods of unemployment, by age, edu
cation, and professional classes, during the 5-year period. In con
nection with the age classifications shown, it is important to remember
the period of exposure to the possibility of unemployment. Thus,
to the hazard of unemployment, engineers graduating from college
in 1933 had a maximum exposure of 18 months and those graduating
in 1934 a maximum exposure of 6 months, before the close of the period
T a b l e 3 6 . — M edian period of gross 1 unemploym ent , 1980 to 1984* by age, type of
education , and professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Period of gross unemployment (in months) of—
Age
Graduating class
years)
in 1934
1933-34_____________________
1930-32___________________
Entered profession in 1929 or earlier:
Graduated in—
1925-29___________________
1915-24___________________
1905-14___________________
Prior to 1905______________
Civil, ag
Mining
AD Chemical
ricultural, Elec Mechani
and
and
cal and
and archi trical industrial
classes! ceramic
metal
tectural
lurgical
12.2
9.8
12.8
12.1
12.1
13.7
23-24
25-27
7.5
11.9
7.0
10.6
7.9
11.9
7.7
13.2
7.1
11.1
6.0
11.9
28-32
33-42
43-52
53+
12.1
13.4 }
17.8 }
23.1
11.1 \f
11.4 /\
12.2
12.9
17.0
22.9
12.4
14.1
20.7
25.3
12.0
15.2 }
18.5 }
22.2
17.4
All graduating classes-------------------Entered profession during 1930-34:
Graduated in—
Graduate engineers
11.7
Period of gross unemployment (in months) of—
Other engineers
Year of birth
Age (in
years) in
1934
College course incomplete
All classes
All ages------ -------------------- ---------------Entered profession during 1930-34:
Born in—
1910-14_____________ ______ _____
1905-9__________________________
Entered profession in 1929 or earlier:
Born in—
1900-94_________________________
1895-9— _______________________
Prior to 1895____________________
NoncolleCivil, ag
giate tech
ricultural, Mechanical nical course
and archi and others
tectural
16.3
15.8
16.9
17.3
20-24
25-29
12.5
14.0
13.8
13.9
11.4
14.3
15.0
15.3
30-34
35-39
40+
14.2
14.6
19.4
13.2
14.1
18.3
15.1
15.3
22.0
16.0
14.7
19.2
1 Includes direct relief and work relief.
15
In other words, the middle point, half of the engineers having had a longer period and half a shorter
period of unemployment.
U N EM PLO YM EN T, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
105
studied (Dec. 31, 1934). On the other hand, all four groups of
engineers who graduated prior to 1929 were exposed to the possibility
of depression unemployment for the full period of 5 years.
There are significant differences in the period of unemployment as
among the various age groups of engineers and as among engineers
with different types of educational background. There are real
differences among the several classes of engineers, but professional
class had a less marked influence on the average period of unemploy
ment than either age or educational background.
For the country as a whole, as indicated in table 36, the median
period of unemployment for engineers who were college graduates was
12.2 months. For engineers who did not complete their college course,
it was 16.3 months and for those with a noncollegiate technical-school
education, it was 17.3 months.16 The influence of educational back
ground appears to be persistent whether the data are classified for
each of the professional classes or for all engineers combined. How
ever, the difference of over 4 months in the median period shown in
table 36 as between all college graduates without regard to age and all
those whose college course was incomplete exaggerates the spread.
It may be that there was no spread in the case of the older engineers;
the impossibility of making identical age groupings prevents any
other conclusion than that, in the case of older engineers, educational
background is no longer a determining factor. Comparison of the
median period of unemployment in similar brackets beginning with
the engineers who were approximately 30 years of age in 1934 indicates
that unemployment lasted only 1 or 2 months longer in the case of
those with an incomplete college record. Although in the case of the
two youngest groups of engineers the college graduate appears to have
had some advantage, there is reason to believe that the difference
between an average period of 7% months for the graduates of the
classes of 1933-34 and
months for those 20 to 24 years of age
with an incomplete college record is due in large part to the fact that
the latter group had a longer work history and consequently a longer
period of exposure. For civil engineers classified on an age basis
there was also a persistently longer period of unemployment for those
with an incomplete college record.
As between the two types of “ other” or nongraduate engineers,
the difference of 1 month (i. e., between 16.3 months and 17.3 months)
in the average appears to arise from the experience only of the younger
engineers. For those over 35 years of age in 1934, there was no
difference. In the younger age groups the differences ranged from 1.3
months to 2.5 months, and in all cases, those with an incomplete
college course had the shorter period of unemployment.
18 No figure is shown in the table for engineers with a secondary-school education, for its significance is not
certain. The median period for such engineers was 12.4 months.
106
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
The average length of the period of unemployment increased with
age. Thus, the youngest group exposed to the full 5-year risk (those
graduating in 1925 to 1929) had a median period of unemployment of
12.1 months. The next group of engineers, those graduating between
1915 and 1924, showed an increase of only 1.3 months in the period
of unemployment. For those with an incomplete college course, who
were 30 to 34 years of age in 1934, the average period of unemploy
ment for the 5 years as a whole was 14.2 months and for those 35 to 39
years of age 14.6 months. Whether the differential for noncollegiate
technical-school graduates of these ages is real, or is due to certain
peculiarities of the sample, cannot be said; but for all professional
classes of engineers there was also a slight increase in the average
period of unemployment among those who graduated before 1925 as
compared with those who graduated later. B y and large, however,
those engineers who were 30 to 40 years of age and became unemployed
were unemployed for 12 to 14 months, but within these limits age was
not an important factor.
It is interesting to note that the engineer who entered the profession
during the period 1930-32 had an average period of unemployment
which was almost identical with that shown for the engineers who had
entered just prior to the depression. This was true, in spite of the
fact that the younger men had a shorter period of exposure to unem
ploym ent; their lack of experience obviously militated against their
absorption.
The severity of unemployment increased rapidly in the case of
engineers who were more than 43 years of age in 1934. The median
period of unemployment for those engineers 43 to 52 years of age
who were unemployed was 17.8 months. Among the engineers 53
years of age and over it was 23.1 months. For the “ other” engineers
40 years of age and over, the average period of unemployment was
slightly more than 19 months as against about 14% months for those
who were 30 to 40. This rapid increase in the length of the average
period of unemployment holds also with reference to all of the separate
professional classifications.. In the case of electrical engineers, the
average rose from 14.1 months in the case of those who were 33 to 42
years of age to 25.3 months for those who were over 53 years of age.
For mechanical and industrial engineers, the increase was from 15.2
to 22.2 months, and in the case of civil engineers from 12.9 to 22.9
months.
In general, therefore, it may be said that the average period of
unemployment for graduate engineers tended to increase from about
1 year in the case of those who graduated from 1925 to 1929 to almost
2 years for those who graduated prior to 1905. The older engineer
suffered from unemployment because of its greater length when it
occurred rather than because of its greater frequency. Though the
U N E M P L O Y M E N T , ENG IN E E R IN G
PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
107
proportion of those who became unemployed over the 5-year period
was only two-thirds as great in the case of the oldest group as it was
in the case of the youngest group to enter the profession prior to
1930, when unemployment did occur it tended to last twice as long
in the case of the older engineer.
The averages for all graduate engineers without regard to age
ranged from 9.8 months for chemical and ceramic engineers to 13.6
months for mining and metallurgical engineers. For the three
largest classes the range was from 12.1 months in the case of mechan
ical and industrial engineers to 12.8 months for civil engineers. Those
who graduated in 1933 to 1934 had an average period of unemploy
ment of 6 to 8 months. Comparison of the severity of unemployment
among the professional classes is confied to those four age groups
that had entered the profession prior to 1930, for averages could
not be shown for all age classes of chemical and ceramic engineers,
as the number of those over 33 years of age was too small to allow
of subdivision. It is apparent, however, that the average period of
unemployment was not more than two-thirds as long for chemical
and ceramic engineers as for the various other classes. The period of
unemployment of mining and metallurgical engineers was probably
somewhat shorter in the various age classifications than it was for the
three larger professional classes.17
The general averages indicate comparatively little difference, as
regards the period of unemployment, civil, electrical, and mechanical
and industrial engineers.
Although unemployment occurred more frequently among civil
engineers than in any other engineering class, its severity was slightly
less than for the other classes.
The median periods of unemployment which have been cited show
clearly enough the differences among the various groups. Long as
these average periods were, they still fall short of conveying the full
picture. This may be gathered from table 37, which shows the per
centage of engineers who reported varying periods of unemployment.
It covers only engineers with college degrees received in 1929 or
earlier years, without regard to professional class. Of this group,
6,965 engineers reported that they were out of work at some time
between January 1, 1930, and December 31, 1934. In slightly more
than one-fifth of the cases, they were unemployed for less than 6
months; another fifth were out of work for from 6 months to a year.
T o a limited extent, those reporting unemployment of less than 6
months may have reported incidental and short periods between jobs.
However, the median period of unemployment over these 5 years for
It will be recalled that the average for all mining and metallurgical engineers was 13.6 months, higher
than the average in any of the other professional classes. It appears from the detailed figures with reference
to the periods of unemployment classified by age that in each age group the three larger professional classes
showed either an equal severity or a greater severity.
108
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
those graduates who became unemployed was 14.7 months, and larger
numbers were out of work for much longer periods. In fact, 800
engineers (11.5 percent of the total number becoming unemployed)
of these particular graduating classes were out of work for 3 years
or more.
T a b l e 37 .— Percentage d istribu tion o f en gineers graduating fr o m college p rio r to 1 9 8 0 ,
b y p eriod o f u n em p lo ym en t
Year of graduation
Total report Percentage whose reported unemployment (in months) was—
ing unemploy
ment at any
Total
time during
report
1930-34
12
24
42
30
36
18
48
Un 6 and and
ing in
and and and and and and
survey
der under under under
under
under
under
under
over
12
Per
6
Num cent
36
42
18
24
30
48
ber
age
All years prior to 1930. 24,853
6,965
100.0
21.0
21.6
16.5
12.8
9.5
7.1
5.1
3.2
3.2
1925-29______________ 6,499
1915-24______________ 8, 298
1905-14______________ 6, 602
Prior to 1905 ------------ 3, 454
2,340
2,245
1, 570
810
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
23.9
23.3
17.7
12.8
25.7
22.9
18.8
11.7
19.4
16.1
14.0
14.4
13.4
11.4
13.8
13.1
7.9
9.4
11.4
10.6
4.0
7.3
8.7
12.0
3.2
4.4
7.2
8.3
1.6
3.0
3.7
7.0
.9
2.2
4.7
10.1
Unemployment of less than 6 months was reported by 23.9 percent
of those graduating in the period 1925-29 who became unemployed,
as against only 12.8 percent of those graduating prior to 1905. This
tendency to shorter periods of unemployment among the younger
graduates is equally marked among the group out of work for periods
of 6 to 12 months. The percentages of the unemployed who were
out for 18 to 24 months show no differences among the age groups,
largely because this is a turning point in the distribution. In groups
with the longer periods of unemployment the percentage for the older
unemployed engineers is consistently higher than for the younger ones.
Thus, at the extreme, only 0.9 percent of the unemployed engineers of
the classes of 1925-29 were idle for 48 months or more, whereas 10.1
percent of those graduating prior to 1905 had more than a 4-year period
of unemployment.
Influence of Regional Location on Unemployment
The data tabulated on a regional basis are given in table 38 for all
first-degree engineering graduates (excluding those with postgraduate
and nonengineering degrees) in the three professional classes of civil,
electrical, and mechanical engineering.18 There were too few cases to
warrant regional tabulations for mining and metallurgical engineers
and chemical and ceramic engineers; neither were tabulations justified
in the case of engineers with various types of educational background
is Civil engineering as here tabulated does not include the few agricultural and architectural engineers
reporting whose inclusion would have complicated the task without modifying the results. So also mechani
cal engineers do not include industrial engineers.
109
U N EM PLO YM EN T, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
other than college graduations. Furthermore, in the regional 19
comparisons, work relief has been excluded, leaving only those periods
during which the engineers reporting had no work of any sort; these
periods have been termed “ net unemployment.” 20
It will be noted in table 38 that the range for the three professional
classes combined was from 20.7 percent in the District of Columbia
to 37.9 percent in the East South Central region. For the country
as a whole, approximately one out of every three of these college
graduate engineers was unemployed at one time or another during
the 5-year period.
T able
3 8 . — N e t 1 unem p loym ent^ 1 9 2 9 to 1 9 8 4 >am on g first-d egree graduate en gineers
reporting, by region and p r ofessio n a l class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Region
Professional class
Dis East
West
New
United trict of South Moun South South
Eng
Cen Atlan
Cen tain
States Co
land
tic
lumbia tral
tral
West
East Mid
North Pacific North dle
At
Cen
Cen lantic
tral
tral
Percentage of first-degree graduates reporting net unemployment
All three classes____
33.2
20.7
37.9
34.2
29.4
30.9
32.8
29.8
29.1
33.3
37.1
Civil_______________
Electrical__________
Mechanical_________
35.6
31.1
31.3
18.1
29.7
19.6
41.3
36.7
31.0
31.6
40.6
35.9
29.7
34.1
24.9
33.5
30.8
26.6
36.3
29.3
31.1
30.9
28.6
28.3
28.9
28.3
30.6
36.8
32.2
30.3
45.2
30.6
34.8
i
Median period (in months) of net unemployment
All three classes.........
11.3
7.9
9.3
10.7
9.4
10.4
11.7
10.2
11.1
12.2
12.1
Civil_______________
Electrical----------------Mechanical_________
11.2
11.4
11.4
8.4
6.7
5.5
9.0
10.4
9.5
9.9
11.8
11.0
8.7
10.5
10.0
10.3
10.5
11.0
12.0
11.3
11.5
9.5
12.5
10.2
11.1
10.7
11.3
12.0
12.7
11.8
12.8
11.5
12.0
i Excludes direct relief and work relief.
In the various professional classes, unemployment occurred less
frequently among engineers in the District of Columbia than among
engineers reporting from other districts. Thus, 18.1 percent of the
civil engineers in the District of Columbia had some unemployment
during the 5 years, whereas in no other area did unemployment occur
in less than 28.9 percent of the cases. For mechanical engineers,
the District of Columbia reports showed 19.6 percent; the next lowest
figure was 24.9 percent in the West South Central States. Only in
19 It is necessary to assume that the region from which the engineers reported is the region to which the
various items reported are to be allocated. This is a safe assumption as regards employment status as of
December 31, 1934. Migration makes it less valid as regards status in 1929. The error is probably not so
great as to warrant disregarding possible regional classification.
2° The extent of the distortion introduced by this more limited definition of unemployment is not great
enough to be serious. For engineers with degrees in the United States as a whole, 32.0 percent reported a
period of net unemployment, while 33.9 percent reported a period of gross unemployment, a difference of
only 1.9 percent. Further, the median period of gross unemployment (unemployment and work relief)
was 12.2 months. The net period of unemployment (excluding any time reported on work relief) was
11.3 months.
110
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
the case of electrical engineers was unemployment among engineers
in the District of Columbia approximately equal to that in other
regions. In this profession 29.7 percent of those reporting from the
District of Columbia had had some unemployment in the 5 years
covered by the study.
Outside the District of Columbia there was also a rather marked
range in the frequency of unemployment reported from the various
regions in the several professional groups. Thus, in the case of civil
engineers, the range was from 28.9 percent in the Pacific Coast States to
45.2 percent in the Middle Atlantic States, electrical engineers ranged
from 28.3 percent in the Pacific region to 40.6 in the Mountain region,
and, finally, mechanical engineers ranged from 24.9 percent in the
West South Central region to 35.9 percent in the Mountain region.
The most significant fact is the great extent of unemployment
among engineers in all geographical divisions. The regional differ
ences in the rate of unemployment among the various classes of engi
neers are not sufficiently consistent to order all of the regions from
high to low. The District of Columbia, as noted, had a consistently
low percentage of unemployment. It may be noted further that
engineers in each professional class reporting from the West North
Central, the South Atlantic, and Pacific regions had a percentage of
unemployment below the national average.
For the three professional classes combined, the range and the
length of unemployment (disregarding period of work relief) was
from 7.9 months in the District of Columbia to 12.2 months in the
East North Central region (table 38).
Civil engineers showed unemployment ranging from 8.4 months in
the District of Columbia to 12.8 months in the Middle Atlantic
region; electrical engineers from 6.7 months in the District of Columbia
to 10.4 months in the East South Central region, and to 12.7 months
in the East North Central States. For mechanical engineers, the
difference between the average of 5.5 months in the District of Colum
bia and that of 9.5 months in the East South Central States, the next
lowest region, was especially great. The highest average for mechnical
engineers was 12.0 months in the Middle Atlantic region.
The similarities in the lengths of the periods of net unemployment
are more marked than any consistent series of differences among the
regions. In general, the average period of net unemployment was
longer in the Middle Atlantic, New England, and East North Central
regions, whereas in the three Southern regions and the District of
Columbia the average tended to be less than the general average for
the country.
The regional analysis of the data relating to unemployment was
undertaken originally to establish possible variations of a regional
character. The differences shown for the individual professional
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
111
classes are large enough to deserve attention. If, for example, this
had been a study of civil engineers alone, the spread in the incidence
of net unemployment between 28.9 percent shown in the Pacific
region and 45.2 percent shown in the Middle Atlantic States would
have justified the regional break-down and must lead to the con
clusion that there were pronounced regional differences. So, also,
the span in the average period of net unemployment for civil engineers
from 8.7 months in the W est South Central area to 12.8 months in
the M iddle Atlantic States is a considerable one. These tables,
as has been pointed out, do develop a few outstanding regional
differences as regards the incidence and severity of unemployment
for the three professional classes analyzed. They do not present a
clear-cut picture of large regional differences for engineers in general.
Geographical influences are certainly less consistent than those which
have been shown with reference to type of engineering, age, and educa
tional background.
The regional analysis has developed a confirmation of the national
findings that is of importance. In any questionnaire study, there is
always the possibility of an underlying selective bias that distin
guishes the conditions of those who reply and those who fail to reply
to the questionnaire. Even complete consistency in the results of
successive analyses of small samples cannot establish the fact that
no such bias exists. But the generalizations which have been drawn
on the basis of national aggregates are substantially strengthened
when it is found that they persist on a regional basis. Thus, as
regards the median period of unemployment, we find that in at least
five of the regions electrical engineers had a longer average period of
net unemployment than either civil or mechanical engineers. In
contrast to this, the averages for civil and mechanical engineers show
negligible differences in four regions and differences of less than a
month in two other regions.
The influence of age on the frequency and length of unemployment
cannot be shown in the same detail on a regional basis as was possible
on a national basis. Such age breakdowns, however, are possible for
the three large professional classes in the East North Central and the
M iddle Atlantic States, the two regions with the largest number of
reporting engineers.
As regards the frequency of unemployment (table 39) the pattern
is almost without exception the same as that described on a national
basis in greater detail. Unemployment was most frequent among
the engineers who graduated in 1930-32 and was slightly less frequent
for those who graduated in 1933-34 and had, therefore, only been in
the professional market for a maximum period of 18 months. In both
regions and in all three professional classes, unemployment occurred
less frequently among engineers who graduated prior to 1925 than
112
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
among those who graduated in 1925-29. But even with these
relatively small groups, at least one out of five was unemployed at
one time or another within the 5-year period. This was the lowest
ratio and occurred in the case of electrical engineers who graduated
prior to 1925 and reported from the East-North Central region.
As regards the median period of net unemployment, the average
was consistently higher for the engineers who graduated prior to 1925
than it was for those who graduated between 1925 and 1929. It is
also of interest to note the consistency as regards the period of un
employment for each age group shown for these three professional
classes in the two regions.
T a b l e 39.— N e t 1 u n e m p lo ym en t , 1 9 2 9 to 1 9 8 4 , am on g first-d egree graduate en gineers
rep o rtin g , b y reg io n , age, and p rofessio n a l class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
East North Central region
Graduating class and age in 1934
Electri
cal
Civil
Mechan
ical
Middle Atlantic region
Civil
Electri
cal
Mechan
ical
Percentage of first-degree graduates reporting net
unemployment
A l l gradua ting classes
Entered profession in period 1930-34:
1933-34 (23-24 years)________________
1930-32 (25-27 years)________________
Entered profession prior to 1930:
1925-29 (28-32 years)________________
Prior to 1925 (33 years and over)___ _
46.2
58.9
43.5
52.3
34.5
45.5
57.8
64.8
51.9
48.1
43.8
45.6
39.8
28.9
32.7
19.9
34.0
23.8
56.0
37.1
28.7
21.9
36.3
30.5
Median period (in months) of net unemployment
A l l graduating cla sses
Entered profession in period 1930-34:
1933-34 (23-24 years)________________
1930-32 (25-27 years)________________
Entered profession prior to 1930:
1925-29 (28-32 years)________________
Prior to 1925 (33 years and over)_____
7.4
11.6
8.4
14.0
6.5
10.7
8.6
12.3
7.1
13.6
6.6
11.4
10.6
15.6
12.3
16.3
11.9
16.7
11.6
15.3
10.3
15.0
10.2
15.8
1 Excludes direct relief and work relief.
Public Relief Among Professional Engineers, 1929 to 1934
Direct R elief 21
Consideration of the number of engineers reporting direct relief
evidences the fact that in the majority of cases engineers survived
without public assistance their periods of unemployment from 1930 to
1934. This was especially true of those who entered the profession
prior to 1930.
Thus, fewer than 1 percent of the engineers reported themselves to
have been unemployed on December 31, 1929. At that time there
21
The data for direct relief and work relief at end of 1929, 1932, and 1934 are presented in appendix E,
pp. 224-228, tables 1 to 3, inclusive.
UNEMPLOYMENT, ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
113
were no work-relief projects and none of the engineers reported them
selves as on direct relief.22 Slightly more than 10 percent of all engi
neers reported themselves as unemployed on December 31, 1932; 31
engineers reported themselves as on direct relief— less than one-tenth
of 1 percent of all the engineers and only one-half of 1 percent of the
number reporting unemployment.
For the 5-year period as a whole, receipt of some direct relief was
reported by 0.8 percent of all engineers with college degrees and about
2 percent of those who attended noncollegiate technical schools or who
did not complete their college course.23
W o r k R e l ie f at End o f 1929, 1932, and 1934
Engineering training was required in the administration of many of
the projects designed to benefit other groups in the community. There
was also a large increase in nonrelief forms of public employment.
This was of particular benefit to civil engineers, of whom 8.5 percent
were employed by the Federal Government on December 31, 1929,
while 18.0 percent were so employed on December 31, 1934
For
civil engineers the increase in this form of employment was greater
than the increase in work relief.
Despite the increase in public employment, work-relief projects
were the main source of assistance to those who were unemployed.
On December 31, 1932, when slightly more than 10 percent of the
engineers were unemployed, only 0.7 percent were on work relief.
Two years later nearly 5 percent of all engineers were on work relief,
which was approximately half of the total number of engineers unem
ployed at that time.
The reports for December 31, 1934, show striking differences in the
extent of work relief as between civil engineers and the other profes
sional groups. A t that time 6.2 percent of all civil, agricultural, and
architectural engineers were on work relief, as compared with only 2.2
percent of all the other professional classes combined. The difference
probably reflects chiefly the development of work programs that called
especially for the civil engineer’s training; it also reflects the fact that
the total amount of unemployment among civil engineers in their
normal fields increased from 1932 to 1934, whereas it decreased in the
other professional classes. The greater amount of work relief among
civil engineers balanced their more widespread unemployment. There
22 In this survey, work relief is defined as emergency employment, usually made available on the basis of
need, by such agencies as C. W. A., F. E. R. A., and W. P. A. It does not include engineering work on
P. W. A. projects, which should have been reported either as a form of private employment or as Govern
ment employment for those engineers working in the Public Works Administration itself. It also does not
include engineers hired for strictly administrative work by the various relief administrations. There was
some overreporting of work relief and a corresponding underreporting of public employment. Direct relief
refers to direct financial or other assistance from any public authority.
23In New York City direct relief appears to have been more extensive through the Professional Engineers
Committee on Unemployment than through public agencies.
114
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
was comparatively little difference between civil engineers and other
professional groups as regards the net amount of unemployment on
December 31, 1934; those entirely without work formed 4.0 percent of
the civil engineers as compared with 5.1 percent of the other types
combined.
W ork relief was slightly more common among engineers without
college degrees than among those who were college graduates. The
situation with reference to direct relief has already been noted.
Among the civil engineers 6.7 percent of the college graduates, as
against 7.9 percent of the “ other’ ’ engineers, were on work relief on
December 31, 1934. For the 5 years as a whole, 16.8 percent of the
graduate civil, agricultural, and architectural engineers group reported
a work-relief experience, whereas 19.6 percent of this same group of
professional classes with an incomplete college course so reported.24
Comparison of the proportions receiving work relief at the close of
1932 and 1934 indicates that the older engineers were favored prior
to 1932, while the more recent graduates were being favored in 1934.
In 1932 the group graduating in the period 1930-32 had a larger pro
portion of its membership unemployed than any of the other age
classes, but the proportion of work relief (0.6 percent) was slightly
less in December 1932 than the proportion among the older engineers
(0.8 percent of those graduating from 1915-29 and 0.7 percent of
those graduating prior to 1915). Among the civil, agricultural, and
architectural engineers the difference in favor of the older groups was
marked, work relief being reported for only 0.5 percent of those grad
uating from 1930 to 1932 as against 1.0 percent of those graduating
from 1915 to 1929. B y December 31, 1934, this situation had been
reversed and there was a larger proportion on work relief among the
recent college graduates than among those who had entered the pro
fession prior to the depression. This was especially true of the civil
engineers, for whom work relief on December 31, 1934, was reported
for 9.4 percent of those graduating in 1933-34 and 8.3 percent of those
graduating in 1930-32, in comparison to only 6.5 percent of those
graduating in 1915-29 and 4.9 percent of those graduating prior to
1915. In the other professional groups no real differences between the
early and late graduating classes appear. Of the engineers in pro
fessions other than the civil-engineering group, who graduated during
the years 1930-32, 2.2 percent were on work relief, but 3.2 percent
of those graduating in 1933-34 reported work relief. In this connec
tion it must be recalled that in 1934 there was a larger proportion
24
Separate figures are not available as regards the civil engineers who attended noncollegiate technical
schools. Without regard to professional class, such engineers appear to have had a slightly lower workrelief experience than engineers with other types of educational background; 12.1 percent of all engineers
from noncollegiate technical schools reported some period of work relief, whereas 14.0 percent of those with
an incomplete college course and 12.4 percent of the college graduates so reported.
U N EM PLO YM EN T, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
115
of unemployed among those graduating in 1933-34 than among the
other age groups.
W o r k R e lie f, 1930 to 1934, In clu sive
Thus far, in this section, the discussion of work relief has been
confined to the reports for specific dates. For the 5-year period as a
whole, a larger number of engineers had some experience with work
relief. For all types of engineers, irrespective of background, about
one-eighth reported some period of work relief, but very wide differ
ences were shown in the extent of work relief for civil engineers and
for other types of engineers. Thus, among engineers with an incom
plete college course, 19.6 percent of the civil-engineering group reported
some work relief, whereas only 7.5 percent of those in the other pro
fessions considered together so reported. Among college graduates
work relief was reported by 16.8 percent of the civil-engineering group
and by only 10.9 percent of the mining and metallurgical engineers.
For the other professional classes, the percentages were 8.3 for elec
trical engineers, 8.3 for mechanical and industrial engineers, and 6.6
for chemical and ceramic engineers.
In all professional classes, age was an important factor in the
frequency of work relief. Table 40 gives for the three professional
classes of civil engineers, electrical engineers, and mechanical engi
neers,25 the percentages of those receiving work relief, at any time
during the 5 years, 1930 to 1934, classified by age. The figures relate
only to college graduates.
T
a b l e 40 .—
P ercentage o f graduate en gineers reporting w ork relief at a n y tim e, 1 9 8 0
to 1 9 8 4 , by yea r o f graduation and p rofessio n a l class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Percentage reporting work relief
Year of graduation
All years____
_____________ _
engi
Civil engineers Electrical
neers
___ _________
Mechanical
engineers
_
16.8
8.3
8.3
1933-34_____________________________________________
1930-32____________________________________________
1915-29_____________________________________________
______ __
Prior to 1915____ _ ___ ___ __ _ ___ ___
26.4
25.2
15.9
12.4
12.5
12.8
6.2
6.3
10.2
10.4
7.4
7.6
It will be noted from the table that there was relatively little differ
ence, as regards the frequency of work-relief experience between those
graduating in 1930-32 and those graduating in 1933-34. Among civil
engineers, approximately one-fourth of those in these classes reported
a period of work relief, about an eighth of the electrical engineers, and
slightly more than a tenth of the mechanical engineers. The percent25
The civil engineers here tabulated do not include architectural and agricultural engineers, nor do the
mechanical engineers include industrial.
116
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
age of civil engineers and electrical engineers who reported work relief
was only half as large among those graduating prior to 1915 as among
those graduating 4n 1930 or later years. Only for the civil engineers
was there any indication of a difference in the frequency of work relief
as between graduates of 1915-29 and those of years prior to 1915.
The median period of work relief was approximately 5 months, as
shown in table 41 for college graduates classified by year of graduation
in the three professional groups of civil, electrical, and mechanical
engineering.
T a b l e 41.— M e d ia n p eriod o f work re lie f am ong graduate en gin eers , 1 9 3 0 to 1 9 3 4 ,
by yea r o f graduation and p rofessio n a l class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Median period (in months) of work relief
Year of graduation
engi
Civil engineers Electrical
neers
Mechanical
engineers
All y e a rs_______ __________________________________
5.2
4.5
5.1
1933-34_____________________________________________
1930-32_____________________________________________
1915-29_____________________________________________
Prior to 1915-_ ______ ______ .. ___________________
4.1
4.8
5.6
5.5
3.8
4.3
4.6
6.5
4.1
4.5
5. 7
5.6
The differences in the length of the period between the various pro
fessional classes are small and show no particular regularity. Essen
tially, the periods are the same both for civil engineers and for me
chanical engineers, though the average period was perhaps somewhat
shorter in the case of electrical engineers. Little difference is shown
between those who graduated from 1915-29 and those who graduated
prior to 1915, but apparently those who graduated prior to 1930 had
a slightly longer period of work relief than those who graduated in
1930-32.26
Thus far in this discussion, those reporting work relief have been
regarded as unemployed. In more than four-fifths of the cases those
who reported a period of work relief also reported a period of unem
ployment. However, of the 3,816 engineers with college degrees who
reported a period of work relief, 642 reported no period of unemploy
ment. This situation calls for some explanation though it does not
change the general outline of the conclusions reached. There seems
to be a slight overreporting of work relief and, therefore, a slight over
estimate of unemployment due to the method of adding together
periods of unemployment without work of any kind and periods of
26
If it is correct to conclude that the major part of the work-relief experience came in the years 1933-34; the
differences between the classes graduating in 1930-32 and those graduating earlier are not to be explained in
terms of a longer period of eligibility for work relief. It may be pointed out that a shorter period in the case
of the classes of 1930-32 is consistent with the earlier conclusion that recruitment was more extensive among
this group of engineers than among the older ones. The still shorter period, which is indicated for those who
graduated in 1933-34, may well be explained by the fact that they had a shorter period of eligibility for work
relief.
U N EM PLO YM EN T, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
117
work relief to determine the gross frequency and period of unemploy
ment.
There is also a corresponding underreporting of nonrelief
public employment. In this discussion, it is necessary to distinguish
three age groups, those graduating in 1929 or earlier years, those
graduating in 1930-32, and those graduating in 1933-34. Among
the more recent graduates little difference is found between civil
engineers and all other types of engineers, as regards work relief
without unemployment. Of the 533 engineers graduating from col
lege in 1933-34 and reporting some work relief, 157 reported no period
of unemployment, i. e., approximately a third of them appear to have
entered directly into work relief. Among those graduating in 1930-32,
133 out of 819 or somewhat under a sixth, reported such an experience.
This may merely reflect a need for young engineers to staff minor
supervisory positions on projects conceived to meet the needs of other
groups.
T a b l e 4 2 . — C o m p a riso n o f graduate engineers reporting w ork relief fo llo w in g u n em
p lo ym en t, and o f graduate en gineers reporting w ork relief w ith n o u n em p lo ym en t,
1 9 3 0 to 1 9 3 4
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34J
Graduating class
Total number reporting work
relief only, and work relief fol
lowing unemployment
Total number reporting work
relief only
Civil, ag All other
All profes ricultural,
profes
sional
sional
and archi
classes
tectural
classes
Civil, ag All other
All profes ricultural,
profes
sional
and archi
sional
classes
tectural
classes
All engineers with college degrees,..
3,816
2,170
1,646
642
390
252
Graduating classes:
1933-34_______________________
1930-32_______________________
Prior to 1930__________________
533
819
2,464
269
425
1, 476
264
394
988
157
133
352
83
65
242
74
68
110
In the case of those civil engineers who graduated in 1929 or earlier
years, 242 of the 1,476 who reported work relief did not report a
period of unemployment. There are too few cases in the other pro
fessional classes to warrant a breakdown, but among all engineers
other than civil engineers graduating in 1929 or earlier years, there
were 110 out of 988 who reported no period of unemployment. Two
factors lead to the belief that some of those reporting a period of work
relief but no period of unemployment should be separated from the
unemployed: (1) It will be noted that this situation was commoner
among civil engineers than among the other professional classes, un
doubtedly because the training of civil engineers was more extensively
required on work-relief projects than was the training of other types
of engineer; (2) it seems probable that there was some misunder
standing by engineers replying to the questionnaire and that a small
percentage of them reported public administrative employment in
285208°— 41----- 9
118
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
connection with work-relief projects as work relief rather than as
public employment. It is possible that certain engineers reporting a
period of work relief neglected to report a period of unemployment or
merged the two figures in a single one of a period of work relief.
In general, a period of work relief was associated with a reported
period of unemployment. This was true of more than 85 percent of
the engineers, without regard to professional classification, graduated
in 1929 or earlier years, who secured work relief. For this group of
college graduates, there is a clear relationship between the period of
unemployment and entrance into work relief.27 The percentages in
table 43 represent the ratio of the total number of individuals receiv
ing work relief after a given period of unemployment to the total
number of unemployed persons who had at least as much as the short
est period of unemployment indicated. Thus, for example, 6 percent
of all civil engineers who reported any period of unemployment
whatsoever were placed on work-relief projects after a period of less
than 6 months of unemployment, 11.9 percent of all civil engineers
who were unemployed 6 months or more were placed on work-relief
projects after 6 to 12 months of unemployment, etc. The figures in
the table relate only to unemployed engineers with college degrees
who reported work relief at any time from January 1930 to December
1934.
T a b l e 43. — Percentage o f u n e m p lo ye d graduate en gineers on w ork re lie f after sp eci
fied u n e m p lo ym en t , 1 9 3 0 to 1 9 3 4 , by
?/ear
o f graduation
Percentage of engineers who received work relief after
specified months of unemployment
Year of graduation
Less
than 6
6-12
12-18
18-24
24-30
30-36
36-42
42-48
All engineers with college degrees__________
4.3
9.3
12.6
13.7
14.9
18.4
18.0
18.8
Civil engineers__________ ______________
1925-29______________________________
1915-24_______________________________
1905-14____ __________________________
Prior to 1905____________________ : ------
6.0
6.3
7.2
5.9
1.8
11.9
13.8
13.5
11.0
6.4
15.7
17.4
19.5
14.4
9.0
17.9
25.8
20.9
16.6
8.5
18.1
25.2
19.8
19.0
10.6
22.1
26.0
36.0
15.6
16.8
21.2
33.0
28.0
22.0
13.0
24.6
63.0
27.0
23.0
18.0
Other professional classes_______ _ ___
1925-29______________________________
1915-24______________________________
1905-14______________________________
Prior to 1905__________________________
2.8
2.5
3.7
2.8
.8
7.0
7.4
7.5
7.1
4.5
9.9
10.6
12.4
8.5
5.4
10.2
11.2
12.7
9.1
5.9
12.5
13.5
11.8
15.2
8.4
15.5
19.6
19.3
14.0
9.7
15.5
20.0
20.0
10.0
14.0
14.1
20.0
8.0
19.0
12.0
n For the correlation of the period of unemployment that antedates relief, the following information is
available: The total period of unemployment, exclusive of work relief, and the total period of work relief.
In order to simplify the presentation, the material is presented as though there were in all cases a sequence
of an unbroken period of unemployment followed in certain instances by work relief. It is quite possible
that in certain instances the total period of unemployment is broken into several stretches interspersed with
periods of work relief. In such a case, it would be incorrect to say that work relief followed after 12 months
of unemployment if 12 months were the total reported period of unemployment exclusive of work relief.
To distinguish several periods of unemployment would have required a greater refinement than it was possi
ble to undertake by the questionnaire method. The extent of the error, which is implied in this assumption,
is probably not great, but technically all that can be shown is a relationship between a certain aggregate
period of unemployment, exclusive of work relief, and the existence of some period of work relief which may
have preceded a period of unemployment or have broken into a period of unemployment.
U NEM PLO YM EN T, ENGINEERING PROFESSION,
19 2 9 - 3 4
119
During the 5-year period, placement on work-relief projects rose
steadily as the period of unemployment was lengthened. For all
unemployed civil engineers, the increase was from a 6.0-percent
placement within less than 6 months to a 22.1-percent placement
after 30 to 36 months of unemployment for those who had been unem
ployed as much as 30 months. Among the other professional groups,
the corresponding percentages of placement rise from 2.8 to 15.5
percent, as would be expected, because of the larger number of cases
covered. This movement is more regular for all classes of graduates
combined than for the four age groups, but even in these age groups
there is an essential regularity.
This increase in the percentage of placements on work-relief projects
with lengthening periods of unemployment reflects the actual course
of events in these 5 years, but the 5 years were not a homogeneous
period as regards the availability of work relief, which was first
inaugurated on a large scale in 1933. Any person unemployed for as
little as 6 months in 1931 had virtually no opportunity to secure work
relief. On the other hand, a person who became unemployed in
July 1931 would, probably after the lapse of 30 months, have found
C. W. A. work. Therefore, in interpreting the figures shown in the
table, it must be remembered that longer periods of unemployment
increased the probability of work relief merely by carrying over into
a period in which work relief became available.
A further and more significant comparison may be made with
reference to the availability of work relief to the members of the
different groups of graduating classes. For this purpose, these
classes should be interpreted as indicating not particularly differences
between younger and older engineers, but more especially probable
differences in the financial resources of the different groups. In the
aggregate, those engineers who graduated prior to 1905 probably had
substantially larger financial reserves than those who graduated from
1925 to 1929. In the case of civil engineers, the percentage on work
relief was highest in the case of those who graduated from 1925 to
1929. Among the other professional groups, this relationship was
less well maintained, though there appeared to be a distinct demarca
tion between those who graduated prior to and after 1915. The
strongest contrast was between those who graduated in the period
1925-29 and those who graduated prior to 1905. Thus, 6.3 percent
of the civil engineers who graduated from 1925 to 1929 received work
relief after a period of less than 6 months of unemployment, but only
1.8 percent of those who graduated prior to 1905 reported work
relief after such a period. Of the civil engineers unemployed as long
as 24 months, 25.2 percent of those graduated in 1925-29, as con
trasted with only 10.6 percent of those graduated prior to 1905,
received work relief after 24 to 30 months of unemployment.
Chapter VII
Patent Privileges of Professional Engineers
Since definitive information on the subject of patent rights of pro
fessional workers has hitherto been unavailable, there were included
in this survey certain questions relating to this subject. The par
ticular information presented in this chapter covers the right to patent
or to receive special compensation for inventions or improvements
made on the one hand in the course of the work and on the other not
directly related to the work in which the professional engineer was
engaged. They are compiled from reports of those engineers who
stated that they were engaged in engineering work in December 1934.
Patent Privileges by Field of Engineering Activity
Information as to patent privileges was furnished by 61.6 percent
of the 35,559 reporting engineers 1 with engineering jobs at the end
of 1934 (table 44).
Of all engineers covered, 31.7 percent reported retention of the
patent rights for all inventions made either in the course of their work
or in fields not directly related to their work. Among the nine
separate fields of engineering activity this was true of the largest
group in each case, except in manufacturing, where the highest pro
portion (30.1 percent) reported that they had no rights to patents
relating to their work, but did retain their rights to those not directly
related to their work. This latter combination (“ (1) N o, (2) Y es,”
in table 44) ranked second in importance and included 16.9 percent
of the 35,559 engineers. The third group in importance (including
4,575, or 12.9 percent) was that reporting complete restriction on both
aspects of patent privileges.
There were substantial variations in the rights to inventions in the
several fields of employment. Thus, half of the engineers employed
by manufacturing establishments reported that they had no rights in
inventions made in the course of work and less than one-quarter
reported positively that they did have special rights in connection
with such inventions. One-third of those in extractive industries
reported that they had no rights in such inventions, while an approxi1 As in the case of the discussion of “ Conditions of Employment” (ch. V, p. 81), the figures presented
are unadjusted, as spot checks on an adjusted basis revealed no significant differences which would ma
terially affect any conclusions derived from the analysis.
120
121
PATENT PRIVILEGES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
mately equal number reported they did have such rights. In various
lines of private employment, the smallest proportion reporting no
rights to inventions made in the course of work was found in construc
tion, but the highest proportion positively reporting that they had
special rights was in public utilities. Restrictions on rights in inven
tions made in the course of work existed for one-quarter of those
engineers employed by the Federal Government, though more than
half did not answer the question and only one-fifth stated positively
that they did have special rights. In other fields of public employ
ment and in personal service about 15 percent stated that they had
no rights, while one-half of those in personal service, largely teachers,
reported that they did have rights to inventions made in the course of
work.
T a b l e 4 4 .— D istrib u tio n o f all en gineers reporting patent rights at en d o f 1 9 3 4 , b y
field o f en gineering activity
Right retained to inventions (1) made in the course of
work, and (2) not directly related to work
Field of engineering activity
Total
(1) Yes;
(2) yes
(1) No;
(2) yes
(1) No;
(2) no
(1) Yes;
(2) no
Not
report
ing
Number
35,559
11, 263
6,017
4, 575
42
113,662
Private engineering___________________ ___
21,604
Construction_______ _________________ 3, 437
1,841
Extractive industries____ _ _________
Public utilities - ___ _________ ____ _
4,183
Transportation___
_____________ __. 1, 255
Manufacturing____________________
10, 888
6,499
1,178
601
1, 771
434
2,515
4,801
294
342
670
217
3,278
3,279
405
288
374
143
2,069
29
5
2
6
3
13
6,996
1, 555
608
1,362
458
3,013
Public engineering-.
_ __ ____ - 11,177
4, 649
Federal Government___
___ ______
State and county governments__________
4,438
2,090
Municipal governments____ _________
2,778
Personal service________ __ ______________
3, 364
1,009
1,587
768
1, 400
946
582
249
115
270
1,150
567
386
197
146
10
3
5
2
3
5,707
2,488
2, 211
1,008
959
All fields____________________________________
Percentage
All fields______________ ____ ______________
100.0
31.7
16.9
12.9
0.1
38.4
Private engineering _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ________
Construction____ _
___ ___ _
Extractive industries___ ____ ______ ____
Public utilities__ .
__
_____
Transportation_______
_ ___________
Manufacturing--------- ---------------------------
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
30.1
34.3
32.6
42.4
34.6
23.1
22.2
8.6
18.6
16.0
17.3
30.1
15.2
11.8
15.6
8.9
11.4
19.0
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.1
32.4
45.2
33.1
32.6
36.5
27.7
Public engineering_________________________
Federal Governments---------------------------State and county governments_______ . _
Municipal governments___________ .
Personal service______ __________ _ ------------
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
30.1
21.7
35.8
36.7
50.4
8.5
12.5
5.6
5.5
9.7
10.3
12.2
8.7
9.4
5.3
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
51.0
53.5
49.8
48.3
34.5
1Included in this total are 42 cases in which reports state that there is a right to inventions made in the
course of work but no rights to inventions not connected with the work, a combination which suggests
error in reporting. It affects 0.1 percent in each class in table 44 (except transportation, 0.2).
As a general rule in all fields of engineering activity, rights to inven
tions made outside the course of work were retained by engineers. This
was specially stated to be so by more than half the engineers in the
122
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
several fields of private employment, except construction where 45.2
percent failed to answer the question. On the other hand, specific
answers that such rights did not exist were made by 19.0 percent of
those employed in manufacturing and 15.6 percent of those in extrac
tive industries. Only about half of those engaged in public service
answered the question. Of those who did answer, four times as many
said they had rights to inventions made outside the course of work as
said they did not have rights to such inventions. Even in this field
approximately one-tenth did not have special rights in inventions
made outside the course of work.
Patent Privileges by Type of Engineering Work
Of the engineers who were engaged in engineering work in December
1934, 34,101 reported on the type of engineering work in which they
were engaged. This is a somewhat smaller number than reportedton
the field of employment. In general, of course, the same distribution
is shown as regards patent rights in table 45, where the classification
is by type of work, as was shown in table 44 for field of employment.
There were distinct differences as regards rights in inventions
among the several types of professional work. Teachers had the most
extensive rights in inventions, and engineers engaged in sales and in
design and research were most restricted.
T a b l e 4 5 .— D istr ib u tio n o f all en gineers reporting patent rights at end
o f 1 9 3 4 , by ty p e o f en gin eerin g work
Right retained to inventions (1) made in the course
of work, and (2) not directly related to work
Type of engineering work
Total
(1) Yes;
(2) yes
(1) No;
(2) yes
(1) No;
(2) no
Not re
porting
Number
All types_______
______________________________
Design and research_____________________________
Construction_______________________ ___________
____________ _____
Operation_________________
Consulting______________
____________
Teaching_________________________________ ____
Sales___________________________________________
General administration and management__________
34,101
10,828
5,779
4,401
i 13,093
9,050
8, 233
8, 276
2,146
2,050
1, 513
2,833
2,128
2, 730
2,737
695
1,132
453
953
2,404
717
1,494
202
199
310
453
1, 430
892
1,108
246
90
293
342
3,088
3,894
2,937
1,003
629
457
1,085
Percentage
________________
100.0
31.8
16.9
12.9
38.4
Design and research. _ . ___ ___________ ____ ____
Construction. __________________________________
Operation_______ ______ _______________________
Consulting__________ _________________________
Teaching__________________________ ____________
Sales... . . . ________ . . . . ._ . . . ____________
General administration and management____ . . . ...
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
23.5
33.2
33.1
32.4
55.3
29.9
33.6
26.6
8.7
18.1
9.4
9.7
20.5
16.0
15.8
10.8
13.4
11.5
4.4
19.4
12.1
34.1
47.3
35.4
46.7
30.6
30 2
38.4
All types_____________________
i Included in this total are 40 cases in which reports state that there is a right to inventions made in the
course of work but no rights to inventions not connected with the work, a combination which suggests error
in reporting. It affects not more than 0.1 percent in each type of work shown in the table.
PATENT PRIVILEGES O'F PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
123
In general, about one-third of the engineers stated positively that
they retained rights in inventions made in the course of their employ
ment. But 55.3 percent of the teachers stated that they had such
rights, while only 14.1 percent of them reported that they had no
such rights. In construction and consulting work, approximately
one-third reported that they had rights in such inventions and onefifth that they had no such rights. Engineers engaged in operation
and in general administration reported about as frequently that they
did have rights to inventions made in the course of work as that they
did not. However, among engineers engaged in sales, and in design
and research, approximately two-fifths stated positively that they
did not have rights in inventions made in the course of work, while
a very much smaller proportion (in the case of those engaged in
design and research, less than one-fourth) reported positively that
they had rights to inventions made in the course of work.
The same general relationship as regards the restriction on rights in
inventions holds with reference to inventions not directly related to the
work on which engineers were employed. In the case of teachers,
almost two-thirds stated positively that they had rights in such in
ventions and only 4.4 percent reported that they did not have such
rights. Among the other groups, approximately half had rights in
inventions not made in the course of work. About one-eighth stated
that they did not have rights in inventions even though they were not
directly related to the work in which they were employed. In this
respect, there appeared to be no substantial differences in practice
affecting engineers engaged in construction, operation, consultation,
or general administration. The differences shown in the table prob
ably arise from differences in the percentage which did not answer
this question. But in the case of engineers engaged in design and
research, 15.8 percent reported positively that they had no rights to
inventions not directly related to work. Engineers engaged in sales
reported a restriction in this respect in 19.4 percent of the cases.
Chapter VIII
Earned Annual Incomes of Professional Engineers,
1929 to 1934
The annual incomes reported in this survey include those received
by engineers from all personal services in the three years 1929, 1932,
and 1934. They are a measure of what engineers were able to earn
and were determined, not only by the rate of earnings, but also by
the volume of employment. In the first part of this chapter, the
earned annual income data are presented without regard to their
source, that is, they relate to the incomes of engineers, not to the
incomes of men engaged primarily in engineering or nonengineering
work. These particular data are shown in relation to (1) professional
class, (2) age, and (3) type of education.
In part II, however, the annual incomes, classified by age only,
are shown related to the professional engineer’s employment status.
The employment status, it will be recalled, was reported only as of
December 31, 1929, 1932, and 1934. Consequently, it has been
necessary to assume that the kind of engineering or nonengineering
employment engaged in at the end of the year was the source of the
income for that year. This assumption makes possible valid general
comparisons of the earnings of engineers in these two types of employ
ment. But in the section dealing with the annual incomes of engineers
who were unemployed, or who were employed on relief projects at the
end of the year, it must not be assumed that they reflect the source
of the income. They are merely the incomes which had accrued
during the year to those who were unemployed at the end of the year.
Salient Features of the Data 1
From a consideration of certain pertinent aspects affecting the
returns on income and earnings for 1929, 1932, and 1934, it is believed
that these data are representative of the engineering profession as a
whole. They have been shown to be representative as regards age,
after allowance is made for the larger representation of engineers
graduating in 1930 or later years. Also the several distributions of
income follow a consistent pattern even when analyzed in detail.
i
To avoid an obvious repetition it is to be noted that the remarks in this section apply to both earned
annual incomes as discussed in this chapter and to the analysis of monthly rates of compensation from engi
neering work only, presented in the chapter immediately following.
124
EARNED ANNUAL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
12 5
Thus, the same type of distribution emerges when the data are analyzed
by ages, by professional classes, or even on a regional basis. This
is true of both annual income and m onthly engineering income.
T a b l e 46 .— Comparison of gross and net numbers of engineers reporting annual
earnings in 1934
[Without regard to employment status reported]
Graduates of classes
Professional class
Total
“ Other” engineers born
Prior
to
1930-32 1933-34
1930 1
Total
Prior
to
1907 1
1907-9 1910-14
Number
All classes:
Number reporting in survey____ 43,288
Gross number reporting income. 38, 513
Net number reporting income.
33, 720
Chemical and ceramic:
Number reporting in survey____
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income.._
Civil, agricultural, and architectural:
Number reporting in survey____
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income.
Electrical:
Number reporting in survey____
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income...
Mechanical and industrial:
Number reporting in survey____
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income . . .
Mining and metallurgical:
Number reporting in survey____
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income...
24,826
22,178
20, 376
11,050
10, 201
7, 210
7,412
6,134
6,134
9,301
8,277
7, 569
8,440
7, 513
6, 871
575
523
457
286
241
241
3,697
3, 270
2, 749
1,451
1,285
1,150
1, 259
1,169
783
987
816
816
203
177
156
158
137
124
27
27
19
18
13
13
16,114
14, 562
12,984
10, 314
9,344
8,596
3,602
3,369
2, 539
2,198
1,849
1,849
4, 712
4, 275
3,915
4,341
3,941
3, 603
256
233
211
115
101
101
9,924
8, 792
7,627
5,182
4,688
4, 368
2,949
2, 686
1,841
1, 793
1, 418
1,418
1, 519
1, 345
1, 256
1, 285
1,140
1,067
156
140
124
78
65
65
11,643
10, 236
8,923
6, 596
5,785
5,271
2, 854
2, 620
1, 821
2,193
1, 831
1,831
2, 590
2,246
2,035
2,407
2, 082
1,889
124
113
95
59
51
51
1,910
1,653
1,437
1,283
1,076
991
386
357
226
241
220
220
277
234
207
249
213
188
12
10
8
16
11
11
Percentage of number reporting in survey
All classes:
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income.
Chemical and ceramic:
Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting income...
Civil, agricultural, and architectural:
Gross number reporting income. .
Net number reporting income. __
Electrical:
Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting income . . .
Mechanical and industrial:
Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting incom e...
Mining and metallurgical:
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income...
89.0
77.9
89.3
82.0
92.4
65.3
82.8
82.8
89.0
81.4
89.0
81.4
91.0
79.5
84.3
84.3
88.5
74.4
88.4
79.1
93.0
62.3
82.7
82.7
87.2
76.8
86.7
78.5
100.0
70.4
72.2
72.2
90.4
80.6
90.6
83.3
93.6
70.6
84.1
84.1
90.7
83.1
90.8
83.0
91.0
82.4
87.8
87.8
88.6
76.9
90.4
84.3
91.1
62.5
79.1
79.1
88.5
82.7
88.7
83.0
89.7
79.5
83.3
83.3
87.9
76.6
87.7
79.9
91.9
63.9
83.5
83.5
86.7
78.6
86.5
78.5
91.1
76.6
86.4
86.4
86.5
75.2
83.9
77.2
92.5
58.5
91.3
91.3
84.5
74.7
85.5
75.5
83.3
66.7
68.8
68.8
1Includes all engineers 23 years of age and more in 1929 who reported they were profesionally active prior
to 1930.
Furthermore, the averages proved to be essentially the same,
whether derived from a “ gross” or “ net” number reporting. The
“ gross” number reporting income is the total number of engineers
who reported income in any 1 year, irrespective of whether or not
they reported in other years. The “ net” number reporting income
is the number who furnished information for all three years— 1929,
126
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
1932, and 1934.2 In the income tables averages are derived from
the “ gross” numbers reporting.
T a b l e 4 7 .— C o m p a riso n o f gross and net n u m bers o f en gin eers rep ortin g m on th ly
en gin eerin g ea rn in gs 1 in 1 9 3 4
[Without regard to employment status reported]
Graduates of classes
Professional class
Total
“ Other” engineers born
Prior
1930-32 1933-34
to
1930 2
Total
Prior
to
1907 2
1907-9 1910-14
Number
All classes:
Number reporting in survey___ 43, 288
Gross number reporting income _ 31, 574
26, 680
Net number reporting income.
Chemical and ceramic:
Number reporting in survey.._
Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting income...
Civil, agricultural, and architectural:
Number reporting in survey____
Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting income.. _
Electrical:
Number reporting in survey-----Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting income. __
Mechanical and industrial:
Number reporting in survey____
Gross number reporting income. .
Net number reporting incom e.._
Mining and metallurgical:
Number reporting in survey-----Gross number reporting income. .
Net number reporting income...
24,826
19,814
17,686
11,054
7,405
4, 639
7,412
4,355
4, 355
9,301
7,504
6, 639
8,440
6,860
6, 070
575
447
372
286
197
197
3, 697
2, 568
2,071
1, 451
1,151
1,004
1, 259
842
492
987
575
575
203
141
118
158
116
99
27
16
10
18
9
9
16,114
12,929
11,073
10, 314
8, 593
7, 647
3, 602
2, 817
1,907
2,198
1, 519
1, 519
4, 712
3,996
3,538
4,341
3,691
3,260
256
212
185
115
93
93
9, 924
6, 307
5, 376
5,182
4,003
3,678
2,949
1, 524
918
1, 793
780
780
1,519
1,138
1,041
1, 285
980
898
156
109
94
78
49
49
11,643
8, 350
6, 994
6, 596
5,105
4, 511
2, 854
1,938
1,176
2,193
1, 307
1,307
2,590
2,022
1, 765
2,407
1,882
1, 648
124
102
79
59
38
38
1,910
1,420
1,166
1, 283
962
846
386
284
146
241
174
174
277
207
177
249
191
165
12
8
4
16
8
8
Percentage of number reporting in survey
All classes:
Gross number reporting income. Net number reporting income. _.
Chemical and ceramic:
Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting income...
Civil, agricultural, and architectural:
Gross number reporting income. .
Net number reporting income...
Electrical:
Gross number reporting income. _
Net number reporting income.._
Mechanical and industrial:
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income. _.
Mining and metallurgical:
Gross number reporting income..
Net number reporting income. __
72.9
61.6
79.8
71.2
67.1
42.0
58.8
58.8
80.7
71.4
81.3
71.9
77.7
64.7
68.9
68.9
69.5
56.0
79.2
69.1
67.0
39.1
58.3
58.3
69.5
58.1
73.4
62.7
59.3
37.0
50.0
50.0
80.2
68.7
83.3
74.1
78.3
53.0
69.1
69.1
84.8
75.1
85.0
75.1
82.8
72.3
80.9
80.9
63.6
54.2
77.2
70.9
51.7
31.2
43.5
43.5
74.9
68.5
76.3
69.9
69.9
60.3
62.8
62.8
71.7
60.1
77.4
68.4
68.0
41.2
59.6
59.6
78.1
68.1
78.2
68.5
82.3
63.7
64.4
64.4
74.3
61.0
75.0
65.9
73.6
37.8
72.2
72.2
74.7
63.9
76.7
66.3
66.7
33.3
50.0
50.0
1In the text, “ engineering earnings,” “ monthly engineering income,” and “ engineering income,” are used
interchangeably.
2Includes all engineers 23 years of age and more in 1929 who reported they were professionally active prior
to 1930.
2 In the case of the 1930-32 graduates and “ other” engineers born in 1907-9, the net number reporting
income is the number furnishing data for the 2 years 1932 and 1934. In the case of the 1933-34 graduates
and 1910-14 “ other” engineers, income data for 1934 alone were relevant. Hence, there is no difference
between “ gross” and “ net” data.
EARNED ANNUAL, INCOME'S OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
127
The “ gross” numbers reporting earned annual income for 1934 and
the “ net” numbers are shown compared in table 46. These numbers
are the totals of those returning questionnaires before any adjust
ment was made in the number of the younger men.
In each case, the base for computing percentages was the number
reporting in the survey, that is, those engineers who reported a type
of education.3 For all age groups, it will be noted that there were dis
tinct differences between the “ gross” and “ net” percentages reporting
income. The greatest divergences occurred among the 1930-32 gradu
ate and the 1907-9 “ other” engineers. For the country as a whole,
these were, respectively, 27.1 and 11.5 percent. On a national basis,
older graduates differed by 7.3 percent, older “ other” engineers by 7.6
percent. Despite these variations, a comparison of the corresponding
measures of levels of annual income derived from the “ gross” and “ net”
returns showed no significant differences. A similar situation was
noted for the “ gross” and “ net” returns on monthly engineering in
come shown in table 47.
In the ensuing discussion, the middle values of income were com
puted for groups with at least 10 engineers reporting. For the upper
and lower 25-percent groups or levels, the measures were based on not
less than 50, while the upper and lower 10-percent groups embraced
not less than 100 engineers.
Earned Annual Incomes From All Sources in 1929, 1932, and 1934
Incomes o f A ll Engineers Combined W ithout Regard to Age
The income data for 1929 were furnished by 30,032 engineers, or
slightly over 90 percent of all reporting engineers who were 23 years
of age and more in 1929 and who reported that they were profes
sionally active prior to 1930.4 These data, together with the adjusted
figures on earned annual income, without regard to employment
status reported, for 1932 and 1934, are shown in table 48.
3 The use of type of education as a base was felt to be justified because only 104 of the 52,689 professional
engineers reporting in this survey did not report their type of education. The 104 engineers, however, did
report their professional class, and either year of graduation or year of birth. They were, therefore, used for
all purposes, except those dealing with type of education.
4 The gross figure of 38,513 shown in table 46 relates to all reports, whether for engineers in the profession
in 1929 or to recent entrants.
The choice of 23 years of age as datum arises from the fact that this was the computed median age of gradua
tion of graduate engineers. It is obvious that this base did not make it feasible to include in the 1929 tabula
tions those “ other” engineers who were under 23 years of age in 1929. Their data, however, are shown com
pared with those reported by the 1930-32 graduates, that is, men of comparable ages for the years 1932 and
1934.
128
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 48 .— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f annual earning in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 o f all
p rofessio n a l en gin eers reporting
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34 and without regard to employment status reported or type of
education]
Percentage at specified in
come level
Annual earnings of more
than specified amount
1929
__ ______ $7,466
10 percent
5,012
25 percent_________ _____
3,412
50 percent..... ................_.
2,509
75 percent________ _____
1,878
90 percent____ _______
1932
$5,605
3,827
2,574
1,698
889
1934
Increase or decrease
1929-34
Percentage change
1929-32 1932-34 1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
$5,138 —$2, 328 -$ 1 ,861
3,429 -1 . 583 -1,185
2, 286 -1.126
-838
-811
1, 473 -1,036
872 -1,006
-989
-$467
-398
-288
-225
-1 7
-3 1 .2
-31.6
-3 3.0
-41.3
-5 3.6
—24.9
-2 3.6
-2 4.6
-3 2.3
-5 2.7
—8. 3
—10.4
-11. 2
—13.3
-1 .9
In 1929 the range in earned annual incomes among professional
engineers was great. Some 479 reported incomes less than $800 per
year, while 295 earned more than $19,000 a year. In 1929, without
regard to their age distribution, half of the engineers had annual
incomes greater than $3,412, while half earned less than that figure.
However, 25 percent earned more than $5,012 per annum. Only
10 percent of the 30,032 reporting engineers had incomes in excess of
$7,466 per annum. On the other hand one-quarter of all engineers
reporting earned less than $2,509 per year, and one-tenth earned less
than $1,878 per year.
From 1929 to 1934, marked decreases took place in the earned
annual incomes of professional engineers. The sharpest absolute
declines occurred in the higher income levels. Thus, in 1929, while
the highest one-tenth of the engineers had earned more than $7,466, in
1934 the earnings of this highest-paid tenth ranged down to $5,138.
The middle income declined from $3,412 in 1929 to $2,286 in 1934.
However, the percentages of decrease for the highest 10 and 25 percent
of reporting engineers were approximately the same, namely, 31.2 and
31.6 percent, respectively. The middle or average values of all
incomes declined by 33.0 percent. A t the lower income levels, the
absolute declines were almost as great as was the decline of the median
earnings; but the percentage decreases were greater. This decrease
at the lower levels reflects not only salary cuts, but also the low earn
ings of those with long periods of unemployment. In 1929, while
the yearly earnings reported by the lowest 25 and 10 percent of the
engineers were less than $2,509 and $1,878 respectively, by 1934 the
former had decreased to $1,473, the latter to $872. The relative
percentage decreases were greatest for these two lower income levels,
namely, 41.3 and 53.6.6
5
It must be noted that errors of reporting account for part of the decline, at least in the lowest brackets for
which comparison is made. The questionnaire called for earnings during the calendar years 1929 and 1934.
An engineer graduating from college in either year would usually have had only a half year in which he
earned. In both years, there is some evidence that annual rates were occasionally reported. Such over
reporting was more common for 1929 than 1934.
EARNED AN N U AL
INCOMES O'E PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
129
Almost two-thirds of the decrease in earned annual incomes occurred
between 1929 and 1932. This, it will be recalled, was coincident with
the greatest declines in employment. There were further declines
in the period 1932 to 1934. In general, the order of the absolute
decreases and the percentages of change followed those which took
place in the period 1929 to 1934, the one exception being that, between
1932 and 1934, there was only a 1.9 percent decline in the lowest
income levels. The corresponding absolute decrease was $17.
Incomes by Professional Class, W ithout Regard to Age
When these adjusted data on annual income were compared for all
engineers reporting in the five professional classes, marked diver
gences in their respective earnings capacities were revealed.
These differences in earnings capacities within the several profes
sional classes were greatest at the higher income levels. Thus, in
1929, nine-tenths of all electrical engineers earned $1,662 or more,
while a similar proportion of the mining and metallurgical engineers
earned $1,985. The range was $323. For the middle values of
income, a difference of $733 was noted between the extremes of $4,010
for mining and metallurgical and $3,277 for electrical engineers.
On the other hand, at the highest level, one-tenth of the mining and
metallugrical engineers earned $9,912 or more, whereas a correspond
ing proportion of civil engineers earned only $6,507 or more. Clearly,
it was in the higher income levels that the earnings capacities of the
several professional classes diverged the most, even in terms of per
centages. Furthermore, this characteristic of greater variability
among the professional classes at higher levels persisted in 1929, 1932,
and 1934.
However, when the question is asked as to which professional class
offers the greatest earnings, or which the lowest, the answer must be
carefully qualified. In the first place, the averages shown in table 49
relate to the total number of the professional class. For example,
1,319 mining and metallurgical engineers reported incomes for 1929,
and of these one-tenth, or 132, had incomes of $10,000 or more.
There were 13,424 civil, agricultural, and architectural engineers,
of whom one-tenth, or 1,342, had incomes in excess of $6,507. There
fore, it may be concluded that of every 1,000 engineers in either pro
fessional class, a larger proportion will earn $10,000 in mining and
metallurgical engineering than in civil engineering. But the total
number of opportunities to earn $10,000 were greater in civil engi
neering, much the larger of the two professional classes. Among the
civil engineers reporting to the Bureau for 1929, there were 469 who
indicated incomes of $10,000 or more in 1929.
130
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 49.— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f annual earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 , and 1 9 8 4 o f
all en gineers reporting, by p rofessio n a l class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34 and without regard to employment status reported or type of
education]
Percentage of professional class
at specified income level1
Annual earnings of
more than speci
fied amount
1929
1932
1934
Increase or decrease
1929-34
Percentage change
1929-32 1932-34 1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
10 percent:
Mining and metallurgical___ $9,912 $7, Oil $6, 486 —$3, 426 —$2,901 -$525 -34.6 -29.3
Chemical and ceramic______ 9,103 6, 525 5, 860 -3 , 243 -2 , 578 -665 -35.6 -28.3
Mechanical and industrial--. 8, 508 6, 220 5, 572 -2 , 936 -2,288 -648 -34.5 -26.9
Electrical_________________ 7,185 5,785 5, 220 -1,965 -1,400 -565 -27.3 -19.5
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural. _________ _____ 6, 507 5,086 4, 561 -1,946 -1 , 421 -525 -29.9 -21.8
25 percent:
Mining and metallurgical___ 6,301 4,698 4,328 -1 , 973 -1 , 603 -370 -31.3 -25.4
Chemical and ceramic_____ 6,043 4, 425 3,703 -2 , 340 -1,618 -722 -38.7 -26.8
Mechanical and industrial.-- 5, 582 4,123 3, 662 -1,920 -1,459 -461 -34.4 -26.1
Electrical_________________ 4,806 3,770 3, 410 -1 , 396 -1,036 -360 -29.0 -21.6
Civil, agricultural, and archi
-929 -313 -27.6 -2 0.6
tectural. ________ ___ 4,508 3, 579 3,266 -1,242
50 percent:
-949 -435 -34.5 -23.7
Mining and metallurgical___ 4,010 3,061 2,626 -1 , 384
Chemical and ceramic______ 3,803 2, 625 2,047 -1,756 -1,178 -578 -46.2 -31.0
Mechanical and industrial __. 3, 699 2,681 2, 324 -1 , 375 -1,018 -357 -37.2 -27. 5
Civil, agricultural, and archi
3,291 2, 545 2, 297
-994
-746 -248 -30.2 -22.7
tectural. _ . . . ___
-768 -291 -32.3 -23.4
E lectrica l..______ ______ _ 3,277 2, 509 2, 218 -1,059
75 percent:
Mining and metallurgical___ 2,839 1,788 1,512 -1 , 327 -1,051 -276 -46.7 -37.0
-950 -252 -45.8 -36.2
Mechanical and industrial... 2, 626 1, 676 1,424 -1,202
-982 -343 -52.2 -38.7
Chemical and ceramic . . . . 2, 538 1,556 1,213 -1 , 325
Civil, agricultural, and archi
-903
-729 -174 -36.1 -29.2
2,499 1,770 1,596
tectural________ _____ . . .
-996
-705 -291 -42.6 -30.1
Electrical___. . . . . . _______ 2, 339 1, 634 1,343
90 percent:
893 -1,092 -1,212 +120 -55.0 -61.1
773
Mining and metallurgical___ 1,985
-6 6 -56.4 -53.0
Mechanical and industrial
1,956
919
853 -1,103 -1,037
Civil, agricultural, and archi
-910 -1,017 +107 -47.2 -52.8
909 1,016
tectural.,_______________ 1,926
610 -1,076
-954 -122 -63.8 -56.6
732
Chemical and ceramic.. ._ _ 1,686
-931
-789 -142 -56.0 -47. 5
873
731
Electrical _______ _____ . 1,662
-7 .5
-10.2
-10.4
-9 .8
-10.3
-7 .9
-1 6.3
-1 1.2
-9 .5
-8 .7
-14.2
-22.0
-13.3
-9 .7
-11.6
-15.4
-15.0
-22.0
-9 .8
-17.8
+15.5
-7 .2
+11.8
-16.7
-16.3
i Arranged in ascending order of earned annual income for 1929.
Again, the ranking of the profession on the basis of earnings oppor
tunity relative to the number of engineers in the professional class
was not the same at all levels and in all three periods. As regards the
relative level of income for the highest 10 percent, and also the highest
25 percent, in each professional class, there was a constant relation
ship. Thus, in 1929, 10 percent of the mining and metallurgical
engineers earned more than $9,912. Chemical and ceramic engineers
ranked second with 10 percent earning more than $9,103, and were
followed in order by mechanical and industrial engineers ($8,508),
electrical engineers ($7,185), and civil engineers ($6,507). Relative to
the mining and metallurgical engineers, the divergence was 8, 14, 27,
and 33 percent. A similar divergence was noted between the lower
limit of $6,301 reported by the upper fourth of the mining and metal
lurgical engineers and those of the other professional classes. In 1929,
these ranged from 4 percent in the case of chemical and ceramic
($6,034) to 28 percent for the civil engineers ($4,508). This order of
professional classes was also maintained in 1932 and 1934.
EARNED A N N U A L INCOMES
OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
131
In 1929, the relative order of the median professional incomes was
the same as that just described, as regards mining, chemical, and
mechanical engineers. But whereas the upper limit of the earnings of
the lowest 25 percent of the electrical engineers exceeded that of a
similar proportion of the civil engineers by 6.6 percent, at the median
level the situation was reversed— half the civil engineers earned $3,291
or more, whereas half the electrical engineers earned $3,277 or more.
This change in order persisted in 1932 and 1934.
In 1932 and 1934, the median earnings of mining and mechanical
engineers led all the others. Chemical engineers were below mechan
ical engineers in 1932. The median earnings of chemical engineers
were lower than the median of every other professional class in 1934.
At the lower levels the most marked shift in rank was that of civil
engineers and chemical engineers. In 1929, one-quarter of the civil
engineers earned less than $2,499, exceeding only the comparable
earnings of electrical engineers. But in 1932, civil engineers were
in second place as regards the level of earnings of the lowest quarter
of the profession, and in 1934 they were in first place. Even in 1929,
the lowest 10 percent of the civil engineers had earned almost as much
as the lowest 10 percent of the mining and mechanical engineers,
and substantially exceeded the level of the lowest 10 percent of the
chemical and electrical engineers. W ith reference to both the lowest
25 and 10 percent groups, chemical engineers’ earnings came in last
place in 1932 and 1934.
Further examination of the adjusted data in table 49, given without
regard to age, demonstrates not only differences in earnings capacities
but also variations in the decreases in earned annual income over the
period 1929 to 1934. W ithout exception, the greater part of all con
tractions in income reported occurred between 1929 and 1932, though
there were further declines in the period 1932 and 1934.
A nnual Income Related to Age— A ll Engineers Combined
The effects of age upon earned annual incomes, for all professional
engineers combined are presented in table 50.
This table makes it plain that the engineers’ earnings advanced with
age. In 1929, the income level of half of the engineers who had grad
uated in 1927 or 1928, or were from 24 to 25 years of age, exceeded
$2,098, whereas that of half of the engineers in the age group 56-63
exceeded $4,968. Similarly, in 1932 and 1934 there was a continuous
advance. But apparently age 60 represented a turning point in the
average earnings of professional engineers. Furthermore, the increase
in earnings with age comprised three distinct phases: Initial periods
of exceptionally rapid rise which contain the maximum average yearly
increase, followed by two others in which the rates of increase were
132
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 50 .— C om p a rison o f 5 levels o f a nnual earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 , and 1 9 8 4
of
all en gineers rep ortin g , b y age
[Without regard to employment status reported or type of education]
Proportion with annual earnings of more
than specified amount
Years after
graduation
Year of gradu
ation
10 per 25 per 50 per 75 per- 90 per
cent
cent
cent
cent
cent
1929
64 years and over.
56-63 years______
48-55 years_____
40-47 years______
36-39 years______
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96______
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16______
41 and over__
33-40________
25-32________
17-24________
13-16________
$9, 999
12, 749
11, 701
9,913
7,936
$6, 942
7,493
7,129
6,473
5,802
$4, 427
4,968
4,918
4,588
4,121
$3,005
3, 378
3,471
3,403
3, 210
$1,904
2, 328
2,621
2,683
2,563
32-35 years______
28-31 years______
26-27 years______
24-25 years______
23 years 1_______
1917-20______
1921-24______
1925-26______
1927-28______
1929_________
9-12_________
6-8__________
3-4__________
1-2__________
0____________
6,520
4,797
3,621
3,049
2, 330
4,850
3,786
3,099
2, 497
1,922
3,674
3,145
2,550
2,098
1, 313
3,004
2, 567
2,149
1,822
882
2,448
2,130
1,827
1,462
478
1932
67 years and over.
59-66 years______
51-58 years_____
43-50 years______
39-42 years______
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96______
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16______
44 and over___ $8,940
36-43________
9, 318
28-35________
8,350
20-27________
7,570
16-19________
6,395
$5, 931
6,167
5, 753
5,192
4,592
$3, 650
3,959
3,832
3,619
3, 385
$2,104
2,462
2,525
2,520
2,475
$953
964
1, 219
1,410
1.478
35-38 years______
31-34 years______
29-30 years______
27-28 years______
26 years________
1917-20______
1921-24._ . .
1925-26.. ___
1927-28______
1929_________
12-15________
8-11_________
6-7________
4-5..................
3 .................. -
5,519
4,287
3, 428
2,970
2,451
4,115
3, 386
2, 862
2,452
2,075
3,135
2, 677
2, 314
2, 020
1, 772
2,307
2,025
1, 810
1, 504
1, 271
1, 355
1,229
1,110
876
735
25 years________
24 years_______
23 years »_______
1930_________
1931_________
1932________ _
0
.................
2,139
1, 960
1, 673
1, 898
1,605
1, 097
1, 540
1, 224
645
1,007
733
322
577
293
129
- . -
1934
69 years and over.
61-68 years______
53-60 years______
45-52 years______
41-44 years______
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96______
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16______
46 and over__
38-45________
30-37________
22-29________
18-21________
$7, 360
8,280
7,720
7,226
6,204
$5,182
5, 391
5, 264
4,907
4,441
$3,138
3,497
3, 502
3, 380
3, 211
$1, 470
1,800
2,165
2,364
2,256
$787
770
1,157
1,441
1,491
37-40 years______
33-36 years______
31-32 years______
29-30 years______
28 years________
1917-20______ 14-17________
1921-24______ 10-13________
1925-26______ 8-9__________
1927-28______ 6-7__________
1929
__ 5____________
5,336
4,259
3, 496
3,004
2, 567
3,953
3, 334
2, 840
2,467
2,162
2,977
2, 569
2, 294
2, 023
1,.858
2,173
1,958
1,817
1,568
1, 431
1,463
1, 358
1, 276
1,061
998
27 years________
26 years________
25 years_______
24 years________
23 years 1_______
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
4__......... .........
3____________
2
1______ I____
0___________ -
2, 318
2,100
1,952
1,801
1,310
1,987
1, 816
1, 581
1, 454
927
1, 666
1,441
1,275
1,139
598
1,256
1,067
945
813
299
865
631
495
333
120
__
__
__
__
__
1 Averages for annual income in the year of graduation are probably seriously in error because they are a
combination of careful reports in which earnings are given in the 6 remaining months of the year following
graduation, and reports of annual rates. The reader is advised generally to disregard these figures, and to
study for this graduating class monthly rates of engineering income.
progressively slower up to the respective maxima of the five income
groups or levels. The age spans of these phases differed with the
income level. Thus, for the middle and two lower levels of income in
1929, the maximum yearly increase of $450 was reached at the age of
25. On the other hand, the initial periods of rapid rise for the upper
EARNED ANNUAL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
133
25- and 10-percent levels were not reached until the ages of 27 and 34
respectively. The subsequent periods of increase for the upper 10
percent embraced the age spans of 34 to 44, and 44 to 60, whereas those
for the next highest income level extended from 27 to 38, and 38 to 60
years of age. The three remaining income levels increased at practi
cally the same rate between 25 and 34 years. But while the age span
for the third phase of increase was from 34 to 52 for the middle level,
it extended only from 34 to 44 in the case of the two lower levels of
income.
There was also an increased spread of earnings with advancing
age. Even in the early ages there was a fairly considerable range.
Thus, in 1929, among those who graduated in 1927, or 1928, the lowest
quarter earned less than $1,822, whereas the earnings of the highest
quarter were about one-third higher than this amount, or $2,497 per
annum. It is also true that the highest 10 percent of these ages
earned at least twice as much as the lowest 10 percent. But among
engineers who were about 52 in 1929, the highest-paid quarter earned
at least twice as much as the lowest-paid quarter, and the highest 10
percent earned more than four times as much as the lowest 10 percent.
Similar relationships existed in 1932 and 1934, although the range of
increases was due in large part to the influence of unemployment on
the earnings in the lower levels of income.
The spread in earnings was accentuated beyond the age of 38.
At that point, the income curve of the upper 10 percent diverged
upward and continued thus to the age of 60. On the other hand, the
remaining curves ran consistently parallel up to their respective
maxima. For example, at the ages of 25, 44, 52, and 60 the incomes of
the upper 25 percent differed from the median by 19, 41, 45, and 51
percent, while the order of differences for the lower 25 percent was 13,
26, 29, and 32 percent. B y contrast, the corresponding incomes of
the upper 10 percent at these ages were greater than the median by
45, 116, 138, and 157 percent. Clearly, beyond the age of 44, the
earned annual incomes reported in 1929 by the upper 10 percent of
all engineers differed very greatly from those in the other income
levels, and this advantage in earning capacity was maintained in
1932 and 1934 also.
The earnings of engineers in the lower income brackets ceased to
increase at a relatively early age. It is only approximately correct
to assume that ability and income are in direct proportion. B y and
large, however, it is perhaps safe to assume that the engineers at any
age in the lowest 10-percent income group are less able than the aver
age at that age; and that the highest 10 percent are substantially
more able than the average. The Bureau’s data reveal that the maxi
mum earnings of the lowest 10 and 25 percent were reached in 1929
285208°—41----- 10
134
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
EARNED ANNUAL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
135
MEDIANS OF EARNED ANNUAL INCOME ACCORDING TO AGE
1929, 1932 AND 1934
INCOME FROM ENGINEERING AND NONENGINEERING SERVICES INCLUDING
FU LL AND PART TIME EMPLOYMENT, A LL TYPES OF EDUCATION
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
13,000
13,000 -------- 1— |— |-------1----------- 1---------- r
12,000
12,000
11,000
9,000
6,000
a,ooo
7,000
6,000
6,000
5,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
-
2,000
1,000
.1. 1. J___ I____J____ L
AgC/NYCARS 2H23 27 30
Years After
2 4
7
n
is
Graduation
U . S. B ureau
of
L abor S t a t is t ic s
SO
6S
136
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
EARNED ANNUAL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
137
138
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
at about 44 years of age, and the average engineer reached his maxi
mum earnings at about 52. The same relationship held in 1932 and
1934.
i In the two later years the maximum for the average engineer oc
curred at about 60, but it is evident that earning power for engineers
above the average continued to rise beyond this age. Thus, the aver
age earnings of engineers 53 to 60 years of age in 1934 exceeded
$3,502, whereas the average earnings of those 61 to 68 years were
more than $3,497. But the highest 10 percent of the first group
earned over $7,720, whereas the same class of the second group earned
more than $8,280.
Table 50 discloses differences in the age-income cycles beyond the
points of maximum earnings, that is, at the end of the third phases of
increase. In the case of the two higher income levels, the fourth
and last phase in 1929 was one of decrease. This was not so for the
three lower income levels. For them, there was a fourth phase of no
change in income which covered a span of approximately 8 years:
52 to 60 for the middle group, and from 44 to 52 in the case of the two
lower levels. The fifth phases were ones of decrease. Relatively,
however, the steepest declines occurred in the two higher income
levels.
Incomes in R elation to Advancing Age and Experience
Changes in income brought about by the depression in various years
m ay be considered from the point of view of particular individuals
whose age and experience was increasing, or from the point of view
of the expectations of men with comparable periods of experience.
For example, the average earnings of engineers who graduated in
1927-28 declined only from $2,098 in 1929 to $2,020 in 1932, and
increased slightly to $2,023 in 1934. On the other hand, those who
graduated in 1897-1904 averaged $4,918 in 1929, $3,832 in 1932, and
$3,502 in 1934. Such comparisons for each group of engineers over
the period 1929-34 may be made from table 50. They are, however,
more conveniently arranged for direct comparison in table 51.
This table shows a rise in earnings for the youngest engineers in the
profession in 1929, who were near to 30 years of age in 1934. The
advance in earning capacity in the first 5 years of engineering expe
rience was so great that it offset the influence of the depression in the
case of the youngest engineers. A t higher ages, when an added
year’s experience influenced income less, the incomes of particular
engineers declined by as much as 30 percent for the average graduate
of the classes of 1889-96. In general, the older the group the greater
was the decline in the average income of the group.
EARNED AN N U AL
INCOMES O'F PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
139
T a b l e 51.— Comparison of 5 levels of annual earnings in 1929, 1982, and 1984
of 5 age groups of older 1 engineers reporting
[Without regard to employment status reported or type of education]
Annual earnings of more than specified amount of engineers whose ages were—
Percentage at
specified
income level
65
60
63
in
in
in
1929 1932 1934
D o l. D o l . D o l .
10 percent- _ __ _ 12, 749 9, 318 8, 280
25 percent______ 7,493 6,167 5,391
50 percent_____ 4,968 3,959 3,497
75 percent______ 3, 378 2,462 1,800
90 percent _____ 2, 328 964 770
41
38
43
in
in
in
1929 1932 1934
D ol.
D ol.
D ol.
7,936 6, 395 6,204
5,802 4,592 4, 441
4,121 3,385 3, 211
3, 210 2.475 2, 256
2, 563 1, 478 1,491
33
30
35
in
in
in
1929 1932 1934
D o l.
D ol,
D o l.
4,797 4,287 4, 259
3,786 3, 386 3, 334
3,145 2,677 2,569
2, 567 2.025 1,958
2,130 1,229 1, 358
25
28
30 231+ 26/a 2 8 /
in
in
in
in
in
in
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
D ol.
D ol.
D ol.
D ol.
D o l.
D ol.
3.049 2,970 3,004 2, 330 2, 451 2.567
2,497 2, 452 2, 467 1,922 2,075 2,162
2,098 2,020 2,023 1,313 1,772 1,858
1, 822 1,504 1, 568 882 1, 271 1,431
1,462 876 1,061
478 735 998
Percentage increase or decrease
1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929-'1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 193234
34
32
34
34
32
34
34
34
34
32
32
34
34
32
10 percent______
25 percent-- _ ___
50 percent--____
75 percent_____
90 percent______
-3 5
-2 8
-3 0
-47
-6 7
-2 7
-1 8
-2 0
-27
-5 9
-11
-1 3
-1 2
-27
-2 0
-2 2
-2 3
-2 2
-30
-4 2
-1 9
-2 1
-1 8
-23
-4 2
-3
-3
-5
-9
+1
-11
-1 2
-1 8
-2 4
-3 6
-11 - 1
-11 - 2
-1 5 - 4
-21 - 3
-4 2 +10
-3
-1
+5 +5
+1 + 1 0
-1
-2
+1 +12 +8 +4
-4
-4
0 +42 +35 +5
-1 4 -1 7 +4 +62 +44 +13
-2 7 -4 0 +21 +109 +54 +36
includes graduate and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
Incomes o f Engineers o f Identical Ages
In order to trace the influence of the depression on professional
opportunity and on the normal expectations of members of the pro
fession, table 52 compares the earnings for identical ages in each of
the 3 years.6
For each level of experience, incomes declined from 1929 to 1934,
and two-thirds to three-quarters of this decline occurred from 1929 to
1932. Over the entire period the average income of those who had
been out of college for 2 years declined 43 percent. Those who had
been out 5 years had, on the average, 35 percent less income in 1934
than the corresponding group in 1929. For older engineers, the
decline approximated 30 percent, being slightly more than this for
those with 10 years’ experience, and slightly less for those with 20
years’ experience.
The most significant differences brought about by the depression
were in the spread of incomes at various ages. In all cases, primarily
because of the influence of unemployment, annual income for the
lowest 25 percent and the lowest 10 percent declined more than the
average income at a given age. Thus, 2 years after graduation, 10
percent of the engineers earned less than $1,462 in 1929 as compared
with a corresponding group earning less than $410 in 1934. This was
a decline of 72 percent as compared with a 43 percent decline for
the average at this age. Similarly, the average for engineers 30 years
6
The figures are not derived from direct tabulations which were made on the basis of the same combina
tions of years of birth or graduation in each of the 3 years, but the movements of earnings proved to be
sufficiently regular to justify reading the values for particular ages from the chart.
140
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
after graduation declined 30 percent from 1929 to 1934, while the
level below which the earnings of 10 percent of such engineers were
found fell by 50 percent.
,
T a b l e 5 2 — Comparison of 5 levels of annual earnings in 1929, 1932, and 1934 for
corresponding years after graduation
[Without regard to employment status reported or type of education]
Proportion with annual earnings of more than specified amount
Age of
engineers
Years
after
gradu-
10 percent
25 percent
50 percent
75 percent
90 percent
lit lu ll
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
D o l.
23M years..
25 years___
28 years___
33 years___
43 years___
53 years___
60 years___
D ol.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
D ol.
D o l.
D o l.
D o l.
2,330 1, 673 1, 310 1,922 1, 097 927 1,313 645 598 882 322 299 478 129 120
3,049 2,150 1,880 2,497 1, 750 1,500 2,098 1, 399 1,190 1,822 840 860 1,462 420 410
5 3,980 2,970 2,410 3, 300 2,452 2,080 2,710 2,020 1, 750 2,275 1,504 1, 340 1, 925 876 940
10 6,000 4,287 3,700 4,560 3,386 2,990 3,500 2,677 2, 380 2,890 2, 025 1, 850 2,375 1,229 1,299
20 9,450 6,680 6,204 6,350 4, 750 4,441 4,450 3,420 3, 211 3,380 2,490 2,256 2,650 1,460 1,491
30 11, 700 8,000 7,450 7, 190 5,580 5, 050 4,900 3,780 3, 420 3, 430 2,520 2,240 2,590 1,285 1,286
37 12, 749 8,900 7,900 7,493 5,960 5, 250 4,968 3,900 3,500 3,378 2,490 2,010 2,328 1,050 980
H
2
Percentage increase or decrease
1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 193232
32
32
34
34
34
34
34
34
32
34
32
34
34
34
2 3 years._
25 years___
28 years___
33 years___
43 years___
53 years___
60 years___
H
2
5
10
20
30
37
-4 4
-3 8
-3 9
-3 8
-3 4
-3 6
-3 8
-2 8
-2 9
-2 5
-2 9
-2 9
-3 2
-3 0
-2 2
-1 3
-1 9
-1 4
-7
-7
-1 1
-5 2
-4 0
-3 7
-3 4
-3 0
-3 0
-3 0
-4 3
-3 0
-2 6
-2 6
-2 5
-2 2
- 20
-1 5
-1 4
-1 5
-1 2
- 7
- 9
-1 2
-5 4
-4 3
-3 5
-3 2
-2 8
-3 0
-3 0
-5 1
-3 3
-2 5
-2 4
-2 3
-2 3
-21
-7
-1 3
-1 3
-1 1
-6
-1 0
-1 0
-6 6
-5 3
-4 1
-3 6
-3 3
-3 5
-4 0
-6 3 - 1 -7 5
-5 4 + 2 -7 2
-3 4 -1 1 -5 1
-3 0 - 9 -4 5
-2 6 - 9 -4 4
-2 7 -1 1 -5 0
-2 6 -1 9 -5 8
-7 3
-7 1
-5 4
-4 8
-4 5
-5 0
-5 5
-1
-2
+7
+6
+2
0
-7
There was comparatively little difference for the various ages in the
decline of the median income or in the decline of the level of income
above which only 25 percent of the engineers of corresponding ages
were found. The highest level of income (that achieved by only
10 percent at each age) declined more than the average in the case of
all groups of engineers with 5 years’ or more experience. Thus this
select group among engineers 60 years of age lost 38 percent from 1929
to 1934, whereas the average decline at that age was 30 percent.
A n n u a l In com e and E d u ca tion , W it h o u t R eg a rd t o A g e
The foregoing analysis of annual incomes reported by professional
engineers for 1929, 1932, and 1934 took no account of differences in
educational background. In 1929, some 22,386, or 86 percent, of the
24,826 older graduates in engineering courses in the sample reported
income and 7,646, or 90 percent, of the 8,440 older “ other” engineers
who were in the profession in 1929 reported. The five income levels
for these two groups are shown in table 53.
141
EARNED AN N U A L INCOMES OOF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS!
T able 53 .— Comparison of 5 levels of annual earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 98 2 , and 1934 of
older 1 graduate 2 and “ other” 3 engineers reporting , by professional class
[Without regard to employment status reported]
Annual earnings of more than specified
amount
Percentage of professional class 4 at speci
fied income level
Graduate engineers 2
1929
1932
1934
Percentage in
come of “ other”
engineers
formed of that
of
graduate
“ Other” engineers 3
engineers—
1929
1932
1934
10 percent:
Mining and metallurgical___________ $10,015 $7, 413 $7, 530 $8, 940 $6, 370 $6, 263
Chemical and ceramic______________
9,173 7, 432 7, 414 8,100 6, 435 6, 795
Mechanical and industrial.— ______
8,715 6,481 6,269 8,161 6, 273 5, 997
Electrical________ _____ ___________
7,301 6,263 6,084 6,654 5,943 5, 670
Civil, agricultural, and architectural. _ 6,853 5, 478 5,133 5,745 4, 470 4, 222
26 percent:
Mining and metallurgical______ . . .
6,349 4,973 4,833 6,025 4, 640 4,587
Chemical and ceramic_____________
6,111 5,116 4, 976 5,210 4, 540 4,335
Mechanical and industrial_______
5,603 4, 414 4, 262 5, 536 4,269 3, 972
Electrical__________________________ 4,886 4,175 4,062 4,497 3,762 3,654
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.. 4,732 3, 923 3, 671 4, 036 3, 349 3,163
50 percent:
Mining and metallurgical___________ 4,053 3, 299 3,227 3,762 3,082 3,072
Chemical and ceramic. ____________
3, 839 3, 368 3,308 3, 525 3, 050 2,857
Mechanical and industrial__________
3,663 3, 025 2,848 3, 777 2,929 2,645
Civil, agricultural, and architectural-_ 3,375 2,834 2,636 3,099 2,530 2, 362
Electrical_________ ______ ___ . . .
3,296 2, 863 2, 821 3, 213 2,627 2,517
75 percent:
Mining and metallurgical___________
2,841 2,013 2,029 2,829 2,013 1,947
Mechanical and industrial.. . _______
2, 556 1,981 1, 952 2,902 1,930 1,837
Civil, agricultural, and architectural-. 2,541 2,009 1, 956 2,429 1, 860 1,747
Chemical and ceramic_____________
2,538 2,178 2,195 2, 540 1, 885 1, 834
Electrical__________ _____ __________ 2,317 1,997 2,003 2,400 1,883 1,792
90 percent:
Mining and metallurgical___________
1,977 1,052 1, 279 2,030 1,210 1,283
Civil, agricultural, and architectural-_ 1,935 1,136 1,361 1, 910 1,028 1,152
Mechanical and industrial________ . 1,888 1, 212 1,245 2,170 1,040 1,169
Chemical and ceramic______________
1, 657 1,443 1,458 1, 820
699
783
Electrical- _______________________
1,609 1,311 1,308 1,860 1,185 1,088
1929 1932 1934
89
88
94
91
84
86
87
97
95
82
83
92
96
93
82
95
85
99
92
85
93
89
97
90
85
95
87
93
90
86
93
92
103
92
97
93
91
97
89
92
95
86
93
90
89
99
114
96
100
104
100
97
93
87
94
96
94
89
84
89
103
99
115
110
116
115
90
86
48
90
100
85
94
54
83
1 Includes those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 Graduate engineers include all postgraduates, nonengineering graduates, and first-degree engineering
graduates.
3 “ Other” engineers include all engineers with college course incomplete, noncollegiate technical school
course, and secondary school education.
4 Arrange in ascending order of graduates’ annual earnings for 1929.
Consideration of the ratios derived from the 1929 earnings reported
by the “ other” and graduate engineers clearly indicates that those
with a formal engineering education had higher incomes. Thus, in
the highest 10- and 25-percent income groups, the earnings of the
graduates in each professional class exceeded those of the “ other”
engineers. It will, however, be noted that there were wide variations
in the ratios in the earnings of the two groups, indicating that the
differentials in earnings do not accrue in equal measure for all five
professional classes. In the upper 25-percent level, the order of yearly
differences in favor of the graduates was $901, $696, $389, $324, and
$67, the three smallest of these being in the electrical, mining and metal
lurgical, and mechanical and industrial classes. In the highest income
level, differences of $647 and $554 per year were reported by the grad
uate electrical and mechanical and industrial engineers; in the three
remaining professional classes none of the graduate groups reported
142
EM PLO YM EN T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
differentials of less than $1,000 per year. In general, from 1929 to
1934, the earnings of the upper 25 percent of the older graduates and
of the “ other” engineers declined by similar amounts.
The advantage enjoyed by engineers with college degrees is less
marked at the lower levels. The average income of mechanical en
gineers in the profession in 1929 reporting income for 1929 was actually
higher for noncollege graduates than for graduates. This was the only
professional class of which this was true for the average, but, in general,
the lowest 25 percent and the lowest 10 percent among the “ other”
engineers had higher incomes than among the graduates. But even
at these levels, it will be seen that an advantage accrued over the pe
riod 1929 to 1934 to the college graduates. The income of the lowest
25 percent of those graduating prior to 1929 declined less than the
income of the lowest 25 percent of the corresponding group of “ other”
engineers, and by 1934 college graduates had the higher incomes even
at this level.
A n n u a l In com e R e la te d to A g e and T y p e o f E du cation
The apparent advantage enjoyed in 1929 by the “ other” engineers
at the lower levels of income may best be explained in conjunction
with the data in tables 54 and 55. The data for the median values7
only of earned annual income of all engineers classified by age in the
three years, 1929, 1932, and 1934 are presented in table 54.8
The first observation to be made has regard to the fact that the
“ other” engineers, at a very early age, lose the advantage in earning
capacity arising from practical experience gained while the college
graduate is in school. This loss of advantage is best exemplified by
considering the ranking order of the 12 groups of engineers at corre
sponding years after graduation (table 55).
7 The middle value of earned annual income—50 percent earning more and 50 percent earning less than
the figure shown.
8Insufficient data were furnished for the two lower and higher income levels to enable a complete com
parison for all age groups and all types of education.
EARNED AN N U AL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
a b l e
54 .— M edian annual earnings in 1929, 1982, and 1984 of all engineers
reporting, by age and type of education
[Without regard to employment status reported]
Secondary-school education
I Mechanical and all
I
others8
(0
1889-96
1897-04
1905-12
1913-16
41+
33-40
25-32
17-24
13-16
(2)
6,030
5, 320
5,000
4,286
6,000
5,500
5,663
5,000
4,933
(2)
6,450
6, 600
6, 429
6,021
4,460
4,981
4,804
4,411
3,964
(2)
5,580
5,460
5,239
4,480
5,100
6,255
5,793
5,434
4,878
4,800
6,180
5,200
5,400
4,825
3,400
3,733
3, 774
3, 565
3, 328
5,700
4,933
5,179
4, 579
4,031
(2)
3,657
3, 514
3, 500
3,168
(2)
4,440
4,714
4,246
3,889
3,800
4,120
4, 333
3,708
3,625
32-35______
28-31______
26-27____ _
24-25______
23________
1917-20
1921-24
1925-26
1927-28
1929
9-12
5-8
3-4
1-2
0
3,608
3,164
2,565
2,008
1,040
4,086
3,072
2,675
1, 978
1,500
4, 523
3, 544
2, 729
2,007
1,200
3,616
3,122
2,579
2,150
1, 256
4,048
3,190
2,505
1,977
996
4,057
3, 354
2, 616
2,099
1,146
4,600
3, 306
2, 840
2,086
1,175
3,036
2, 614
2, 410
2,127
2,062
3,793
3,200
2,468
2,232
2,129
3,121
2, 574
2,400
2,200
1,780
3,448
2,925
2,482
2,144
1,950
3,267
2, 814
2, 250
2,100
1,900
Electrical
64 and over.
56-63______
48-55______
40-47______
36-39______
Age
Civil, agricultural,
and architectural
Civil, agricultural,
and architectural
Noncollegiate techni
cal course
Mechanical and all
others 3
College
course
incomplete
Civil, agricultural, j
and architectural i
Mining and metal
lurgical
Mechanical
and J
industrial
1
Years
after
grad
ua
tion
First-degree engineering
graduates
Chemical and ce
ramic
!
Year
of
grad
uation
Nonengineering graduates
Others with—
Postgraduates
T
143
1929 income (in dollars)
1932 income (in dollars)
44+
36-43
28-35
20-27
16-19
67 and over.
59-66______
51-58______
43-50______
39-42______
(0
1889-96
1897-04
1905-12
1913-16
35-38______
31-34______
29-30______
27-28______
26________
1917-20 12-15 3,377
1921-24 8-11 2, 882
6-7 2,472
1925-26
4-5 2,029
1927-28
3 1,794
1929
25________
24_________
23_________
1930
1931
1932
(2)
5,160
4,757
4,155
3,745
3,000 (2)
3,600 (2)
4,600 (2)
4,090 4, 733
5,000 5,200 3, 761 4, 677
4, 475 5,320 3,533 4, 214
4,222 4,657 3, 318 3,877
5,200
4,700
4,189
4,070
3,800
1,100
5,000
3,940
4,222
3,700
2,600
2, 950
2,969
3,038
2,702
4,600
3,600
3, 688
3, 631
3,162
(2)
2,933
2,846
2, 777
2,709
(2)
3,400
3, 550
3,241
2, 968
3, 467
3, 433
3, 650
3,178
3,173
3,600
2,945
2,655
2,167
1,800
3, 470
2, 861
2,403
1,985
1,716
3, 444
2, 744
2,200
1,940
1,560
2,518
2,406
2,090
1,932
1,657
3,029
2,563
2,105
1,906
1, 638
2, 475
2,173
1,971
1, 836
1,900
2, 682
2,310
2,000
1, 686
1,600
2,720
2,488
2,057
1,840
1,350
3, 773
3,167
2,580
2,064
1,773
3,048
2, 628
2, 343
2,124
1,896
3,509
2,807
2,309
1,992
1,660
2 1, 378 1, 575 1,628 1,709 1, 451 1,495 1,492 1,709 1, 373 1,700 1, 450 1,633
1, 600 1,700
948 1, 367 1,208 1,349 1,032 1,247 1,147 1,620 1, 390 (2)
1
480 1,433 1,183 (2)
687 1,800
606
629
586
645
1,400 (2)
0
1934 income (in dollars)
69 and over.
61-68______
53-60______
45-52______
41-44______
46+
0)
1889-96i 38-45
1897-04 30-37
1905-12• 22-29
1913-16i 18-21
3,100 (2)
3,200
4,400 (2)
3, 567
4,400 5,100 3,337
4,088 5,000 3, 311
4,467 4, 111 3,129
(2)
4,143
4,400
4,089
3,917
3, 933
4,100
3, 731
3, 875
3,538
1,200
4, 333
3,900
4,086
3,588
2,000
2,800
2, 787
2,780
2, 496
3,400
2, 900
3,493
3, 497
2,990
(2)
2, 600
2, 429
2, 533
2,420
2,000
2, 460
3,364
2, 974
2, 713
3,100
3,133
3, 508
2, 940
3,031
37-40______
33-36______
31-32______
29-30______
28_________
1917-20i 14-19| 3,250 3, 575 3,850 2,826
1921-24: 10-13 2,864 2,857 3,244 2, 516
1925-26i 8-9' 2,513 2,475 2,586 2,263
1927-28l 6-7 2,072 2,200 2,225 2,069
1929i
5i 1,888 1,871 1,982 1,892
3, 393
2, 801
2, 364
2,021
1,759
3, 278
2,704
2, 378
2,058
1,908
3, 567
2,811
2, 463
2,100
1,809
2, 354
2,147
1, 974
1.875
1, 678
2, 890
2, 432
2,093
1,911
1,808
2, 286
2,036
1, 863
1,567
1,867
2, 543
2,161
1,957
1,738
1,525
2, 711
2, 356
1,900
1,860
1, 575
4 1,563 1,800 1,795 1,762
3 1,437 1,457 1,426 1, 545
2! 1,255 1,233 1,286 1, 384
1
840' 1,314 1,162 1,249
567
638
0i 612! 1,000'
1, 527
1,263
1,138
1,047
540
1, 719
1,433
1, 261
1,126
560
1, 542
1, 479
1,241
1,159
564
1, 518
1, 567
1,388
1,283
1,200
1,500 1,800 1,433 1, 660
1, 633 1,400 1,467 1,800
1,400 (2)
1,367 (2)
1, 267 (2)
1,600 (2)
1,089 (2)
1,263 1,325
27_________
26_________
25_________
24_________
23_________
1930i
1931
1932!
1933
1934
(2)
4,333
4,488
3,923
3, 517
1 Prior to 1889.
2 Fewer than 10 persons reported.
3 Includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers.
14 4
EM P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
C hart 10.
COMPARISON OF MEDIANS OF EARNED ANNUAL INCOME
ACCORDING TO AGE. 1929
INCOME FROM ENGINEERING AND NONENGINEERING SERVICES. INCLUDING
FU LL AND PART TIME EMPLOYMENT FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF EDUCATION
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
13,000
/ 3,000
1. P O S T G R A D U A T E S
2 . N O N E N G IN E E R IN G G R A D U A TE S
12,000
11,000
FirstDegreeEngineering Graduates
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
-
C H E M IC A L A N D C E R A M IC
C IV IL , A G R IC U L T U R A L A ND A R C H IT E C T U R A L
E L E C T R IC A L
M ECHA NICAL A N D IN D U S T R IA L
M IN IN G A N D M E TALLU RG IC AL
12,000
11,000
College Course Incomplete
ft C IV IL . A G R IC U L TU R A L A N D A R C H IT E C T U R A L
9. M E C H A N IC A L A N D O T H E R S
10,000
Noncollegiate Technical Course
10,000
10. C IV IL A G R IC U L T U R A L A N D A R C H IT E C T U R A L
11. M E C H A N IC A L AND O T H E R S
12. S EC O N D A R Y S C H O O L E D U C A TIO N
9,000
-
9,000
6,000
8,000
7,000
7,000
3
\
6,000
6,000
«T
5^
-
5,000
4,000
-
4,000
3,000
-
3,000
2,000
-
2JOOO
1,000
-
1,000
5,000
^
,//
A g e IN YEARS 23j 25 2 7
Years After
Graduation
30
34
r
U. S. Bureau of L abor Statistic s
v
EARNED ANNUAL INCOME'S OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
145
T a b l e 55 .— R a n k o f en gineers o f specified education according to m edian a nnua l
earnings in 1 9 2 9 and 1 9 3 4 , f o r corresp on d in g yea rs after graduation
[Without regard to employment status reported]
Years after graduation
Type of education
2
5 10 20 30 37
2
10
l
Rank in 1929
20
30
37
5
Annual earnings in 1929
College course incomplete: Mechanical and
others^___________________________
1 8 6 7 7 8 $2, 232 $2,650 $3, 580 $4,425 $5,100 $4,933
Noncollegiate technical course: Civil, agricultural, and architectural____________ . 2 11 11 12 12 12 2,200 2,450 2,950 3,425 3,550 3,657
First-degree engineering graduates: Civil,
agricultural, and architectural______ _
3 5 7 8 8 7 2,150 2,750 3,490 4,300 4,800 4,981
Noncollegiate technical course: Mechanical
and others1.. _ - __________________
4 9 9 9 9 9 2,144 2,600 3, 300 4,190 4,650 4,440
College course incomplete: Civil, agricultural, and architectural_______________ _ 5 10 12 11 11 11 2,127 2, 475 2,900 3,500 3, 750 3,733
Secondary-school education_______________ 6 12 10 10 10 10 2,100 2,430 3,150 3,700 4,275 4,120
First-degree engineering graduates:
Mechanical and industrial______ ____ 7 3 3 2 2 2 2,099 2,825 3,875 5,350 5,800 6, 255
Mining and metallurgical_____________ 8 2 2 3 6 3 2,086 2,975 4,200 5, 300 5, 350 6,180
Postgraduates____ ______________________
9 6 8 6 5 4 2,008 2,750 3, 475 4,850 5, 375 6,030
First-degree engineering graduates: Chemi
cal and ceramic_________________ _____ 10 1 1 1 1 1 2,007 3,000 4, 250 6, 350 6,600 6.450
Nonengineering graduates____________ ___ 11 4 5 5 3 6 1,978 2,800 3,800 4,990 5,600 5,500
First-degree engineering graduates: Elec
trical_________________________________ 12 7 4 4 4 5 1,977 2,725 3,800 5,075 5,450 5,580
Rank in 1934
Annual earnings in 1934
Secondary-school education_______________ 1 9 9 8 9 8 $1,550 $1,625 $2,025 $3,031 $3,200 $3,350
Noncollegiate technical course: Mechanical
and others1___________________________
2 12 10 10 10 10 1,475 1,475 2,010 2, 713 3,150 2,980
College course incomplete: Mechanical and
others1__________________________ _____
3 10 8 9 7 9 1, 350 1,600 2,200 2,990 3,490 3,200
Noncollegiate technical course: Civil, agri
cultural, and architectural______________
4 2 12 12 12 12 (2)
1,830 1,900 2,420 2,490 2,490
First-degree engineering graduates: Civil,
agricultural, and architectural__________
5 5 7 7 8 7 1,325 1,800 2, 350 3,129 3, 300 3,400
College course incomplete: Civil, agricul
tural, and architectural----------------- -------- 6 n 11 11 11 11 1,300 1,600 2,000 2,496 2, 780 2,790
Nonengineering graduates_____ ___________ 7 3 3 1 2 3 1, 275 1,825 2,600 4,467 4,250 4, 400
First-degree engineering graduates:
8 l 1 2 1 1 1,250 1,875 2, 750 4,111 5,050 (2)
Chemical and ceramic___ --- ______
Mining and metallurgical_____________ 9 7 4 4 5 5 1,200 1,700 2, 550 3,588 3,980 4,050
Mechanical and industrial. _ _________ 10 4 6 5 6 6 1,180 1,825 2, 490 3,538 3,780 3,880
Electrical___________________________ 11 8 5 ,3 3 4 1,080 1, 650 2, 500 3,917 4,250 4, 325
940 1, 750 2,610 3, 517 4,175 4, 425
Postgraduates- ----------------------- ------------ 12 6 2 6 4 2
1Includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers.
2Fewer than 10 engineers reported.
A t the end of 2 years after graduation 9 in 1929, the “ other” engi
neers held ranks 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, the first-degree civil graduates were
third, and the remaining graduate groups occupied positions 7 to 12,
inclusive. Five years after graduation, however, there was a com
plete reversal of this situation, which placed all graduates ahead of
the “ other” engineers.
Eelatively, the greatest shifts in position occurred between the
second and fifth years after graduation. Secondary-school engineers
dropped from sixth to twelfth place. The noncollegiate civil engineers
declined from second to eleventh place, while the civil engineers whose
9
The incomes reported just after graduation are not compared. These are invalidated by the fact that,
while the graduates could have reported incomes for 6 months only, it was possible for the “ other” engineers
to have reported an income for a full year or more.
146
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
college course was incomplete declined from fifth to tenth place.
Positions 8 and 9, respectively, were occupied by the mechanical
engineers whose college course was incomplete and by those who were
graduates of noncollegiate technical schools; 2 years after graduation
they had held first and fourth places. Among the engineering grad
uates, the greatest shift in position occurred among the first-degree
chemical and ceramic engineers, who moved from tenth to first place
at 5 years after graduation, and maintained that position throughout
the 1929 age cycle. It will also be noted that the 1929 earnings
reported by the first-degree civil engineers were greater at 5 years
after graduation than those of both postgraduates and first-degree
electrical engineers. On the other hand, the earnings of these three
groups were less than those reported by first-degree mining and metal
lurgical, and mechanical and industrial engineers, and nonengineering
graduates.
Thus, it follows that the greater decline from 1929 to 1934 in the
incomes of the lower 10 and 25 percent of the “ other” engineers re
flects in part the greater advantage of 5 years' additional experience
among the younger college graduates.
Between 5 and 10 years after graduation, there were but slight
changes in relative position. A t the latter period, however, all firstdegree and nonengineering graduates were ahead of the postgraduate
engineers. The secondary-school engineers reported earnings greater
than either of the two groups of “ other” civil engineers. The “ other”
mechanical engineers trained in noncollegiate technical schools fol
lowed ninth in order, after the postgraduates.
A t 20 years after graduation, the first-degree civil engineers ranked
below both the “ other” mechanical engineers whose college course
was incomplete and the postgraduate engineers; between 20 and 37
years after graduation, the relative standing of the several groups
remained comparatively stable. It will also be noted that even in
1934 the order of the groups shows no marked departure from the
situation which prevailed in 1929.
A further explanation may be given of the apparent advantage of
“ other” engineers in the lower income levels, as shown in table 53.
There are too few cases to warrant showing text tables of income for
the lowest 10 and 25 percent of the engineers classified simultaneously
by professional classifications, age, and type of education. But such
values have been computed for every such classification embracing
more than 100 reports and the results may be summarized. In 1929,
at every age, the lowest 10 percent of the civil engineers with incom
plete college courses had lower incomes than the lowest 10 percent of
those with completed college courses. This continued to be true in
1934 for engineers who graduated prior to 1928, the last year with an
adequate number of reports to warrant this particular comparison.
EARNED ANNUAL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
147
For the five age groups from 28 to 47 for which comparisons can be
made, the lowest 10 percent of civil engineers with noncollegiate
technical school courses had lower incomes than those with incomplete
college courses. These statements hold, not only for the lowest 10
percent of the civil engineers but also for the lowest 25 percent.
There are not enough cases of engineers in the professional classes,
other than civil engineers, to warrant a detailed analysis of nongrad
uates on an age basis for the separate classes. But the income of the
lowest 10 and 25 percent of the nongraduates of the four classes
combined is less than the corresponding level of income for graduates
in any of the professional classes at almost all ages for which com
parisons can be made. It seems highly probable, in the light of these
facts, that part of the advantage shown by “ other” engineers in table
53 is due to a higher age among the nongraduates in the groups com
pared.
Table 55 also shows that, although the earnings reported in 1929
by the “ other” engineers at 2 years after graduation were higher than
those of the graduates, the differentials were not great. For the
former, the 1929 median earnings ranged from $2,100 in the case of
secondary-school engineers to $2,232 for mechanical engineers who had
not completed their college course, while the range for the latter was
from $1,977 for electrical to $2,099 for mechanical and industrial
engineers. A t 5 years after graduation, when the positions were
reversed, the differentials were still slight. The earnings of the grad
uates ranged from $2,725 to $3,000 per year and those of the “ other”
engineers from $2,430 to $2,650. With advancing age, however, the
spreads in earnings in favor of the graduates became very marked. In
the case of mechanical engineers, for instance, the differences in earnings
between the first-degree engineers and those who did not complete
their college course were $175, $295, $925, $700, and $1,322 per year,
and between first-degree and noncollegiate mechanical engineers they
were $225, $575, $1,160, $1,150, and $1,815 per annum. Similarly, for
the civil engineers, the differences in earnings between those with firstdegrees and those whose college course was incomplete were $275,
$590, $800, $1,050, and $1,248 per year, while between first-degree civil
and noncollegiate technical school engineers, the order was $300, $540,
$875, $1,250, and $1,324 per annum.
Even among the graduate groups there was variation in earning
capacity. Thus, while the earnings of first-degree civil engineers
ranged from $2,750 to $4,800 per year between 5 and 30 years after
graduation, the range for the first-degree chemical and ceramic en
gineers was from $3,000 to $6,600 per year. In other words, over a
period of 25 years, the civil engineers* earnings increased by only
$2,050, whereas those of engineers in the chemical and ceramic field
increased by $3,600. The ranges in earnings of the remaining graduate
148
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
groups fell between those reported by the civil and the chemical and
ceramic engineers.
Earnings of the 4‘other” engineers ceased to increase several years
before those of the graduates. Their earnings began to decline after
55 years of age in 1929, whereas the earnings of the graduates continued
to increase even at 64 years of age and over (table 54).
When consideration is given to the changes in income status between
1929 and 1934 of selected age groups of engineers in each type of edu
cation, it appears, again, that the depression bore hardest upon the
older engineers.
As indicated in table 56, over the period 1929-34 the decreases in
earnings of engineers who were 60 years of age in 1929 and 65 in 1934
ranged from 20 to 45 percent. The smallest range, however, oc
curred among the graduate engineers. This is explained by the
fact that for the “ other” engineers, the earnings reported at the age
of 60 in 1929 were those for the period of decline, since they were less
than those reported for engineers who were 52 in 1929. When, how
ever, comparison is made of the earnings for the 2 age groups of
engineers who were 52 and 44, respectively, in 1929 and 5 years older
in 1934, it will be noted that the decreases in their earnings over the
period 1929-34 show little variation. The important thing to note is
that the effect of the depression was approximately the same on both
graduates and “ other” engineers. On the other hand, for the 2
younger groups shown in table 56, the graduate engineers who were
25 in 1929, practically all showed increases in their earnings by 1934,
whereas the “ other” engineers showed further decreases. This situa
tion was even more pronounced in favor of the graduate engineers
who were 23% years of age in 1929.
Throughout the whole of this analysis of differences in earnings by
type of education, there have only been incidental references to the
changes which occurred over the period 1929-34 and in the intervening
periods, 1929-32 and 1932-34. It will be recalled, however, that the
percentage decreases in the incomes for all engineers at corresponding
years after graduation were practically the same. This was also the
case for the 12 groups of engineers when segregated by type of educa
tion, as is evidenced by a consideration of the data shown in table 57.
A t 5 years after graduation the range of decreases of earnings over
the period 1929-34 was from 25 to 43 percent. At 10 years after
graduation, the range was from 25 to 39 percent, while even at 30
years after graduation the percentage decreases ranged only from 22 to
35 percent. It will, however, be noted that the extremes of the ranges
are the exception, indicating that regardless of types of education, the
incomes of engineers of identical ages in 1929 and 1934 suffered about
the same from the depression.
T a b l e 5 6 . — C om p a rison o f m edian annual earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 ° f selected age grou ps o f en gineers rep ortin g, by typ e o f education
[Without regard to employment status reported]
Type of education
60 in
1929
63 in
1932
66 in
1934
52 in
1929
55 in
1932
57 in
1934
44 in
1929
49 in
47 in
1932 j 1934
25 in
1929
28 in
1932
30 in
1934
23*$ in 26*$ in 28*$ in
1929
1932
1934
Median annual earnings
Postgraduates________________________
Nonengineering graduates_____________
M First-degree engineering graduates:
Chemical and ceramic_____________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.
Electrical________________________
Mechanical and industrial_________
Mining and metallurgical_________
College course incomplete:
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.
Mechanical and others i___________
Noncollegiate technical course:
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.
Mechanical and others 1___________
Secondary-school education___________
m
$6,030
5,500
$5,160
4,600
$4, 333
4, 400
$5,320
5, 663
$4,757
5,000
$4,488
4,400
$5,000
5,000
$4,155
4,475
$3,923
4,088
$2,008
1,978
$2,029
2,167
$2,072
2,200
$1,040
1,500
$1,794
1,800
$1,888
1,871
6,450
4,981
5, 580
6, 255
6,180
w
4,090
4, 733
4,700
5,000
(2)
3, 567
4,143
4,100
4,333
6,600
4,804
5,460
5,793
5,200
5,200
3,761
4,677
4,189
3, 940
5,100
3, 337
4,400
3, 731
3,900
6,429
4,411
5,239
5, 434
5,400
5,320
3, 533
4,214
4,070
4,222
5,000
3, 311
4,089
3,875
4,086
2,007
2,150
1,977
2,099
2,086
2, 064
2,124
1,992
1,985
1,940
2,225
2, 069
2,021
2,058
2,100
1,200
1, 256
996
1,146
1,175
1, 773
1,896
1,660
1, 716
1,560
1,982
1,892
1,759
1,908
1,809
3, 733
4,933
2,950
3,600
2,800
2,900
3, 774
5,179
2,969
3,688
2,787
3,493
3,565
4,579
3,038
3,631
2,780
3,497
2,127
2, 232
1,932
1, 906
1,875
1,911
2,062
2,129
1,657
1,638
1,678
1,808
3,657
4,440
4,120
2,933
3,400
3,433
2,600
2,460
3,133
3, 514
4, 714
4, 333
2,846
3, 550
3, 650
2,429
3, 364
3, 508
3,500
4, 246
3,708
2, 777
3, 241
3,178
2, 533
2,974
2,940
2,200
2,144
2,100
1,836
1, 686
1,840
1,567
1,738
1, 860
1, 780
1,950
1,900
1,900
1,600
1, 350
1,867
1,525
1, 575
Percentage change
1929-34 1929-32 1932-34 1929-34 1929-32 1932-34 1929-34 1929-32 1932-34 1929-34 1929-32 1932-34 1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
Postgraduates________________________
Nonengineering graduates_____________
First-degree engineering graduates:
Chemical and ceramic_____________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.
Electrical_________________________
Mechanical and industrial_________
Mining and metallurgical__________
College course incomplete:
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.
Mechanical and others 1____________
Noncollegiate technical course:
Civil, agricultural, and architectural.
Mechanical and others 1___________
Secondary-school education____________
-1 4
-1 6
-1 6
-4
-1 6
-2 2
-1 1
-1 2
-6
-1 2
-2 2
-1 8
-1 7
-11
-6
-9
+3
+11
+1
+10
+2
+2
+82
+25
+73
+20
+5
+4
(2)
-28
-26
-34
-3 0
(2)
-18
-1 5
-2 5
-19
(2)
-1 3
-1 2
-13
-13
-2 3
-31
-1 9
-3 6
-2 5
-21
-2 2
-1 4
-2 8
-2 4
-2
-11
-6
-11
-1
-2 2
-2 5
-2 2
-2 9
-2 4
-17
-20
-2 0
-2 5
-2 2
-6
-6
-3
-5
-3
+11
-4
+2
-2
+1
+3
-1
+1
-5
-7
+8
-3
+1
+4
+8
+65
+51
+77
+66
+54
+48
+51
+67
+50
+33
+12
0
+6
+11
+16
-25
-41
-21
-2 7
-5
-1 9
-2 6
-3 3
-21
-2 9
-6
-5
-2 2
-2 4
-1 5
-2 1
-8
-4
-1 2
-1 4
-9
-1 5
-3
0
-19
-15
-2 0
-2 3
+1
+10
-29
-45
-24
-20
-23
-17
-1 1
-28
-9
-3 1
-2 9
-1 9
-1 9
-2 5
-1 6
-1 5
-5
-4
-28
-3 0
-21
-21
-2 4
-1 4
-9
-8
-7
-2 9
-1 9
-11
-1 7
-21
-1 2
-1 5
+3
+1
+5
-22
-1 7
+7
-1 8
-2 9
-2
—5
+17
1Includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, industrial and mining and metallurgical engineers.
2 Fewer than 10 engineers reported.
149
-28
-2 0
EARNEL AN N U AL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
285208°— 41
Engineers whose ages were—
150
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
m ed ia n annual ea rn in g s , 1 9 2 9 to
corresp on d in g yea rs after gradu ation , b y typ e o f education
T a b l e 5 7 . — P ercentage decrease in
1 9 8 4 , fo r
[Without regard to employment status reported]
Type of education
Percentage decrease in income, at end of specified
period after graduation
2 years 5 years 10 years 20 years 30 years 37 years
Postgraduates___ _________ _
_______ _ ______
-5 3
-3 6
-3 6
Nonengineering graduates _ __ ____ ___ ____ __
-3 5
First-degree engineering graduates:
-3 8
-3 8
Chemical and ceramic. __ . _ __ ________
8
_______ and-3
-35 _
Civil, agricultural,
architectural-4 5
-39
Electrical _
_
__ _______
__ ___ ______
-4 4
-35
Mechanical and industrial.
_
_ _________
-4 2
-43
Mining and metallurgical ____ _ _______ _
College course incomplete:
-3 9
-3 5
Civil, agricultural, and architectural--________
-4 0
-40
Mechanical and others 1 - __________
Noncollegiate technical course:
-2 5
Civil, agricultural, and architectural__________ _
00
-31
-4 3
Mechanical and others1
. __
__
-2 6
-3 3
Secondary-school education _
____
____ _ __
-2 5
-3 2
-2 7
—10
-2 2
—24
—27
—20
-3 5
_-3
_ 3
-3 4
-36
-3 9
-3 5
—27
-2 3
-3 4
-3 2
-2 3
—31
-2 2
-3 5
-2 6
00
—32
—22
-38
-3 4
-31
-3 9
-2 9
—32
-2 6
—32
—25
—35
-3 6
-3 9
-3 6
-2 9
-3 5
-1 8
-3 0
-3 2
-2 5
—32
—33
-1 9
1 Includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, industrial and mining, and metallurgical engineers.
* Fewer than 10 engineers reported in 1934.
Sources of Earned Annual Income, 1929 to 1934
Before presenting the annual incomes from all kinds of engineering
work and nonengineering work attention is directed to the following:
It must be noted that the requirements of editing the questionnaires
caused a relatively large proportion of the engineers engaged in non
engineering work in 1929 to be those who had college degrees in engi
neering. Thus, elsewhere it has been shown that the general m ove
ment from 1929 to 1934 was out of engineering work either into
unemployment or into work not in the engineering field. Conse
quently a substantial number of those who were in pursuits other than
engineering in 1929 would also have so reported in 1932 and 1934.
Such returns from nonengineering graduates and “ other” engineers
were, in general, discarded. Therefore, the tabulations for non
engineering work in 1929 tend to be those of graduate engineers. On
the other hand, a number of nongraduates who were practicing their
profession in 1929 passed into nonengineering employment in 1932 and
1934. The schedules for such engineers were retained. Clearly the
situation which prevailed in 1929 was less true in 1932 and 1934.
Hence, it is as well to compare the earnings for nonengineering both
with the earnings of graduates and with those of all persons reporting
who were engaged in engineering. These data are presented in
table 58.
T a b l e 58.— C om p a rison o f 5 levels o f annual earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 f r o m n on en gin eerin g and en gin eerin g w ork , b y age
Age
Year of
graduation
10 percent
Years
after
NonEngineering
grad
engi
work by—
uation neering
work
All
by all
All
engi
engi
grad
neers 1 neers 1 uates
25 percent
50 percent
75 percent
90 percent
Engineering
Nonengi
work by—
neering
work
All
All
by all
engi- ‘ engi
grad
neers 1 neers 1 uates
Engineering
Nonengi
work by—
neering
work
All
All
by all
engi
grad
engi
neers 1 neers 1 uates
Engineering
Non
work by—
engi
neering
work
All
All
by all
grad
engi
engi
neers 1 neers 1 uates
Non
Engineering
work by—
engi
neering
work
All
All
by all
engi
engi
grad
neers 1 neers 1 uates
1929 income (in dollars)
64 years and over
56-63 years_____
48-55 years_____
40-47 years_____
36-39 years_____
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96______
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16______
41+--(2)
33-40._
(2)
25-32-_ 12,495
17-24- 12,424
13-16- 10,140
32-36 years_____
28-31 years_____
26-27 years_____
24-25 years_____
23 years________
1917-20______
1921-24______
1925-26______
1927-28______
1929_________
9-12—
5-8— 3-4___
1-2___
0_____
8,052
5,460
4,170
2,910
2,496
9,937
12, 625
11,709
9,815
7,751
10,148
13,516
12,478
10,088
8, 294
(3)
7,155
7,867
8,106
6,620
6,917
7,500
7,108
6,407
5,680
7,346
7,955
7,610
6,747
6,099
2,400
4,400
5,057
5,346
4,347
4,476
4,979
4,912
4,562
4,102
4,971
5,590
5,232
4,876
4, 353
(3)
2,893
3,494
3,408
3, 013
3,060
3,422
3,481
3,405
3, 210
3,469
3, 760
3, 777
3,624
3,354
(2)
(2)
2,280
2,420
1,998
1,957
2,420
2,661
2,705
2,582
2,413
2,624
3,020
2,936
2,756
6,480
4,753
3,618
3,043
2,356
6,578
4,842
3,641
2,992
2,165
5, 502
4,099
3,075
2,344
1,973
4,814
3, 776
3,104
2, 501
1,933
4,988
3,847
3,124
2,477
1,858
3,685
3,042
2,331
1,786
1,500
3, 672
3,145
2,558
2,105
1,322
3,822
3,207
2,582
2,095
1,168
2, 792
2,349
1,821
1,407
936
3,010
2,577
2,164
1,834
888
3,146
2,664
2,200
1,831
862
1,945
1,642
1,308
889
446
2,458
2,150
1,850
1,476
502
2, 581
2,258
1,891
1,493
449
1932 income (in dollars)
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96______
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16______
1917-20______
1921-24______
44+_36-4328-3520-27-_
16-19_.
12-158-11 —
(2)
(2)
9,146
9,188
7,450
5,486
4,290
9,009
9,020
8,405
7,567
6,387
5,579
4, 332
9,386
9,643
9,008
7,979
6,700
5,858
4,415
(3)
5,000
5,069
5, 528
4, 980
3,675
3,007
6,032
6,252
5,892
5,242
4, 643
4,191
3, 457
6,363
6,589
6,163
5, 557
4,990
4,400
3, 546
3,000
2,550
3, Oil
3,129
2,800
2,320
1,963
3,846
4,126
4,046
3,742
3,490
3,223
2,790
4,100
4,689
4,411
4,007
3, 711
3, 381
2,885
(3)
1,200
1,395
1,528
1,602
1, 276
1,123
2, 242
2,640
2,823
2, 720
2,604
2, 475
2,195
2, 469
3,143
3, 119
2,968
2,854
2,664
2, 299
(2)
(2)
525
736
809
587
490
1,145
1, 300
1,807
1,903
1,926
1,851
1, 619
1,233
1,571
1,989
1,999
2,090
1,999
1,728
29-30 years______
27-28 years_____
26 years________
25 years_________
24 years_________
23 years_________
1925-26______
1927-28______
1929________
1930_________
1931_________
1932_________
6-7—
4-5—
3 ___
2____
1____
0_____
3, 301
2,463
2,034
1,930
1,766
1,689
3, 501
3,005
2, 518
2,167
2,039
1, 910
3,565
3, 021
2, 504
2,155
2,014
1,826
2,465
1,908
1, 585
1,465
1,348
1,240
2,934
2,504
2,140
1,946
1,742
1, 335
2,799
2,521
2,134
1,941
1, 725
1,243
1, 639
1,319
1,045
1,069
921
814
2, 411
2,103
1,871
1,662
1,394
766
2, 455
2,128
1,878
1,658
1,381
716
964
765
570
585
470
406
1,942
1,702
1,523
1,325
1,024
383
1,990
1, 751
1,546
1,324
1,008
358
454
306
228
234
188
163
1,468
1,257
1,119
937
539
153
1,533
1, 310
1,169
927
515
143
See footnotes at end of table.
151
67 years and over.
59-66 years_____
51-58 years_____
43-50 years_____
39-42 years_____
35-38 years_____
31-34 years_____
EARNED AN N U AL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
Proportion with annual earnings of more than specified amount as derived from—
Age
Year of
graduation
10 percent
Years
after
Engineering
Nongrad
work by—
engi
uation neering
work
All
All
by all
engi
engi
grad
neers 1 neers 1 uates
25 percent
50 percent
75 percent
90 percent
Engineering
Nonengi
work by—
neering
work
All
All
by all
engi
engi
grad
neers 1 neers 1 uates
Engineering
Nonwork by—
engi
neering
work
All
All
by all
grad
engi
engi
neers 1 neers 1 uates
Engineering
Nonwork by—
engi
neering
work
All
by all
AH
engi
grad
engi
neers 1 neers 1 uates
NonEngineering
engi
work by—
neering
work
All
All
by all
engi
engi
grad
neers i neers 1 uates
1934 income (in dollars)
69 years and over.
61-68 years______
63-60 years______
45-52 years______
41-44 years______
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96______
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16______
46+__
38-45..
30-37..
22-29..
18-21..
(2)
(2)
7,848
9,171
7,293
7,367
8,460
7,951
7,230
6,221
7,570
9,372
8,548
7, 665
6,542
(3)
(3)
4,147
5,426
4,576
5,155
5,700
5,443
4,980
4,518
5,513
6,264
5,841
5,271
4,863
2,500
2,200
2,523
3,040
2,892
3,292
3,793
3,745
3,524
3,319
3,700
4,280
4,095
3,788
3,540
(3)
(3)
1,305
1,579
1,667
1,861
2,294
2, 520
2, 526
2,471
2,225
2,625
2,751
2,688
2, 655
(2)
(2)
631
921
1,042
1,050
1,105
1, 558
1,826
1,829
1,229
1,160
1,711
1,893
1,966
37-40 years.
33-36 years.
31-32 years.
29-30 years.
28 years___
1917-20.
1921-24.
1925-26.
1927-28.
1929___
14-17..
10-13..
8-9__-_
0-7___
5_____
5,560
4,101
3,560
2,658
2,209
5,393
4,323
3,554
3,066
2,635
5, 656
4,405
3,601
3,120
2,658
3,667
3,055
2,468
2,028
1,764
4,058
3,387
2,892
2,507
2,209
4,278
3,499
2,949
2,533
2,227
2,414
1,992
1,700
1,439
1,296
3,101
2,676
2,380
2,106
1,929
3,271
2,801
2,442
2,141
1,946
1,514
1,276
1,123
1,015
934
2,379
2,113
1,929
1,745
1,593
2, 525
2,219
2,002
1,806
1, 621
848
694
526
500
431
1,839
1,625
1, 513
1,298
1,244
1,960
1, 752
1,581
1, 362
1,266
27 years.
26 years.
25 years.
24 years.
23 years.
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
4_____
3_____
2_____
1_____
0_____
2,149
2,028
1, 793
1, 664
1, 388
2,370
2,155
2,002
1,911
1,391
2,371
2,146
1,999
1,895
1,311
1,621
1, 536
1,442
1,325
1,093
2,044
1,900
1,701
1,562
976
2,044
1,895
1,693
1,551
939
1,224
1,171
1,113
991
744
1,789
1, 578
1,396
1,272
642
1, 797
1,571
1,392
1,265
617
889
835
815
606
372
1,431
1,265
1,107
960
321
1,443
1,261
1,104
954
309
408
352
336
242
149
1,083
954
837.
526
128
1,093
949
835
520
123
__
__
__
__
__
1 Includes all graduates and all “ other” engineers.
2 Between 50 and 100 engineers reported.
2 Between 10 and 50 engineers reported.
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
Proportion with annual earnings of more than specified amount as derived from—
15 2
T a b l e 58.— C om p a rison o f 5 levels o f annual earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 f r o m non en gin eerin g and en gin eerin g w ork , b y age— Con.
EARNED AN N U AL
INCOMES OE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
153
Caution should be exercised in comparing earnings with various
types of employment in 1929, 1932, and 1934. The earnings of all
engineers in engineering work reflect best the changes in what was
being paid for engineering services. Both sets of figures of engineering
earnings do reflect changes in the rates for given kinds and qualities of
work. This is not true of the earnings from nonengineering; they
indicate merely what individual engineers were able to earn in mis
cellaneous employments called “ nonengineering.” Conceivably such
persons might all have been managers of industrial establishments in
1929 and gasoline-station attendants in 1932. Obviously a decrease in
earnings from nonengineering employment would not then measure
the fall in earnings of industrial managers. Actually the changes
reflect the composite effect of a lowering of pay for various types of
nonengineering work and a lowering of the quality of nonengineering
work that was accepted as an alternative to unemployment.
Finally, among those reported at the end of the year as engaged in
both engineering and nonengineering, there were some who suffered
unemployment during part of the year. Inasmuch as unemployment
was far more common in 1932 and 1934 than in 1929, this accounts for
part of the decreases in annual incomes previously noted for both
engineering and nonengineering. As regards engineering, rate change
alone will be more fully analyzed later when monthly earnings from
engineering employment are presented.10
Incomes from Engineering and Nonengineering W ork
The first significant point of comparison between the incomes in
1929 of engineers engaged in engineering and those in nonengineering
work is that the earnings of the latter showed greater dispersion.
Thus, among engineers 40 to 47 years of age, 10 percent of those
engaged in nonengineering earned more than $12,424 and 10 percent
earned less than $2,420 per year. The respective annual incomes for
similar proportions of all those in engineering work were $9,815 and
$2,705; and of graduates in engineering $10,088 and $2,936. It seems
apparent from these figures and others for 1929, that on the one hand
many engineers were attracted out of engineering jobs by favorable
opportunities, whereas, on the other hand, an almost equally large
proportion dropped out of engineering work and were forced to find
alternative employment. This point appears to be substantiated by
a consideration of the variation in the relationship between engineering
and nonengineering earnings in moving from the lowest to the highest
of the 5 income levels. (Chart 11.)
10 In the present chapter it must be borne in mind that the influence of unemployment in decreasing annual
income was probably somewhat more important among those who reported nonengineering work as the
source of income. It has been stated that the major direction of flow was from engineering work into non
engineering work. While some such transfers were made without an intervening period of unemployment,
there must have been unemployment for many who lost engineering jobs and went into nonengineering
work after failure to find work of an engineering nature.
154
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
Only at the lowest 10-percent income group or level did engineering
incomes exceed those from nonengineering work at all ages for which
comparison can be made. A t the middle levels the engineering in
comes were greater than nonengineering by only 10 percent at 25 and
27 years of age, and by only 5 percent at age 30. From this point the
more rapid advance in average nonengineering earnings to a maximum
at age 44 brought about an equalization of the incomes near to age 34
at a value of $3,700 per year. They again equalized at 54 years. That
is, between 44 and 54 years, while the average returns from nonengi
neering had declined from $5,346 to $4,900, those from engineering had
advanced from $4,562 to $4,900. The advance in the latter continued
to age 60, attaining a value of $4,979 per year, as against $4,400 for
nonengineering at the same age. At the upper 10- and 25-percent
income groups or levels, engineering work ceased to have an advantage
over non engineering near to age 26. Thereafter the latter diverged
upwards from the former to reach a maximum of $12,495 at age 52
at the highest level, and of $8,106 at age 44 in the case of the next
lowest level. The corresponding values of engineering earnings were
$11,709 and $6,407 per annum. The steady advance in engineering
earnings, together with the declines in nonengineering earnings
brought about an equalization of incomes at age 58.
A second point of significance is that, in 1929, engineering work as
such ultimately offered rewards as high as engineers were able to
find in nonengineering. This arose primarily from the fact that the
age of maximum earning power arrived more quickly for engineers
in nonengineering than in engineering work. For at 48 to 55 years
of age those college graduates who stayed in engineering were doing
proportionately as well as those who had gone into nonengineering.
This was true even at the highest income levels. The earnings of
the upper 10 percent of the college graduates continued to advance
from $10,088 at age 44 to $13,516 at 60. The average at these ages
rose from $4,876 to $5,590, whereas the average from nonengineering
fell from $5,346 to $4,400 between these ages.
From the preceding analysis, therefore, it appears that in 1929 the
tendency was for average annual incomes of engineers who engaged
in nonengineering work to exceed slightly those from engineering work.
Notwithstanding, it should be noted that the opportunities outside
the engineering field did not embrace more than 7 percent of the total
reporting in any one age classification. Furthermore, since there is
no knowledge of the basis of selection, it cannot be said that non
engineering earnings would have been greater or less for the engineer
had he stayed in engineering work. The only justifiable assumption
is that in 1929 there was a preference to remain in engineering by
those in the two lower income groups or levels and a definite tendency
to accept attractive openings in nonengineering work at the two
EARNED AN N U A L INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
155
CHART II.
EARNED ANNU AL INCOME OF PROFESSIONAL EN G IN EER S IN
ENGINEERING AND NONENGINEERING WORK BY AGE IN 1929
PRIMARILY INCOME REPORTED BY GRADUATE ENGINEERS
IN EITHER FU LL OR PART TIME EMPLOYMENT
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
14,000
T------ 14,000
----- 1—I—r
13,000
13.000
13,000
13,000
11,000
10,000
10,000
9,000
9,000
6,000
6,000
7,000
7,000
6,000
6,000
5,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
1,000
-
Aqe in Years 23\25 27 JO
34
Years After
7
II
Graduation 2 4
No. inNoncncineering
Work
tot 159 149 239 299
No.inEngineerin4
Work 124521422192 3814 2/94
1,000
38
IS
239
2439
44
2/
487
4394
52
29
188
1849
80
37
37
88
43
42
641
157
U. S. Bureau of L abor Statistics
156
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
higher income levels. The turning point in this movement occurred
near to the middle levels of income reported.
Changes in In com e, 1929 to 1934
Earlier in this chapter the changes from 1929 to 1934 in the incomes
of all engineers were analyzed on an age basis. The decreases noted
were due partly to salary reductions on given jobs. They were also
due to the fact that incomes were reduced by extended periods of
unemployment and by the necessity for accepting poorer jobs. The
purpose of the earlier discussion was to determine, for example, what
happened between 1929 and 1934, on the average, to engineers 40 to 47
years of age.
From the data presented in table 58 it is now possible to trace more
precisely the influence of these several factors on the incomes of
engineers. The first point to be noted is that the relationship changed
between the jobs that engineers took in engineering and nonengineer
ing work. In 1929 the essential elements of the story are to be found
in the similarities of earnings in the two fields, rather than in the
differences. On the whole it appears that nonengineering work was
an alternative to engineering work. But from 1929 to 1934 many
nonengineering jobs were accepted as an alternative to unemployment
or work relief. Thus, the average earnings of those who were 40 to
47 years of age in 1929 and were in nonengineering work were $5,346.
In 1934 a larger number of men from this age class were in nonengi
neering, and the average of this larger group was $3,040, a decline of
43 percent. B y way of contrast the average annual income of grad
uates in engineering work of from 40 to 47 years of age was $4,876 in
1929. A smaller number still in engineering in 1934 averaged $3,788,
a decrease of only 23 percent.
The extent to which earnings opportunities from nonengineering
work depreciated between 1929 and 1934 differed at the various age
levels. The average earnings of two groups in nonengineering whose
ages were 28 to 40 in 1929 declined by almost one-third from 1929 to
1934. As between the groups of those who were over 48 in 1929, the
average income of the 1934 group was only half the average of the 1929
group. Similarly at each of the other income levels there was a greater
fall in the average income of older men in nonengineering.
Those who were able to stay in engineering fared better. As
illustrating this point, table 59 is presented, covering graduates of
EARNED ANNUAL INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
T a b l e 59. — C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f a nnual earnings in 1 9 2 9 ,
fr o m en gin eerin g w ork, o f 5 age grou p s o f older graduates
157
1 9 8 2 , and 1 9 8 4
1 reporting
Annual earnings of more than specified amount of engineers whose ages were—
Percentage
at specified
income level
60
in
1929
63
in
1932
65
in
1934
38
in
1929
41
in
1932
43
in
1934
30
in
1929
33
in
1932
35
in
1934
25
in
1929
28
in
1932
30
in
1934
10 percent__ $13,516 $9, 643 $9,372 $8,294 $6,700 $6. 542 $4,842 $4,415 $4,405 $2,992 $3,021 $3,120
7,955 6, 589 6, 264 6,099 4,990 4,863 3,847 3, 546 3, 499 2,477 2, 521 2, 533
25 percent__
2,095 2,128 2,141
50 percent___ 5,590 4,689 4,280 4,353 3, 711 3,540 3,207 2,885 2,801
3,760 3,143 2, 625 3,354 2, 854 2, 655 2,664 2,299 2, 219 1,831 1, 751 1,806
75 percent__
2,624 1, 571 1,160 2, 756 2,090 1,966 2,258 1, 728 1, 752 1,443 1,310 1,362
90 percent__
Percentage increase or decrease
10 percent__
25 percent__
50 percent—
75 percent___
90 percent__
192934
192932
193234
192934
192932
193234
192934
192932
193234
192934
-31
-21
-2 3
-3 0
-5 6
-2 9
-1 7
-1 6
-1 6
-4 0
-3
-5
-9
-1 6
-2 6
-2 1
-2 0
-1 9
-2 1
-2 9
-1 9
-1 8
-1 5
-1 5
-2 4
-2
-3
-5
-7
-6
-9
-9
-1 3
-1 7
-2 3
-9
-8
-1 0
-1 4
-2 4
(2)
-1
-3
-3
+1
+4
+2
+2
-1
-9
1929- 193232
34
+1
+2
+2
-4
+12
+3
(2)
+1
+3
+4
1Includes postgraduates, nonengineering graduates, and first-degree engineering graduates who reported
they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 Less than 1 percent.
advancing age and experience, who were engaged in engineering work.
A similar table based on the data in table 58 might be presented for all
engineers. Essentially, however, the changes which occurred in the
earnings from engineering work, as reported by all engineers and by
graduates only, were consistently uniform.
In the period from 1929 to 1934 the average earnings of graduates
in engineering who were 60 years old in 1929 declined 23 percent.
There was a smaller decrease for the middle-aged groups, and among
those averaging 30 years of age in 1929 the decline amounted to 13
percent. For the youngest groups shown in the table— those who
were 25 in 1929 and 30 in 1934— the 5 years of added experience
resulted in an actual increase in the average earnings of those who
remained in engineering in 1934, as against the average for the larger
numbers in the profession in 1929. The nature and extent of these
changes in the averages of graduate earnings from engineering work
were closely paralleled by those which occurred at the two upper
income groups or levels. The increase in average earnings that was
noted at 25 and 30 years did not occur for this age group at the two
lower levels of income for the period 1929 to 1934. Furthermore,
the declines in earnings for the lowest 10 percent in each of the three
older groups were greater than the average.
The relative changes as between nonengineering earnings and those
for engineering work of engineers with advancing age and experience
are also found to be the same for men with comparable periods of
experience (table 60).
T a b l e 60, — C om p a rison o f 5 levels o f annual earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 , and 1 9 3 4 f r o m n on en g in eerin g and en gin eerin g w ork , f o r corresp ond ing
years after graduation
00
H
Proportion with annual earnings of more than specified amount
Age of engineers
Years
after
graduation
*4
10 percent
1929
Nonengineering work—all engineers:
23£ 2 years______________________
25 years
__ _____ ___
28 years
- __ ________ __
33 years
_ ________ _____
43 years
_ __ _ ____ _ __ ____
53 years..- _____________________
60 years_________________________
Engineering work—all engineers:
23H years_______________________
__
25 years _
28 years________________________
33 years
..
_______
43 years________________________
53 years _ . . .
.
. .
60 years _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Engineering work—graduates only:
23 years_______________________
25 years _______________ ______
28 years. ______ ______ _ __ _
33 years __ _ __ _ _____ _
43 years_________________________
53 years_____
_ ______________
60 years.------------------------------------
Cn
50 percent
25 percent
75 percent
90 percent
O
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
1929
H ------ $2,496
2_____ 2,910
5_____ 4,560
10____ 7,320
20____ 11,950
30____
(0
37____
0)
$1,689
1,850
2,463
4,290
7, 950
9,130
0)
$1,388
1,710
2,160
3, 770
7,293
8,400
0)
$1,973
2,344
3,320
5,060
7,780
7,730
7,155
$1,240
1,380
1,908
3,007
5,140
5,200
5,020
$1,093
1,365
1,680
2,640
4, 576
4, 770
(2)
$1,500
1,786
2, 525
3, 500
5,100
4, 970
4,400
$814
990
1, 319
1,963
2,880
3,050
2,725
$744
1,040
1, 250
1,790
2,892
2,775
2,400
$936
1,407
1, 995
2, 670
3, 390
3,420
2,893
$406
520
765
1,123
1,580
1, 425
1, 270
$372
685
910
1,170
1,667
1,435
(2)
$446
889
1,410
1,840
2,340
C1)
0)
$163
210
306
490
785
570
0)
$149
275
420
575
1,042
760
0)
— - 2, 356
2____
3,043
5_____ 3,910
10 ..
5,940
20____ 9,400
30 ..
11,900
12, 625
37
1,910
2,100
3,005
4,332
6,660
8,230
8,800
1,391
1,960
2,470
3,800
6,221
7,620
8,150
1,933
2,501
3,320
4,480
6,250
7,060
7,500
1,335
1,840
2,504
3,457
4,800
5,640
6,130
976
1,610
2,115
3,020
4, 518
5,180
5, 550
1, 322
2,105
2, 750
3, 520
4, 440
4,900
4,979
766
1, 520
2,103
2,790
3, 580
3, 990
4,070
642
1,310
1,840
2,470
3, 319
3,620
3,750
888
1,834
2,280
2,890
3,400
3 460
3’ 422
383
1,150
1,702
2,195
2, 660
2,790
2,710
321
1,020
1,490
2,000
2,471
2,530
2,440
502
1.476
1,940
2, 385
2,690
2, 650
2,420
153
690
1, 257
1,619
1,920
1,840
1,470
128
650
1,150
1, 550
1,829
1,680
1,370
2,165
H -----2_____ 2,992
5_____ 4,030
6,100
1 0 ..
20____ 10,350
30____ 12, 500
37____ 13, 516
1,826
2,100
3,021
4,415
7,100
8,820
9, 400
1,311
1,940
2,470
3,860
6,542
8,100
8,850
1,858
2,477
3,360
4,660
6,620
7,620
7,955
1,243
1,840
2,521
3,546
5,140
5,980
6,400
939
1,610
2,110
3,110
4,863
5,560
5,980
1,168
2,095
2,800
3, 680
4, 770
5,270
5, 590
716
1, 510
2,128
2,885
3,865
4,320
4, 580
617
1, 310
1,840
2,530
3,540
3,910
4,150
862
1,831
2,375
3,040
3,600
3,780
3, 760
358
1,150
1, 751
2,299
2,890
3,030
3,080
309
1,015
1, 505
2,110
2,655
2,710
2,690
449
1,493
2,010
2,495
2,910
2,960
2,624
143
690
1,310
1,728
2,060
1,980
1,710
123
650
1,170
1, 640
1, 966
1,790
1,460
1932
1934
W
3
3
O
3
O
t— i
3
H
H
W
w
52!
o
a
§
§
U1
M
o
3
M
to
to
to
I
00
Percentage increase or decrease
1920-34 1929-32 1932-34
1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
H____
2____
5_____
10____
20____
30
37
-4 4
-41
-53
-4 8
-3 9
-3 2
-3 6
-4 6
-41
-33
—18
-8
-12
-12
-8
-8
—45
-4 2
-4 8
-5 0
-41
—38
—37
-4 1
-4 3
-41
-3 4
—33
—30
—12
-1
-1 2
-1 6
-11
—8
—50
-4 2
-5 0
-4 9
-43
—44
—45
—46
-4 5
-4 8
-4 4
-4 4
—39
—38
-9
+5
-5
-9
(3)
-9
-1 2
-5 1
-5 4
-5 6
-5 1
—58
-63
-6 2
-5 8
-5 3
-5 8
—56
+32
+19
+4
+6
+1
-69
-7 0
-69
-55
-7 6
-7 8
-73
-6 6
+31
+37
+17
+33
+33
H ....
2 _____
-41
-3 6
-37
-36
-34
-36
-35
-1 9
-31
-23
-2 7
-2 9
-31
-3 0
-27
-7
-18
-12
-7
-7
-7
-5 0
-3 6
-3 6
-33
-2 8
-2 7
-2 6
—31
-2 6
-2 5
-23
-23
-2 0
-18
—27
-1 3
-1 6
-13
-6
-8
-9
-51
-3 8
-3 3
-3 0
-2 5
-2 6
-2 5
—42
-2 8
-2 4
-21
-1 9
-1 9
-1 8
—16
-14
-13
-11
-7
-9
-8
-4 4
-3 5
-31
-2 7
-2 7
-2 9
-3 7
-2 5
-24
-2 2
-1 9
-2 1
-1 1
-1 2
-9
-7
-9
-1 0
-5 6
-41
-35
-3 2
-3 7
-43
-5 3
-3 5
-3 2
-2 9
-31
-3 9
-6
-9
-4
-5
-9
-7
-3 9
-35
-39
-37
-37
-35
-35
-16
-3 0
-25
-28
-31
-29
-30
—28
-8
-18
-13
-8
-8
-6
-4 9
-35
-3 7
-33
-2 7
-27
-25
—33
-2 6
-2 5
-2 4
-2 2
-2 2
-2 0
—24
-13
-1 6
-1 2
-5
-7
-7
—47
-3 7
-3 4
-31
-2 6
-2 6
-2 6
-3 9
-2 8
-24
-2 2
-1 9
-18
-18
-14
-13
-14
-1 2
-8
-9
-9
-4 5
-3 7
-31
-2 6
-2 8
-2 8
-3 7
-2 6
-24
-2 0
-2 0
-18
-1 2
-1 4
-8
-8
-11
-1 3
-56
-4 2
-34
-3 2
-40
-44
-5 4
-3 5
-31
-2 9
-3 3
-3 5
-6
-11
-5
-5
-1 0
-1 5
5____
10.....
20____
30____
37____
}4 . . . .
2_____
5_____
10____
20____
30____
37____
1 Between 50 and 100 engineers reported.
a Between 10 and 50 engineers reported.
3 Less than 1 percent.
159
1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
EARNED ANNUAL. INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
Nonengineering work—all engineers:
23H years_____________________
25 years______________________
28 years______________________
33 years______________________
43 years______________________
53 years______________________
60 years______________________
Engineering work—all engineers:
23H years_____________________
25 years______________________
28 years______________________
33 years______________________
43 years______________________
53 years______________________
60 years______________________
Engineering work—graduates only:
23^ years_____________________
25 years______________________
28 years_______________________
33 years______________________
43 years______________________
53 years______________________
60 years_______________________
160
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
As far as the comparison of nonengineering and engineering earn
ings is concerned, this table merely reenforces the evidence already
advanced as to the severe fall of income that occurred when engineers
were forced out of the profession. However, the table sets forth
more clearly than table 59 the picture of the fall of earnings from
engineering. It was among those newcomers who were trying to
force their way into the profession that the greatest fall of income
occurred. Thus, average earnings in engineering in 1934, 2 years
after graduation, were 37 percent less than in 1929. The earnings
of those who had been out of college 10 years were 31 percent lower
in 1934 than in 1929. A t higher ages all groups averaged a decrease of
26 percent. A similar movement occurred in the level of earnings of the
upper and lower 25 percent of those in engineering, but at the level of
the upper 10 percent the declines were greater for the older engineers.
Incomes of Unemployed Engineers
In 1934 almost one-tenth of the reporting engineers were unem
ployed or on work relief at the end of the year. The low level of
earnings of this group during 1934 contributed to lowering the
average earnings of all engineers (table 61.)
The distribution of the earnings of this group has significance only
as indicating the income which a group, unemployed in December 1934,
had earned in the preceding 12 months. Some were probably men
who had a few months’ work at a good rate, and a long period of
unemployment. Others may have worked quite steadily at a low
rate and become recently unemployed. All were unemployed at the
end of the year. They could look back on average earnings for the pre
ceding 12 months of $700 to $950 if they were less than age 28, while
those of 40 to 50 had averaged $1,350. Only about 10 percent of the
unemployed, even though they were in those ages at which engineering
earnings reach a peak, had made as much as $2,000 in the preceding
12 months. Ten percent had made less than $300 a year.
EARNED AN N U AL INCOMES OE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
161
T a b l e 61,— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f a nnual ea rn in gs in 1 9 8 2 and 1 9 8 4 o f all
en gineers reporting u n e m p lo ym en t, by age
[Without regard to type of education]
Age
Year of
graduation
Years after
graduation
Proportion earning more than
specified amount
10
25
50
75
90
percent percent percent percent percent
1932 income
67 years and over.
59-66 years______
51-58 years______
43-50 years______
39-42 years_____
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96______
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16 _____
44 and over__
36-43________
28-35________
20-27________
16-19________
0)
(2)
$2,453
2,790
2,497
C1)
(2)
$1,477
1,867
1, 574
C1)
$720
793
1,105
1,008
0)
(2)
$396
528
494
0)
(2)
$159
211
198
35-38 years_____
31-34 years_____
29-30 years_____
27-28 years_____
26 years________
1917-20
1921-24
1925-26 _____
1927-28 _ 1929_________
12-15_- _____
8-11_________
6-7__________
4-5
3____________
2,420
2,150
1, 754
1, 690
1, 232
1, 417
1, 416
1, 250
1,178
925
1,057
932
761
751
605
559
462
380
375
303
223
185
152
150
121
25 years________
24 years________
20-23 years_____
1930._ _____ 2____________
1931- ______ 1___________
1932-,- _____ 0____________
1,280
1,233
(3)
907
891
754
581
588
503
290
294
251
116
118
(3)
1934 income
69 years and over.
61-68 years______
53-60 years______
45-52 years______
41-44 years_____
Prior to 1889_ _
1889-96 _____
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16
46 and over__
38-45-___
30-37-. ____
22-29_______
18-21__ _
37-40 years_____
33-36 years_____
31-32 years_____
29-30 years_____
28 years________
1917-20
__
1921-24______
1925-26 _- -_
1927-28______
1929_________
27 years________
26 years________
25 years________
24 years________
20-23 years_____
1930_________
1931_________
1932
__
1933
__
1934_________
1 Fewer than 10 persons reported.
Between 10 and 50 persons reported.
* Between 50 and 100 persons reported.
2
(2)
(3)
$2,349
2,546
2,151
(2)
$1, 300
1,700
1,943
1, 730
$1,000
688
1,080
1,357
1, 357
(2)
$344
542
748
867
(2)
(3)
$217
299
353
14-17____
10-13___
8-9.
6-7_____
5________
2, 250
1,959
2,138
1, 796
1, 805
1,780
1, 634
1,746
1, 495
1,417
1, 316
1, 304
1,243
1,045
893
769
836
716
546
449
308
340
287
219
180
4________ _
3__________
2____________
1____
-_
0________ .
1,638
1, 545
1,548
1,460
1, 257
1, 374
1, 210
1,200
1,107
881
948
836
716
756
571
534
419
358
378
285
214
167
143
151
114
Chapter IX
Monthly Earnings of Professional Engineers, 1929
to 1934
In the preceding discussion of earned annual incomes it was neces
sary to assume that the kind of engineering employment reported at
the end of 1929, 1932, or 1934 was the source of the earnings through
out that year. As regards the six distinct analyses of monthly rates
presented in this chapter, there should be virtually no inconsistency
between the source reported and the earnings, primarily because,
unlike earned annual incomes, the monthly rates at which engineer
ing services were purchased are not affected by periods of partial or
complete unemployment during the year.
Engineering Earnings Without Regard to Kind of Engineering
Employment in 1929, 1932, and 1934
Earnings o f A ll Engineers Combined W ithout Regard to Age
Of the 33,266 engineers 23 years of age and more who reported as
of December 31, 1929, that they were professionally active prior to
1930, 28,511, or 85 percent, stated their average monthly rates for
the engineering work in which they were engaged. These 1929 data,
together with the adjusted figures for 1932 and 1934, are shown in
table 62, without regard to age or kind of engineering employment
reported.
T a b l e 62.— Comparison of 5 levels of monthly engineering earnings in 1929, 1932,
and 1934 of all professional engineers reporting
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34 and without regard to kind of engineering employment reported
or type of education]
Percentage at specified
earnings level
Monthly engineering
earnings of more than
specified amount
1929
10 percent_______________
25 percent_________ _
50 percent_______________
75 percent_______________
90 percent______ _______
$609
415
289
215
162
1932
$484
334
235
167
123
1934
$435
304
210
148
112
Amount of decrease
Percentage decrease
1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
1929-34 1929-32 1932-34
$174
111
79
67
50
$125
81
54
48
39
$49
30
25
19
11
28.6
26.7
27.3
31.2
30.9
20.5
19.5
18.7
22.3
24.1
10.1
9.0
10 6
11.4
8.9
As in the case of earned annual incomes, the range in the 1929
monthly engineering earnings of professional engineers was very great.
While some 79 engineers reported earnings of less than $60 per month,
162
MONTHLY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 192 9 - 3 4
163
168 earned more than $1,880 a month. The median monthly earn
ings of the 28,511 reporting engineers was $289; one-quarter earned
more than $415; and only 10 percent had earnings greater than $609
a month. The lowest 25 percent of the reporting engineers earned
less than $215 a month, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than
$162 a month.
Over the period 1929-34, the changes which occurred in monthly
engineering earnings were similar to those previously noted in the
discussion of earned annual incomes: (1) Earnings progressively
declined from 1929 to 1934; (2) almost two-thirds of the decreases
occurred between 1929 and 1932; (3) the sharpest absolute decreases
occurred at the higher levels of earnings, but the greatest percentage
decreases took place at the two lower income levels.
The changes in monthly engineering earnings were very much less
than those for earned annual incomes. This is due to the fact that
annual earnings reflect the combined effects of several factors which
were operative in the depression years: (1) The decline in engineer
ing earnings; (2) the acute unemployment; and (3) the deterioration
in the nature of the available nonengineering work. Furthermore,
the fact that there were a large number of engineering graduates in
1930-34, of whom a large number were unable to find engineering
employment, probably acted further to cause a greater drop in annual
incomes than in rates for engineering services.
Clearly, earned annual income data cannot be used as a measure
of the rates at which engineering services were purchased. Illus
trative of this is the fact that in 1929 only at the two higher earnings
levels did earned annual income exceed 12 times the monthly earnings
reported solely from engineering services.1 In the years 1932 and
1934 the difference between 12 times the monthly engineering income
alone and the reported annual income from all services was more
marked than in 1929. A t each earnings level it showed rates of
earnings higher than realized income. The discrepancy is of course
greatest at the lower levels. Thus, 10 percent of the reporting
engineers actually earned less than $872 in 1934. This group in
cluded many who were unemployed, on work relief, or in makeshift
nonengineering jobs. On the other hand, among those who had
engineering jobs at the end of 1934, the lowest 10 percent were paid
at the rate of $112 a month or $1,344 a year. This was a decline of
30.9 percent subsequent to 1929. B y contrast, the earned annual
incomes of a similar proportion of engineers had declined by 53.6
percent. A t the next highest income level, engineering earnings
decreased by 31.2 percent, as against 41.3 percent in the case of earned
annual incomes. The differences between the decline in monthly
1
This relationship is reasonable because in 1929 the earnings of those in nonengineering work were greater
than the earnings of those in engineering.
164
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
rates for engineering work and in annual earnings of all engineers
were less marked at the average level and at the two higher levels.
Thus, on the average engineering rates declined 27.3 percent, whereas
annual incomes declined by 33.0 percent.
It follows from this discussion that there is an important distinction
between movements at the various levels of earned annual incomes
and of engineering rates. Earned annual incomes among the upper
10 percent declined 31.2 percent; among the lower 10 percent, heavily
weighted in 1934 with engineers who had been unemployed, by 53.6
percent. Engineering rates also declined more at the lower levels
than at the upper levels. B y and large, and especially by contrast
with the movement of annual earnings, however, the impression given
by the figures is of a fairly uniform decrease in rates of earnings at all
levels. Thus, the monthly rates for the upper 10 percent of those
engaged in engineering work declined 28.6 percent, while for the lower
10 percent they declined 30.9 percent.
Earnings by Professional Class, W ithout Regard to Age
The findings and comments of the preceding analysis also apply to
the engineering earnings reported by the five professional classes.
These are shown, also without regard to age 2 or kind of engineering
employment, in table 63.
In 1929 there were several marked differences in the relationship of
monthly rates for the various professional groups at the higher and
lower levels. Mining and metallurgical engineers received more than
the other professional groups. The upper 10 percent of mining and
metallurgical engineers had earnings of not less than $792 per month.
Second in order came chemical and ceramic engineers, of whom the
upper 10 percent had monthly earnings of not less than $732, followed
by mechanical and industrial engineers, and electrical engineers,
respectively, with not less than $674 and $587 a month. At this level,
civil engineers received the lowest rates, $515 per month. For the
upper 25 percent of the reporting engineers the order of the profes
sional classes was the same, monthly earnings ranging from not less
than $372 for civil engineers to not less than $503 a month for mining
and metallurgical engineers. At the lower levels as well the mining
and metallurgical rates of pay were greater than the rates for corre
sponding proportions of the other professional classes. But the rela
tionships between the other classes are altered. At the two highest
levels electrical engineers were in fourth place; at the middle and two
lowest levels the rates for electrical engineers were less than those for
2
It is important to note that any data concerning the several professional classes as a whole without regard
to age tend to obscure the effects of different age distributions within the classes. Those classes with a
relatively high proportion of older men for this reason are likely to show relatively high earnings, and those
with relatively more younger men to show smaller earnings.
MONTHLY EARNINGS' OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 19 2 9 - 8 4
165
any of the other professional groups. Civil engineers rose to fourth
place as regards average earnings, and to second place as regards the
rates received by the lowest 10 percent in the various professional
groups. And while chemical and ceramic engineers continued at the
average level to be the second-best paid of the professional groups,
they shifted to fourth place as regards the level of earnings for the
lowest 10 percent.
T a b l e 63.— Comparison of 5 levels of monthly engineering earnings in 1929, 1932,
and 1934 of all engineers reporting, by professional class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34 and without regard to kind of engineering employment reported or
type of education]
Percent of professional class at
specified earnings level1
Monthly engineering
earnings of more
th a n s p e c i f i e d
amount
Percentage decrease
1932
1934
192934
192932
193234
192934
192932
$792
732
674
587
$585
579
512
496
$524
509
441
463
$268
223
233
124
$207
153
162
91
$61
70
71
33
33.8
30.5
34.6
21.1
26.1
20.9
24.0
15.5
10.4
12.1
13.9
6.7
515
430
390
125
85
40
24.3
16.5
9.3
503
490
455
405
409
400
356
336
371
339
313
315
132
151
142
90
94
90
99
69
38
61
43
21
26.2
30.8
31.2
22.2
18.7
18.4
21.8
17.0
9.3
15.2
12.1
6. 2
1929
10 percent:
Mining and metallurgical _ _
Chemical and ceram ic,_____
Mechanical and industrial___
Electrical__________________
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural _________________
25 percent:
Mining and metallurigcal
Chemical and ceramic, __ _
Mechanical and industrial __
Electrical_________ _,, _____
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural ___________ ,, ,
50 percent:
Mining and metallurgical , __
Chemical and ceramic ______
Mechanical and industrial____
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural________ ______ ,
Electrical__ _ __ . . ,
75 percent:
Mining and metallurgical . __
Mechanical and industrial____
Chemical and ceramic_______
Civil, agriculural, and archi
tectural- ___________ _ ,,
Electrical___________________
90 percent:
Mining and metallurgical_____
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural _____________
Mechanical and industrial _ _
Chemical and ceramic____ _
Electrical,,. _______ ________
Amount of decrease
193234
372
311
279
93
61
32
25.0
16.4
10.3
334
326
311
274
251
246
241
203
215
93
123
96
60
75
65
33
48
31
27.8
37.7
30.9
18.0
23.0
20.9
12.0
19.1
12.6
277
275
229
232
205
215
72
60
48
43
24
17
26.0
21.8
17.3
15.6
10.5
7.3
241
225
221
183
166
157
154
145
131
87
80
90
58
59
64
29
21
26
36.1
35.6
40.7
24.1
26.2
29.0
15.8
12.7
16.6
213
201
169
163
150
148
63
53
44
38
19
15
29.6
26.4
20.7
18.9
11.2
9.2
186
125
115
71
61
10
38.2
32.8
8.0
167
167
156
148
126
122
116
123
120
107
101
108
47
60
55
40
41
45
40
25
6
15
15
15
28.1
35.9
35.3
27.0
24.6
26.9
25.6
16.9
4.8
12.3
12.9
12.2
1 Arranged in ascending order of monthly engineering earnings for 1929.
While there were shifts in the order of the various professions as
between different levels of earnings in 1929, the spread was less marked
at the lower levels. Thus, among the lowest 10 percent of the various
groups the range was from $148 per month for electrical engineers to
$186 for mining and metallurgical, a range of not quite 26 percent.
A t the average level the absolute range was greater, from $275 to
$334, but relatively it was a narrower range than was found at the
2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 4 1 --------12
166
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
lowest level. However, at the levels of the highest 25 percent and the
highest 10 percent in each class there was not only a greater absolute
spread but also a greater relative difference among the several pro
fessional groups. Thus, the upper 10 percent of the mining and metal
lurgical en gineers, who were paid not less than $792 a month, received
54 percent more than the upper 10 percent of the civil engineers who
received not less than $515.3
Despite the progressive declines in engineering earnings between
1929 and 1934, the orders of the professional classes at the two higher
levels were essentially the same as those noted for 1929. However, at
the middle earnings level, chemical and ceramic engineers had dropped
from second place in 1929 and 1932 to fifth by 1934; but even in 1934
their monthly engineering earnings were practically the same as those
of the civil engineers, who were fourth in order. Mining and metal
lurgical engineers were highest both in 1932 and 1934. Thus, in the
latter year, while their median earnings were $241 a month, those of
both mechanical and industrial engineers and electrical engineers were
$215 a month.
A t the lowest 25-percent earnings level of the reporting engineers,
the lowest and highest figures for 1932 and 1934 were again reported,
respectively, by chemical and ceramic engineers and mining and metal
lurgical engineers. A t the same level in 1934 the range was from not
more than $131 for chemical and ceramic engineers to not more than
$154 for mining and metallurgical engineers. This reduction in the
range of earnings was more pronounced at the lowest earnings level
both in 1932 and 1934, for while in the former year it was from not
more than $116 to not more than $126, in the latter it was from not
more than $101 to not more than $120, the upper and lower extremes
being reported, respectively, by the civil engineers and the chemical
and ceramic engineers.
The decline in engineering earnings of each professional class was
very much less than that which occurred in earned annual incomes.
The greatest percentage decreases took place at the two lower levels.
For example, while engineering earnings of electrical engineers at
these limits declined by 26.4 and 27.0 percent, the corresponding
annual incomes decreased by 42.6 and 56.0 percent. In the case of
chemical and ceramic engineers, the drops in engineering earnings
at these levels were 40.7 and 35.3 percent as against 52.2 and 63.8
percent in their annual income.
3
It has been stated before, but can hardly be over-emphasized, that these levels of earnings need to be
related to the number of those in the various professional groups. Thus, there were 12,920 civil engineers and
1,231 mining and metallurgical engineers in the 1929 sample under discussion. This means then, that 1,292
civil engineers earned more than $515 and 123 mining and metallurgical engineers earned more than $792.
In absolute numbers there were more civil engineers (434) earning more than $792 monthly than there were
mining and metallurgical engineers. Conversely, the highest paid 434 mining engineers (30.5 percent) of the
total number earned approximately more than $427 per month.
MONTHLY EARNINGS1OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 192 9 -3 4
167
Earnings Related to Age— A ll Engineers Combined
In table 64 there are presented the monthly engineering earnings,
by age,4 of all engineers combined and without regard to kind of en
gineering employment.
T a b l e 64.— Comparison of 5 levels of monthly engineering earnings in 1929, 1932,
and 1934 of all engineers reporting, hy age
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported or type or education]
Age
Year of grad
uation
Years after
graduation
Proportion with monthly engineering
earnings of more than specified amount
10 per 25 per 50 per 75 per 90 per
cent
cent
cent
cent
cent
1929
64 years and over___________
56—
63 years_________________
48-55 years___________ _ __
40-47 years_________________
36-39 years_______ _____ ___
Prior to 1889 _ _
1889-96______
1897-1904
1905-12
1913-16 _
40 and over__
33-40. __
25-32
17-24 .
13-16
$820
1,050
933
789
630
$601
628
592
514
467
$388
425
414
385
339
$263
296
297
289
269
$194
210
232
229
218
32-35 years....... .......................
28-31 years....... .................
26-27 years......... ....................
24-25 years........................... .
23 vears
_
_ _
1917-20______
1921-24. .
.
1925-26. .
1927-28_______
1929_________
9-12_____
5-8
3-4
1-2__________
0.
519
404
307
252
215
407
317
256
215
174
310
262
218
181
149
249
217
186
152
130
208
187
155
133
115
1932
67 years and over. ________
59-66 years__________ _
.
51-58 years______________ __
43-50 y e a r s.___________ . . .
39-42 years_________________
Prior to 1889..
1889-96.... __
1897-1904_____
1905-12______
1913-16______
44 and over__
36-43 ______
28-35________
20-27________
16-19________
$725
751
707
624
517
$499
517
486
433
396
$331
352
340
315
295
$216
241
241
234
223
$144
152
164
168
170
35-38 years________________
31-34 years____
_ .
29-30 years......................... __
27-28 years
26 years...................................
1917-20_______
1921-24 _. ._
1925-26______
1927-28.._
1929_________
12-15________
8-11
_ __
6-7... ...........
4-5__________
3____________
458
358
299
250
221
349
293
244
215
185
272
234
205
181
156
211
189
166
147
134
157
143
135
119
110
25 years__________ _________
24 years...................... .............
23 years
1930_________
1931_________ 1 _ __
1932............... 0____I___
190
173
165
161
149
137
143
126
111
122
104
89
101
84
66
1934
69 years and over___________ Prior to 1889. _
61-68 years____
_ _ _____ 1889-96...........
53-60 years_________ _______ 1897-1904_____
45-52 years....... .... _ ______ 1905-12______
41-44 years.. ___ _ _______ 1913-16______
46 and over__
38-45________
30-37________
22-29________
18-21________
$620
711
650
592
505
$430
480
447
413
375
$284
321
310
292
273
$173
205
212
214
205
$108
126
146
152
150
37-40 years______ ______ ___
33-36 years
31-32 years._ .........................
29-30 years______ _________
28 years. _ _____ ________
1917-20______
1921-24....... .
1925-26. ..........
1927-28______
1929.................
14-17________
10-13________
8-9__________
6-7__________
5____________
440
354
299
253
228
336
285
238
215
191
254
224
199
177
162
197
177
161
145
138
148
139
133
118
113
27 years............ ...................
26 years. _ __
_______
25 years......... ................ .........
24 years. ._ ______________
23 years___________ ________
1930_________
1931 ________
1932 ________
1933 ...............
1934_________
199
182
169
159
149
172
156
145
138
129
148
137
124
116
110
125
114
103
98
91
104
94
84
82
75
t ill" ” ” ” !”
0
____________
* Throughout the ensuing discussion, age and years after graduation are used interchangeably. Of
course, in the case of nongraduates (i. e., “ other” engineers) age only applies. The relationship between
these 2 factors can readily be derived from the fact that the median age of graduation of new graduates to
the profession was found to be 23 years.
168
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
As shown in the table there was, in general, a steady advance in
monthly earnings at all levels up to the highest age groups. Except
for the absence of the exceptionally rapid rise from 23 to 25 years,
the changes with age in monthly engineering earnings at all 5 levels
show no marked differences from those derived from the analysis of
earned annual incomes by age. Thus, in 1929 the compensation for
engineering services of the lowest tenth of the reporting engineers
steadily increased from over $115 a month for those at age 23 to a
maximum of over $232 a month for those who were between 48 and
55 years. A t each of the four higher earnings levels maximum earn
ings were reached some 8 years later, or near to age 60. The respec
tive maxima were not less than $297, $425, $628, and $1,050 per
month.
The tables of monthly earnings by age are of especial importance
because of the light they shed on the entrance rates of engineers. In
the tables of annual incomes the graduating class of 1929 did not have
an opportunity to earn for more than 6 months. Some engineers
apparently did report an annual rate of earnings, rather than actual
earnings in the year. In any event, however, it is not possible to
present any useful contrasts between the earnings of men just out of
college and those who had been out a year or more. In this section
on monthly rates of earnings the progression from entrance rates of
pay is clearly shown.
There is a marked spread in rates of pay at all ages. In 1929 the
earnings of engineers 23 years of age, essentially beginners in the pro
fession, averaged $149 a month. A bove this one-quarter earned over
$174, and one-tenth over $215 per month, as against monthly engi
neering earnings of over $130 and $115 at the two lower levels.
The spread in engineering earnings with advancing age became
quite marked at the age of 30; that is, some 8 years earlier than was
the case for earned annual incomes. (See chart 12.) Again the
earnings of the upper 10 percent of reporting engineers diverged
sharply from those at corresponding ages in the lower levels. Thus,
at age 44 the former were greater than the average by some 102 per
cent, as against a corresponding difference at the upper 25-percent
level of only 33 percent. A t age 60, the respective differences were
144 and 48 percent.
These general relationships of monthly engineering earnings by
age of all engineers 5 reporting, also held in the years 1932 and 1934,
as well as for the m onthly earnings of all graduates,6shown in table 65.
6 Graduates and “ other” engineers combined.
®Postgraduates, nonengineering graduates, and first-degree engineering graduates combined.
MONTHLY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
CHART 12
MONTHLY COMPENSATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
IN ENGINEERING WORK BY AGE IN 1929
INCLUDES COMPENSATION FOR A L L KINDS OF
ENGINEERING SERVICES REPORTED
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
Ag£in Years 2Jits zt so
Years after
Graduation
z a
t
No. Reporting*
Mi&HW7EEAS 1(140 ZfiM 2fi45 4fiOS
3JOO
3,404
0,233
M l G M M T£S I£63 2,173 2,167 3£53
2J2I3
2A4S
4,410
U . S. B u r ea u
of
34
30
44
52
00
00
It
IS
21
29
37
43
2,700
970
23S
IASS
040
ISS
L abor S t a t is t ic s
169
170
T
a b l e
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
65.—
C o m p a rison o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 ,
and 1 9 3 4 o f all graduate en gineers reporting, b y age
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported or type of education]
Year of grad
uation
Age
Years after
graduation
Proportion with monthly engineering
earnings of more than specified amount
10 per 25 per 50 per 75 per 90 per
cent
cent
cent
cent
cent
1929
64 years and over___ _____ _
56-63 years. . . .
48-55 years
40-47 years______ _________
... ...
36-39 years___ _
Prior to 1889. _
1889-96...
.
1897-1904.
1905-12______
1913-16______
41 and over__
33-40________
25-32 17-24________
13-16________
$880
1,152
1,018
826
663
$624
661
625
552
490
$417
472
434
410
356
$302
326
319
306
286 '
$215
243
252
245
231
32-35 years _ _
28-31 years... _ _
26-27 years.. _._
24-25 years__ __
23 years____ __
1917-20. .
1921-24______
1925-26______
1927-28_________
1929 _______
9 -1 2 ________
5-8__________
3-4__________
1-2__________
540
410
308
247
205
416
322
260
213
169
321
269
220
180
148
263
223
189
152
130
218
196
160
135
115
_____
_ _ _ ___
_ _ _ __
_ ... __
0____________________
1932
67 years and over___________
59-66 years_________________
51-58 years
43-50 years. .
_ ____
39-42 years _. _
__________
Prior to 1889..
1889-96______
1897-1904.
1905-12______
1913-16______
44 and over__
36-43________
28-35
.
.
20-27______________
16-19______________
$778
807
739
653
557
$519
558
505
458
419
$350
401
374
334
312
$234
277
265
248
240
$173
170
185
178
187
35-38 years. ___ ________ . . .
31-34 years__ ______________________
29-30 years
_ _______
27-28 years .
_
_ ____
26 years
_ _
1917-20___________
1921-24___________
1925-26______
1927-28______
1929 ________
12-15______________
8-11 ______________
6-7_____ ________
4-5_____ ________
3________ ______
480
368
302
253
219
365
301
251
217
184
288
241
210
183
156
223
198
172
149
135
171
149
141
122
113
25 years___________________
24 years------------------------------------------------23 years ______ ___
_________
1930_________
1931_________ 1____________________
1932 ______________ . . . ............ ...............
187
171
159
160
148
134
143
125
110
122
104
88
101
0
84
64
1934
69 years and over__________________ Prior to 1889. _
61H58 years___________________________ 1889-96.
53-60 years _
_ . ___
1897-1904________
1905-12.
45-52 years
41-44 years
_
___
1913-16.-. _____
46 and over ____
38-45
_____
36-37______________
22-29.
________
18-21________
$636
770
704
626
533
$480
517
478
431
404
$307
360
337
313
294
$205
232
229
226
219
$110
132
152
158
161
37-40 years., _ .
.
... _
33-36 years___ ___________. . .
31-32 years
_ . _ .
29-30 years _
. . _ __
28 years. . . . .
.
_____
1917-20______
1921-24___________
1925-26___________
1927-28___________
1929_______________
14-17________
10-13...................
8-9....................... .....
6-7...............................
5......... ..........................
461
360
303
258
228
354
294
242
218
192
271
232
205
181
164
210
186
169
148
140
157
145
140
121
115
27 years___________ __________ __________
26 years____________ . ______________
25 years___ ____ ______________ __
24 years_______ ___ ________
23 years_______
. .
. . .
1930_______________
1931_________
1932_______________
1933_______________
1934_______________
4____________________
3____________
200
180
169
159
149
172
156
145
137
129
149
137
124
116
109
126
114
102
98
91
105
94
84
82
75
2
. . . .........................
1......... ..........................
0
. . ......................... ..
Consideration will now be given to the extent to which rates of
pay for engineering work may have been affected by the depression.
In this connection it must be noted, however, that the changes shown
in the table underestimate the effective changes in rates. It is prob
ably safe to assume that on the whole the less able engineers were laid
off more frequently than the more able. If that were so, the average
capacity of the 9,179 engineers who were 33 to 42 years of age in 1934
and were engaged on engineering work in 1934 was probably somewhat
EARNED A N N U A L INCOMES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS)
171
greater than was that of the 8,210 engineers of these ages in 1929
engaged on engineering work in 1929. It follows that for $239 per
month in 1934, the average for engineers 33 to 42, it was possible to
hire a somewhat better qualified man than could have been hired for
$338 in 1929. T o this extent, the change in the averages understates
the effective change in rates for engineering services.
Earnings of Engineers of Identical Ages
The average rates of earnings reported by men who were of identical
ages in 1929, 1932, and 1934 are presented in tables 66 and 67. The
general character of the results is not unlike that discussed under
annual earnings. However, these tables make it possible for the
first time to make a careful analysis of changes in the earnings of the
engineers 23% years of age, many of whom in 1929 tended to translate
earnings for the first 6 months after graduation into an annual rate.7
T a b l e 66 .— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 ,
and 1 9 3 4 o f all en gin eers , f o r corresp on d in g yea rs after graduation
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported or type of education]
Proportion with monthly engineering earnings of more than specified amount
Years
Age of engi after
gradu
neers
ation
10 percent
25 percent
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
23^ years.
25 years__
28 years, __
33 years,__
43 years,
53 years,
60 years__
Vi
2
5
10
20
30
37
50 percent
75 percent
90 percent
1929 1932 1934
1929 1932 1934
1929 1932 1934
$215 $165 $149 $174 $137 $129 $149 $111 $110 $130
252 180 160 215 152 140 181 133 120 152
339 250 210 276 215 187 231 181 153 196
485 358 314 386 293 248 299 234 205 239
741 559 505 501 405 375 375 301 273 283
940 685 617 592 462 428 416 332 299 296
1,050 733 670 628 497 459 425 349 313 296
$89
114
147
189
227
240
242
$91 $115
102 133
130 167
162 202
205 228
211 230
209 210
$66
92
119
143
169
164
157
$75
82
109
134
150
148
137
Percentage increase or decrease
1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 193234
32
34
34
32
34
34
32
34
34
32
34
34
32
34
23K years ,
25 years,__
28 years__
33 years__
43 years__
53 years,
60 years,_,
Vi
2
5
10
20
30
37
-31
-3 7
-3 8
-3 5
-3 2
-34
-36
-2 3
-2 9
-2 6
-2 6
-2 5
-2 7
-3 0
-1 0
-11
-1 6
-1 2
-10
-1 0
-9
-2 6
-3 5
-3 2
-3 6
-2 5
-2 8
-27
-21 - 6
-2 9 - 8
-2 2 -13
-2 4 -15
-1 9 - 7
-2 2 - 7
-21 - 8
-2 6
-3 4
-34
-31
-27
-2 8
-26
-6
-2 7
-2 2
-2 2
-2 0
-2 0
-18
-1
-1 0
-1 5
-1 2
-9
-10
-1 0
-3 0
-3 3
-3 4
-3 2
-2 8
-2 9
-2 9
-3 2
-2 5
-2 5
-21
-2 0
-1 9
-1 8
+2
-11
-1 2
-1 4
-1 0
-1 2
-14
-3 5
-3 8
-3 5
-3 4
-34
-3 6
-35
-4 3
-31
-2 9
-2 9
-2 6
-2 9
-2 5
+14
-1 1
-8
-6
-11
-1 0
-13
These data reveal the fact that the newcomers to the profession
suffered less than those with from 2 to 5 years7 experience in engineer
ing. Thus, while median monthly earnings of the newcomers were
26 percent less in 1934 than those of men of similar ages in 1929, they
were 34 percent less in the case of men with from 2 to 5 years7 experi
ence in each of these years. But it will also be noted that the declines
7
This qualification applies only to graduate engineers, for in the case of “ other’’ or nongraduate engineers
many of them could have been working for a year or more.
172
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
in earnings of engineers between 1929 and 1934 with from 20 to 37
years of experience were practically the same as those reported by
engineers 23% years of age. Furthermore, a similar relationship existed
at the four other earnings levels, despite the fact that the declines in
earnings were relatively greater in the case of engineers at the two
lower earnings levels.
T a b l e 67.— C om p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 ,
and 1 9 3 4 o f all graduate en gineers, f o r corresp on d in g ye a rs after gra dua tion
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported or type of education]
Proportion with monthly engineering earnings of more than specified amount
Age of en
gineers
23^ years..
25 years__
28 years__
33 years__
43 years__
53 years__
60years___
Years
after
grad
uation
10 percent
25 percent
50 percent
1929 1932 1934
1929 1932 1934
1929 1932 1934
90 percent
75 percent
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
H $205 $159 $149 $169 $134 $129 $148 $110 $109 $130
2 247 180 161 213 153 140 180 132 119 152
5 339 253 210 280 217 184 238 183 155 199
10 500 368 320 389 301 260 309 241 212 252
20 797 583 533 539 428 404 400 320 294 301
30 1,030 715 664 628 497 451 440 365 326 320
37 1,152 780 729 661 539 489 472 394 348 326
$88
112
149
198
241
260
271
$91 $115
100 135
132 170
174 211
219 243
228 253
230 243
$64
93
122
149
181
182
175
$75
82
no
132
161
156
146
Percentage increase or decrease
1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 193232
32
32
32
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
32
34
34
34
23 years..
25 years___
28 years__
33 years___
43 years___
53 years__
60 years__
H -2 7
2
5
10
20
30
37
-3 5
-3 8
-3 6
-3 3
-3 6
-3 7
-2 2 - 6
-2 7 -1 1
-2 5 -1 7
-2 6 -1 3
-2 7 - 9
-3 1 - 7
-3 2 - 7
-2 4
-3 4
-3 4
-3 3
-2 5
-2 8
-2 6
-21 - 4
-2 8 - 8
-2 3 -1 5
-2 3 -1 4
-2 1 - 6
-2 1 - 9
-1 8 - 9
-2 6
-3 4
-3 5
-31
-2 7
-2 6
-2 6
-2 6
-2 7
-2 3
-2 2
-2 0
-1 7
-1 7
- 1 -3 0 -3 2
-1 0 -3 4 -2 6
—15 -3 4 -2 5
-1 2 -3 1 -2 1
- 8 -2 7 -2 0
-1 1 —29 -1 9
-1 2 -2 9 -1 7
+3
-1 1
- 11
-1 2
-9
-1 2
-1 5
-3 5
-3 9
-3 5
-3 7
-3 4
-3 8
-4 0
-4 4
-3 1
-2 8
-2 9
-2 6
-2 8
-2 8
+17
-1 2
-1 0
-1 1
-1 1
-1 4
-1 7
It will be recalled that in the discussion of employment status, as
far as available engineering work was concerned, the tendency appeared
to be to give preference to engineers who entered the profession in
the period 1930-34. The analysis of the data in table 66 shows that
it was not those engineers who entered the profession in 1934 who suf
fered relatively the greatest cuts but those who had entered during
one or other of the depression years, 1930-33, inclusive. Similar
data for earnings of graduates of identical ages are shown in table 67.
Earnings in Relation to Advancing A ge and Experience
In tables 68 and 69 the changes in earnings from 1929-34 are shown as
they were affected not only by decreasing rates for a given type of work
but also as they were influenced by advancing years and experience.
Those engineers who were 23% years in 1929 and 28% in 1934 reported
an increase in earnings from $149 to $162. At this level added experh
ence counts heavily, as may be seen from the fact that in 1929, men
with 5 years’ experience averaged about $240. Those engineers who
173
M O N TH LY EARNING® OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 19 2 9 - 3 4
entered the profession in 1929 were able to advance slightly even in
the face of the depression. But it must not be overlooked that a large
proportion of men 23% years of age in 1929 were not engaged in engi
neering work in 1934.
T
a b l e
6 8 ,—
C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 ,
and 1 9 3 4 o f 5 age g ro u p s o f older 1 en gin eers reporting
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported or type of education]
Monthly engineering earnings of more than specified amount of engineers
whose ages were
Percentage at
specified income
level
26Mi 28M
60 in 63 in 65 in 38 in 41 in 43 in 30 in 33 in 35 in 25 in 28 in 30 in 23K
in
in
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 in
1929 1932 1934
10 percent______ $1,050 $751 $711 $630 $517 $505 $404 $358 $354 $252 $250 $253 $215 $221 $228
25 percent______
628 517 480 467 396 375 317 293 285 215 215 215 174 185 191
50 percent______
425 352 321 339 295 273 262 234 224 181 181 177 149 156 162
296 241 205 269 223 205 217 189 177 152 147 145 130 134 138
75 percent-....... .
210 152 126 218 170 150 187 143 139 133 119 118 115 110 113
90 percent.........—
Percentage increase or decrease
1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 193234
32
34
34
32
34
34
34
32
34
32
34
34
32
34
10 percent-...........
25 percent______
50 percent---------75 percent--------90 percent- ___
-3 2
-2 4
-2 4
-31
-4 0
-2 8 - 5
-1 8 - 7
-1 7 - 9
-1 9 -1 5
-2 8 -1 7
-2 0
-2 0
-1 9
-2 4
-31
-
18 - 2
-1 5 - 5
-13 - 7
-1 7 - 8
-2 2 -1 2
-1 2
-1 0
-1 5
-1 8
-2 6
-11
-8
-11
-13
-2 4
-1
-3
-4
-6
-3
0 -1
0
0
-2
0
-5
-3
-11 -11
+6
+1
0 +10
-2
+9
-1
+6
-2
-1
+3
+6
+5
+3
-4
+3
+3
+4
+3
+3
1 Includes those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
T
a b l e 69 .—
C om p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 ,
and 1 9 3 4 o f 5 age gro u p s o f older 1 graduate en gineers reporting
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported or type of education]
Monthly engineering earnings of more than specified amount of engineers
whose ages were
Percentage at
specified income
level
X 26^ 28M
60 in 63 in 65 in 38 in 41 in 43 in 30 in 33 in 35 in 25 in 28 in 30 in 23
in
in
in
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929
1932 1934
10 percent---------- $1,152 $807 $770 $663 $557 $533 $410 $368 $360 $247 $253 $258 $205 $219 $228
661 558 517 490 419 404 322 301 294 213 217 218 169 184 192
25 percent---------472 401 360 356 312 294 269 241 232 180 183 181 148 156 164
50 percent..........
326 277 232 286 240 219 223 198 186 152 149 148 130 135 140
75 percent---------243 170 132 231 187 161 196 . 149 145 135 122 121 115 113 115
90 percent...........
Percentage increase or decrease
1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 1932- 1929- 1929- 193234
34
32
34
34
32
34
34
32
34
32
34
34
32
34
10 percent______
25 percent______
50 percent______
75 percent______
90 percent______
-3 3
-2 2
-2 4
-2 9
-4 6
-3 0 - 5
-1 6 - 7
-1 5 -1 0
-1 5 -1 6
-3 0 -2 2
-2 0
-1 8
-1 7
-2 3
-3 0
-1 6 - 4
-1 4 - 4
-1 2 - 6
-1 6 - 9
-1 9 -14
-1 2
-9
-1 4
-1 7
-2 6
-1 0
-7
-1 0
-1 1
-2 4
-2
-2
-4
-6
-3
+4 +2
+2 +2
+1 +2
-3
-2
-1 0 -1 0
+2
0
-1
-1
-1
+11
+14
+11
+8
0
+7
+9
+5
+4
-2
+4
+4
+5
+4
+2
1 Includes those engineers who reported they were professionally active to prior 1930.
Earnings of the next higher age group showed practically no change.
174
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
For succeeding age groups the declines in earnings were progressively
greater. Thus, while there was a 15-percent decrease between 1929
and 1934 at the middle level of earnings of engineers who were 30 in
1929 and 35 in 1934, the decrease was as high as 24 percent for engi
neers who were 65 years of age in 1934. A similar situation existed
at the other four earnings levels, for all engineers, and also for graduate
engineers only, as shown in table 69.
Furthermore, it is to be noted that, among engineers up to 35 years
of age in 1934, the earnings at the upper levels fell less than at the
average. At all ages the greatest loss was at the lower levels.
Earnings and Education, W ithout Regard to Age
Of all engineers who furnished information on the monthly rates of
compensation received by them for engineering services in 1929,
21,205 were graduates and 7,305 were “ other” or nongraduate engi
neers. The former number represented 86 percent of the 24,837
graduates, and the latter covered 81 percent of the 9,015 “ other”
engineers who reported that they were professionally active prior to
1930. A comparison of the engineering earnings of these two groups
is shown, without regard to age and kind of engineering employment
reported, in table 70.
Although the figures in the third from the last column in table 70
indicate an advantage in favor of those men who have engineering
degrees, this advantage is less clearly defined than was indicated in
the similar analysis of earned annual incomes. This is evidenced by
the fact that only at the highest earnings level did the earnings of
graduates of all five professional classes exceed those of “ other”
engineers. Even at this level, the advantage did not accrue in equal
measure for each of the five professional classes.
Thus, while the monthly earnings of the upper one-tenth of the
mining and metallurgical graduates exceeded those of the upper tenth
of the “ other” or nongraduate engineers by $94 a month, the differ
ences in monthly engineering earnings among the four remaining pro
fessional classes ranged from $31 for mechanical and industrial engi
neers to $61 for chemical and ceramic engineers. A t the upper 25percent level, the engineering earnings of mechanical and industrial
graduates and “ other” engineers were practically the same. There
was a difference of only $13 between the earnings of the two groups in
the case of mining and metallurgical engineers, and for electrical
engineers the difference was only $22 a month. However, at this level,
in the case of chemical and ceramic engineers and civil engineers the dif
ferences were much higher, being $61 and $62 per month, respectively.
At these two earnings levels, the relationships between the earnings
of graduates and “ other” or nongraduate engineers in 1932 and 1934
were similar to those just noted for 1929.
M O N TH LY EARNINGS' OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 19 2 9 - 3 4
175
70.— C om p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 ,
and 1 9 8 4 o f older 1 graduate and “ other” en gineers reporting, by professio n a l class
T able
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
Monthly engineering earnings of more
than specified amount
Percentage of professional class at specified
earnings level2
Graduate engi
neers 3
1929
10 percent:
Mining and metallurgical______________ $803
Chemical and ceramic______________
737
Mechanical and industrial_____________
684
Electrical________ __________________
594
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
544
25 percent:
Mining and metallurgical. _____________
506
Chemical and ceramic_________________
494
Mechanical and industrial_____________
454
Electrical_________________ . . . _____
408
397
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
50 percent:
Mining and metallurgical______________
337
Chemical and ceramic_________________
329
Mechanical and industrial_____________
308
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
287
E l e c t r i c a l .__ _______ _____
__ ___ 276
75 percent:
Mining and metallurgical______________ 240
222
Chemical and ceramic _ __________
219
Mechanical and industrial. _ .
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
217
Electrical_____ ______________________ . 199
90 percent:
Mining and metallurgical______________
185
169
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
160
Mechanical and industrial_____________
Chemical and ceramic_________________
156
Electrical_______ ______________________ 145
“ Other engi
neers 4
Percentage earn
ings of “ other” en
gineers formed of
those of graduate
engineers
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
1929
1932
$617
636
537
516
463
$612
632
514
505
427
$709
676
653
557
478
$501
596
511
504
385
$512
553
495
482
352
88
92
95
94
88
81
94
95
98
83
84
88
96
95
82
423
433
385
357
336
413
426
362
352
313
493
433
455
386
335
403
408
364
336
290
392
365
341
319
268
97
88
100
95
84
95
86
94
91
86
290
297
265
249
252
280
290
249
231
246
318
307
317
258
272
274
289
262
224
238
260
260
236
206
229
94
93
103
90
99
95
94
95
94
86
94
97
99
90
94
202
206
188
190
187
197
203
180
177
187
246
216
243
207
206
197
206
188
174
179
186
185
171
156
168
103
97
111
95
104
98
100
100
92
96
94
91
95
88
90
142
143
138
150
145
145
140
136
146
144
195
164
192
154
159
132
131
134
121
128
135
128
125
129
126
105
97
120
99
110
93
92
97
81
89
93
91
92
89
88
1934
93
90
95
89
93
1Includes those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
2 Arranged in ascending order of graduate monthly engineering earnings for 1929.
3 Graduate engineers include all postgraduates, nonengineering graduates, and first-degree engineering
graduates.
4 “ Other” engineers include all engineers with college course incomplete, noncollegiate technical school
course, and secondary-school education.
At the average and at the two lower levels of earnings, the ratios of
engineering earnings of the two groups of engineers were practically the
same as those noted for earned annual incomes. That is, in 1929
there was a slight advantage in favor of the “ other” engineers, which
was maintained to a somewhat greater degree in 1932 and 1934 than
was the case for earned annual incomes. In part, however, this ad
vantage in earnings of “ other” engineers was due primarily to a higher
age among the nongraduates in the groups compared.
Earnings Related to Age and Type o f Education
The advantages in increased earning capacity accruing from formal
education are better seen in table 71, which shows the engineering
earnings by type of education and by age. Only the median earnings
are given, as insufficient data were obtained to warrant a complete
comparison for all age groups and types of education at the two higher
and lower earnings levels.
176
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 71 .— M e d ia n m on th ly en gineering earnings in 1 9 2 9 y 1 9 8 2 , and 1 9 8 4 o f all
en gineers reporting , b y age and typ e o f education
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
Oth(irs with—
Mechanical and all
others
Secondary-school education
408
424
407
358
328
484
438
428
368
(2)
410
506
483
440
405
440
493
437
458
405
310
315
318
302
273
440
420
423
401
335
(2)
347
286
293
269
(2)
380
402
354
326
320
360
353
308
310
32-35____________
28-31____________
26-27____________
24-25____ _______
23____ ____ ______
1917-20
1921-24
1925-26
1927-28
1929
9-12
5-8
3-4
1-2
0
307
266
220
180
145
335
255
224
166
152
395
295
236
179
150
305
260
220
187
155
338
264
213
167
137
337
285
224
180
141
370
284
235
183
156
257
220
204
184
166
319
267
215
193
178
254
218
210
187
160
290
253
211
186
150
275
233
192
183
160
Electrical
Postgraduates
I
Civil, agricultural,
and architectural
(2)
510
493
523
487
Mining and metal- |
lurgical
I
480
493
482
414
416
Mechanical and in
dustrial
(2)
484
455
421
350
Civil, agricultural,
and architectural
41+
33-40
25-32
17-24
13-16
Chemical and ce
ramic
0)
1889-96
1897-1904
1905-12
1913-16
Year of
gradu
ation
Age
(in years)
Nonengineering graduates
64 and over______
56-63____________
48-55____________
40-47____________
36-39____________
Years after graduation
Civil, agricultural,
and architectural
NoncolCollege
legiate
course in technical
complete
course
Mechanical and all
others
First-degree engineering
graduates
1929 earnings (in dollars)
1932 earnings fin dollars)
(2)
67 and over....... .
59-66____________
51-58____________
43-50____________
39-42____________
(0
1889-96
1897-1904
1905-12
1913-16
44+
36-43
28-35
20-27
16-19
(2)
435
421
365
318
260
400
427
384
353
336
367
334
307
289
(2)
415
420
353
330
420
416
390
351
327
(2)
420
443
418
420
356
374
314
247
273
262
258
235
380
335
333
326
284
(2)
267
247
249
232
(2)
300
311
289
270
295
311
311
273
265
35-38____________
31-34____________
29-30____________
27-28____________
26_______________
1917-20
1921-24
1925-26
1927-28
1929
12-15
8-11
6-7
4-5
3
294
249
220
188
157
305
245
227
190
149
324
273
223
185
149
262
232
208
187
164
309
243
202
178
152
301
250
211
175
152
300
239
206
162
149
226
206
187
168
149
263
228
189
174
148
222
193
180
154
163
244
209
180
156
150
234
212
173
168
130
25______________
24_______________
23______________
1930
1931
1932
2
1
0
142
119
110
149
120
144
124
108
149
134
116
136
118
103
137
120
106
143
114
97
156
145
143
133
131
127
167
(2)
(2)
140
135
(2)
150
140
(2)
(2)
(*)
1934 earnings (in dollars)
69 and over______
61-68____________
53-60____________
45-52___________
41-44____________
(0
1889-96
1897-1904
1905-12
1913-16
46+
38-45
30-37
22-29
18-21
(2)
376
386
339
299
250
370
387
353
384
(2)
(2)
426
425
350
306
331
296
285
263
(2)
408
379
349
333
330
370
346
333
303
(2)
400
340
347
302
210
257
240
236
218
310
300
320
301
254
(2)
256
220
227
208
(2)
227
297
261
247
280
283
298
252
254
37-40___________
33-36____________
31-32____________
29-30____________
28__ ____ ________
1917-20
1921-24
1925-26
1927-28
1929
14-17
10-13
8-9
6-7
5
279
241
217
186
166
305
242
208
197
164
340
287
228
198
170
244
218
198
179
163
300
240
205
180
162
283
239
207
180
165
311
237
207
183
153
201
183
166
156
145
247
216
184
170
153
199
183
158
142
160
228
198
180
159
150
229
198
162
153
134
27_______________
26_______________
25______ _________
24_______________
23_______________
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
4
3
2
144
137
123
120
95
145
131
130
123
130
153
134
122
114
107
150
143
131
126
116
145
127
114
109
106
149
132
118
110
106
143
143
120
118
113
145
137
124
126
118
135
145
136
117
107
155
110
(2)
(2)
133
131
113
138
108
150
153
(2)
1 Prior to 1889.
1
0
2 Fewer than 10 engineers reported.
no
(2)
no
M O N TH LY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 19 2 9 - 3 4
177
The extra years of experience which the “ other” or nongraduate
engineers had while the graduates were in school permitted of their
obtaining higher earnings than graduates only up to a point corre
sponding to 5 years after graduation. Even at 2 years after gradua
tion, in 1929 the differences in earnings between the two groups were
slight. Thus, while the median monthly earnings of “ other” or
nongraduate engineers ranged from $183 for secondary-school engi
neers to $193 for mechanical engineers whose college course was in
complete, the earnings of graduates engaged in engineering work
ranged from $166 per month for those with a nonengineering education
to $187 for first-degree civil engineers. A t 4 years after graduation,
as will be seen from chart 13, the graduates were beginning to pull
ahead of the “ other” or nongraduate engineers. Thus, while the
range in the median monthly earnings of the former was from $213
for first-degree electrical engineers to $236 a month for first-degree
chemical and ceramic engineers, it was from $192 for engineers with
secondary-school education to $215 a month for mechanical and
industrial engineers with incomplete college courses in the case of the
“ other” or nongraduate engineers. Beginning at 5 years after gradua
tion, the effect of a formal education on engineering earnings was
accentuated. For example, at 11 years after graduation, the average
monthly earnings of first-degree civil engineers were greater than those
of the “ other” or nongraduate engineers of this professional class.
The median monthly earnings were $305 for graduates, $257 for
those whose college courses were incomplete, and $254 for civil engi
neers who had attended noncollegiate technical schools. Similarly,
in the case of first-degree electrical engineers and mechanical and
industrial engineers, earnings were greater than those reported by the
members of these professional classes whose college courses were
incomplete or who had attended noncollegiate technical schools.8
It will also be noted that while mechanical engineers with incomplete
college courses had the highest earnings of any of the groups of “ other”
or nongraduate engineers, their earnings differed very little from those
of first-degree civil engineers. Thus, at 11 years after graduation
the latter reported median earnings of $305 a month as against $319
a month for mechanical engineers with incomplete college courses.
The corresponding figures at 29 years after graduation were $407
and $423 a month.
Furthermore, from 5 to 37 years after graduation, there was a
fairly uniform relationship in the ranking of the earnings reported
by the several types of education. Relatively, this uniformity was
most marked among the “ other” or nongraduate engineers. Thus,
8
The term “ mechanical and all others” shown in table 71 under “ college course incomplete” and “ non
collegiate technical schools” includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, industrial, and mining and metal
lurgical engineers.
178
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
CHART 13
COMPARISON OF MEDIANS OF MONTHLY RATE OF COMPENSATION
ACCORDING TO AGE. 1929
INCLUDES COMPENSATION FOR A LL KINDS OF
ENGINEERING SERVICES REPORTED
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
1,200
--
---P O STG RAD UATES
N O N E N G IN E ER IN G G RADUATES
F irst Degree E ngineering Graduates
C H E M IC A L AND C E R A M IC
CIVIL. AG RIC U LTU R A L.A N D A R C H IT E C T U R A L
ELECTRICAL
MECHANICAL A N D IN D U S T R IA L
MINING AND M ETALLURG ICAL
College Course Incom plete
CIVIL, A G R IC U L TU R A L,A N D A R C H IT E C T U R A L
M EC H A N IC A L AND O TH E R S
Noncollegiate Technical Course
C IV IL .A G R IC U LTU R A L A ND A R C H ITE C TU R A L
M E CHA NICAL AND O T H E R S
SECONDARY S C H O O L E D U C A TIO N
1,100
1,200
1,100
1,000
900
800
700
300
-
200
too -
A ge in Years 23125 27
Years a ft e r
Graduation
2 4
U.S. Bureau of L abor S tatistics
MONTHLY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
179
while secondary-school engineers remained tenth in order, civil engi
neers whose college courses were incomplete, or who had attended
noncollegiate technical schools, held, respectively, eleventh and twelfth
places. Over the same period, first-degree chemical and ceramic
engineers were first in order. They did, however, rank tenth at 2
years after graduation. Among the remaining types of education
such shifts as did occur were not very pronounced. Even in 1934,
the same relative positions were maintained.
W ith advancing age, the 1929 data show that there was a consid
erable advantage in engineering earnings in favor of the graduates.
Thus, between civil engineers who had first degrees and those who
had incomplete college courses, the differences for men 28, 33, 43, 53,
and 60 years of age were $24, $45, $55, $93, and $109 a month, while
between those with first degrees and noncollegiate technical school
educations, the corresponding differences were $20, $48, $65, $118,
and $77 a month.9
There was also a distinct variation in the earning capacities among
both graduate and “ other” or nongraduate engineers. Thus, at 10
years after graduation, the 1929 median monthly engineering earnings
of graduates ranged from $290 for civil engineers to $368 for chemical
and ceramic engineers. Graduates' median earnings 30 years after
graduation ranged from $408 for civil engineers to $492 in the case of
chemical and ceramic engineers. For “ other” engineers, the range
in earnings of men whose ages corresponded to 10 years after gradua
tion, that is 33 years, was from $242 to $300 a month; and at 53 years
of age, or corresponding to 30 years after graduation, the range was
from $290 to $422 a month. A t both of these age points, the lowest
earnings among “ other” engineers were reported by noncollegiate
technical school civil engineers, the highest by mechanical and indus
trial engineers with incomplete college education.
A further advantage of formal engineering education was that
graduate earnings from engineering work continued to increase for
several years beyond the point of maximum earnings of “ other” or
nongraduate engineers. The earnings of the latter either remained
stable or declined at 53 years of age.
Consideration will now be given to the effect of the depression on
earnings of men with advancing years and experience and different
educational backgrounds.
Over the period 1929-34, the data in table 72 indicate that the
graduates who were 23% years in 1929 and 28% years in 1934 received
increased earnings for all kinds of engineering, except in the case of
mining and metallurgical. There were, however, no increases reported
by any of the “ other” or nongraduate engineers of corresponding
• Figures derived from data plotted on semilogarithmic-paper.
180
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
ages. B y contrast, for the selected age groups of 52 to 57 and 44 to
49 years, decreases in earnings occurred among both graduate and
“ other” engineers in almost equal measure. For example, for engi
neers who were 44 years in 1929 and 49 in 1934, the earnings of the
graduates declined from 19 to 24 percent, while those of the “ other”
engineers fell by 18 to 25 percent.
T a b l e 7 2 . — C om p a rison o f m ed ia n m on th ly en gineering earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 ,
and 1 9 3 4 o f selected age grou p s o f en gineers reporting, by typ e o f education
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
Engineers whose ages were—
Type of education
60 63 65 52 55 57 44 47 49 25 28 30 23^ 26^ 28^
in in in in in in
in in in
in in in
in in in
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
Median monthly engineering earnings
Postgraduates____ __ _ ______ $484 $435 $376
Nonengineering graduates____ __ 493 400 370
First-degree engineering graduates:
Chemical and ceramic______ 510 0) C1)
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural__________________ 424 367 331
Electrical---------- ------------- 484 415 408
Mechanical and industrial___ 506 416 370
Mining and metallurgical___ 493 420 400
College course incomplete:
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural—
315 273 257
Mechanical and others 2____ 420 335 300
Noncollegiate technical course:
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural---------- --------------- 347 267 256
Mechanical and others2------ 380 300 227
Secondary-school education_____ 360 311 283
$455 $421 $386 $421 $365 $339 $180 $188 $186 $145 $157 $166
482 427 387 414 384 353 166 190 197 152 149 164
493 420 426 523 443 425
407
438
483
437
334
40
390
356
296
379
346
340
358
428
440
458
307
353
351
374
285
349
333
347
318 262 240 302 258 236
423 333 320 401 326 301
179 185 198 150 149 '170
187
167
180
183
187
178
175
162
179
180
180
183
155
137
141
156
164
152
152
149
163
162
165
153
184 168 156 166 149 145
193 174 170 178 148 153
286 247 220 293 249 227 187 154 142 160 163 160
402 311 297 354 289 261 186 156 159 150 150 150
353 311 298 308 273 252 183 168 153 160 130 134
Percentage increase or decrease—
1929 1929 1932 1929 1929 1932 1929 1929 1932 1929 1929 1932 1929 1929 1932
to to to
to to to
to to to
to to to
to to to
1934 1932 1934 1934 1932 1934 1934 1932 1934 1934 1932 1934 1934 1932 1934
Postgraduates-------------------------Nonengineering graduates---------First-degree engineering gradiates:
Chemical and ceramic______
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural__________ ______
Electrical__________________
Mechanical and industrial__
Mining and metallurgical___
College course incomplete:
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural_________________
Mechanical and others 2------Noncollegiate technical course:
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural________________
Mechanical and others 2------Secondary-school education_____
-2 2 -1 0 -1 4 -1 5 - 7 - 8 -1 9 -1 3 - 7 +3 +4 - 1 +14 +8 +6
-2 5 -1 9 - 8 -2 0 -1 1 - 9 -1 5 - 7 - 8 +19 +14 +4 +8 - 2 +10
0)
0)
0)
-2 2
-1 6
-2 7
-1 9
-13
-1 4
-1 8
-1 5
-1 0
-2
-11
-5
-1 4 -1 5 +1 -1 9 -1 5 - 4 +11 +3 +7 +13 - 1 +14
-2 7
-13
-2 8
-2 2
-1 8
-4
-1 9
-19
-11
-1 0
-11
-4
-2 0
-1 8
-2 4
-2 4
-1 4
-1 8
-2 0
-1 8
-7
-1
-5
-7
-4
0 - 4 +5 +6 - 1
+8 +7 +1 +18 +11 +7
0 - 3 +3 +17 +8 +9
0 -1 1 +13 - 2 - 4 +3
-1 8 -1 3 - 6 -25 -1 8 - 8 -2 2 -1 5 - 9 -1 5 - 9 - 7 -1 3 -1 0 - 3
-2 9 -2 0 -1 0 -2 4 -2 1 - 4 -2 5 -1 9 - 8 -1 2 -1 0 - 2 -1 4 -1 7 +3
0 +2 - 2
-2 6 -2 3 - 4 -2 3 -1 4 -11 -2 3 -1 5 - 9 -2 4 -1 8 - 8
0
0
0
-4 0 -2 1 -2 4 -2 6 -23 - 5 -2 6 -1 8 -1 0 -1 5 -1 6 +2
-21 -1 4 - 9 -1 6 -1 2 - 4 -1 8 -11 - 8 -1 6 - 8 - 9 -1 6 -1 9 +3
1 Fewer than 10 engineers reported.
2 Includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers.
On the other hand, for men with identical years of experience, the
earnings received in 1934 by both graduates and “ other” engineers
MONTHLY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
181
were all less than those which were obtained in 1929. Thus, in table
73 it will be noted that at 2 years after graduation the earnings
obtained for engineering services in 1934 were less than those received
in 1929 by from 32 to 41 percent for all types of education, except
nonengineering graduates and those engineers with a secondary-school
education. In the case of nonengineering graduates, the earnings
were 24 percent less and for engineers with secondary-school education
they were 29 percent less.
Again it will be noted that the decreases reported by men with 5
years’ experience were, in general, greater than those for men who had
had but 2 years’ experience and also greater than the declines in
earnings reported for men with from 10 to 37 years’ experience.
T a b l e 73. — P ercentage decrease in m edian m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rn in gs, 1 9 2 9
to 1 9 8 4 , f o r corresp on d in g yea rs after gradu ation , by typ e o f education
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
Type of education
Percentage decrease in earnings at specified years
after graduation
2
Postgraduates____________________________________
Nonengineering graduates___ ____ _________________
First-degree engineering graduates:
Chemical and ceramic_____ ____________________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural___________
Electrical__________ _________________________
Mechanical and industrial_____________________
Mining and metallurgical,__ _______ ____ ______
College course incomplete:
Civil, agricultural, and architectural. .......... ........
Mechanical and others 3_______________________
Noncollegiate technical course:
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____________
Mechanical and others 3___
. ..
Secondary-school education. _ __________ _________
5
10
20
30
37
32
24
34
33
24
30
26
i8
21
23
34
32
34
39
37
36
32
33
35
42
33
30
31
32
37
31
25
20
i 10
32
14
29
18
30
22
33
34
30
37
31
36
26
34
24
27
21
25
41
36
29
26
37
28
31
34
34
27
29
18
23
31
23
33
24
19
21
23
(3)
27
19
30
27
1 Despite the fact that at 20 years after graduation, nonengineering graduates and mechanical and in
dustrial engineers show only 8- and 10-percent decreases in earnings, the consistency of the remaining de
creases shown is too regular for these particular differences to have any effect on the general argument.
2 Fewer than 10 engineers reported.
3Includes chemical and ceramic, electrical, industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers.
Earnings by Kind of Engineering Employment
In the preceding section no attempt was made to relate earnings to
the kinds of engineering employment reported at the end of 1929, 1932,
and 1934.10 The numbers of engineers 11 who furnished this particular
information are shown compared in table 74 with the numbers who also
stated their monthly rate of compensation. In each of the 3 years
10 Employment (1) with private firm, (2) as independent consultant, (3) in teaching, or with (4) Federal,
(5) State and county, or (6) municipal and other public authorities,
u The general analysis of engineering earnings in 1929 was based on 28,511 engineers; table 74 shows only
27.206 engineers reporting kind of employment and earnings in the same year. The difference of 1,305 is
accounted for as follows: The data for 28,511 engineers were complied from two separate tabulations—one
for graduates by year of graduation, and a second for “ other” engineers by year of birth. The data for the
27.206 engineers were compiled by year of birth only. Clearly, 1,305 graduates did not furnish their year
of birth.
285208°—41-
13
182
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 - 3 4
more than 90 percent reported monthly engineering earnings. This
was the case for all types of engineering employment, except independ
ent consulting. Among consultants the proportions reporting earn
ings ranged from 69.5 percent in 1932 to 76.0 percent in 1929.
T a b l e 74 .— C om p a riso n o f total n u m ber o f en gineers reporting k in d o f en gin eerin g
em p lo ym en t o n ly and total num ber reporting m on th ly ea rnings f r o m en gin eerin g
em p lo ym en t at end o f 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
All engineers
1929
Kind of engineering
employment
1934
1932
Per
Per
Per
Total Num cent
Total Num cent
Total Num
cent
num
num
ber
ber
num
ber
age
age
age
ber
ber
report report
report report
ber
report report
report
report
ing
report
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
income income
income income
ing
income
income
29, 298
27, 206
92.9
28. 373
25, 990
91.6
31,870
29,820
93.6
Private firm .. _ __
19, 590
Chemical and ceramic.. 1,035
Civil, agricultural, and
architectural. _ _ _ _ 5,193
Electrical.. _ _ _ ___ - 5,844
Mechanical and indus
trial________________ 6,588
Mining and metallurgi
cal. ___
930
Independent consulting. ___ 1, 311
Teaching_________________
1, 716
Federal Government--------1, 614
State and county govern
2, 677
ment. . . . __________
Municipal government and
2, 390
other public authority___
18,162
949
92.7
91.7
16, 728
1,143
15, 211
1,044
90.9
91.3
18,433
1, 597
17,110
1,496
92.8
93.7
4, 863
5, 461
93.6
93.4
3,608
5,300
3, 231
4,900
89.6
92.5
3, 258
5,651
3,003
5, 287
92.2
93.6
6,041
91.7
5, 849
5,289
90.4
6,951
6,421
92.4
848
997
1, 626
1, 510
91.2
76.0
94.8
93.6
828
1,500
1,934
2, 340
747
1,042
1,828
2, 227
90.2
69.5
94.5
95.2
976
1, 295
1,895
4,137
903
949
1,820
3,974
92.5
73.3
96.0
96.1
2,617
97.8
3,422
3, 338
97.5
3,694
3,634
98.4
2,294
96.0
2,449
2,344
95.7
2,416
2, 333
96.6
All kinds_________________
Since the earnings by kind of engineering employment are first
discussed without regard to age, it. is pertinent at the outset to note
that there is a distinct variation in the age composition of the samples
of reporting engineers in the several professional classes. This is
made evident by considering the numbers of those engineers, classi
fied by age, who reported that they were in the employ of private
firms in 1934 (table 75). The differences in age composition seriously
affect comparisons between chemical engineers and the other four
professional classes. Among the men engaged in chemical engineering
in 1934 some 36.5 percent constituted men who had entered the pro
fession since 1929. B y contrast, the proportions of the younger
engineers in the other professions were less striking, ranging from 14.3
percent in the case of electrical engineers to 18.1 percent for mechan
ical and industrial engineers.
183
MONTHLY EARN I NOS10F PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 192 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 75 .— A g e d istribu tion in 1 9 3 4 o f en gineers em p lo yed b y private fir m s reporting
m on th ly com p en sa tion solely f r o m en gin eerin g w ork , by p r ofessio n a l class
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
Age in years
Professional class
Total
Younger engineers i
20-23 24
25
26
Older engineers 2
27
28
70
29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 and
over
Number
Chemical and ceramic_______
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural_________ ________
Electrical_________ __________
Mechanical and industrial___
Mining and metallurgical_____
1,496
180
106
102
95
63
86
3,003
5, 287
6, 421
903
126
175
320
40
70
117
214
27
80
146
207
27
83
175
231
27
92
145
195
26
96
335
318
44
84
414
261
85
19
1
91 834 896
306 2,063 1,215
253 2, 231 1,545
33 280 257
484
517
713
115
128
86
180
25
23
7
14
2
5.7
1.2
0.1
29.8 16.1
23.0 9.8
24.1 11.1
28.4 12.7
4.3
1.6
2.8
2.8
0.8
0.1
0.2
0.2
Percentage
Chemical and ceramic________
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural___________________
Electrical____________________
Mechanical and industrial____
Mining and metallurgical____
100.0 12.0
7.1
6.8
6.4
4.2
5.7
5.6 27.7 17.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.3
2.2
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.8
3.2
3.0
2.8
3.3
3.6
3.0
3.1
2.7
3.0
2.9
3.2
6.3
5.0
4.9
3.0
5.8
3.9
3.7
4.2
3.3
5.0
4.4
27.7
39.1
34.8
31.0
1 Graduate and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the years 1930-34, inclusive.
2 Graduate and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
Furthermore, in the case of those engineers who reported that they
were professionally active prior to 1930, it will also be noted that chem
ical and ceramic engineering comprised a relatively higher propor
tion of younger men, as was also the case for electrical engineering.
On the other hand, the proportion of older men in the three other
professional classes was greater. These proportions were approxi
mately the same for mechanical and industrial engineers and mining
and metallurgical engineers, and relatively higher in the case of civil
engineers.12
In table 76 the effort is made to contrast the earnings opportunities
afforded by different kinds of employment, which is of significance
insofar as one kind of employment uses a larger proportion of younger
engineers than another. Even though one pays as much as or more
than another for engineers with any given amount of experience, it
may be incorrect to assume that it offers as much high-salaried
employment as that form of employment that uses a larger pro
portion of experienced engineers. In this sense, it is correct to say
that in 1929 private-firm employment in mining and metallurgical
engineering paid the highest rates for its engineering services as a
12 These differences in age composition should be borne in mind throughout the ensuing analysis.
Similar remarks apply to the later discussion of earnings by (1) fields of engineering activity, (2) types of
engineering work, (3) regional location, and (4) size of city. Furthermore, since the incidence and intensity
of the depression on corresponding age groups in each professional class has been shown to be fairly consistent,
an analysis of the age composition of each one for 1929 or 1932 would not differ markedly from that shown for
1934.
184
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
whole, that private employment in chemical engineering came next,
and was followed in order by mechanical, civil, and electrical engineer
ing. In the order as stated, the median monthly earnings reported
for 1929 were $338, $341, $314, $300, and $276. These relationships
held at all levels of earnings with only one significant exception.
T a b l e 76 .— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gineering ea rnings at end o f 1 9 2 9 ,
1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 o f all en gin eers rep o rtin g , hy k in d o f en gin eerin g em p lo ym en t
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 3 "
Proportion with monthly engineering income of more than specified
amount
Kind of engineering employment
10 percent
25 percent
50 percent
75 percent
90 percent
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
D ol
D ol D ol
D ol D ol D ol
Private firm___
638 522 491 434 358
Chemical and ceramic_____
746 606 518 498 414
Civil, agricultural, and ar
chitectural. . . . . .
618 508 475 422 345
Electrical____
581 506 479 404 342
Mechanical and industrial - _ 684 538 490 465 373
Mining and metallurgical. _. 797 612 571 510 416
1, 251 727 763 731 430
Independent consulting.
Teaching_________
___ 554 507 478 417 375
434 408 373 351 318
Federal Government . . . . .
State and county government... 377 345 320 303 272
Municipal government and
other public authority___ __ 457 425 399 347 324
D ol D ol D ol
D ol D ol D ol
D ol D ol D ol
329 301 247 220 220 170 150
342 341 258 197 230 159 131
167 127 112
174 125 103
322
324
328
377
426
357
275
242
300
276
314
338
439
310
264
236
180
153
173
189
209
190
163
155
302
272 248 227 222 200 176
247
235
253
277
245
281
230
212
229
220
216
240
256
266
204
190
226
204
228
244
291
240
196
195
179
167
171
176
144
215
173
159
162
154
145
154
153
204
154
148
126
128
126
126
86
164
143
132
122
115
108
119
94
153
129
122
188 152 140
Percentage increase or decrease
e*
CO
05
Private firm_____
_ ____
Chemical and ceramic ..
Civil, agricultural, and ar
chitectural _________
Electrical_______
Mechanical and industrial. _
Mining and metallurgical__
Independent consulting
Teaching__________ ______
Federal Government _____ ..
State and county government.._
Municipal government and
other public authority .. _ _
A
05
op
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<N
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r"<
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A
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op
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oo
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op
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s
op
05
s
05
op
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05
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,“i
-2 3 -1 8 - 6 -2 4 -1 8 - 8 -2 7 -1 8 -1 1 -3 2 -2 3 -1 2 -3 3 -2 4 -1 2
-31 -1 9 -1 5 -3 1 -1 7 -1 7 -4 2 -2 4 -2 4 -4 3 -3 1 -1 8 -4 1 -2 8 -1 8
-2 3
-1 8
-2 8
-2 8
-3 9
-1 4
-1 4
-1 5
-1 8
-1 3
-2 1
-2 3
-4 2
-8
-6
-8
-1 3 - 7
-6
-5
-9
-7
+5
-6
-9
-7
-2 4
-2 0
-2 9
-2 6
-4 2
-1 4
-2 2
-2 0
-1 8
-1 5
-2 0
-1 8
-41
-1 0
-9
-1 0
- 6 -1 3 - 7
-7
-5
-1 2
-9
-1
-5
-1 4
-1 1
-2 4
-2 0
-3 1
-2 9
-4 2
-1 4
-2 3
-1 9
-1 8
-1 5
-1 9
-1 8
-4 4
-9
-1 3
-1 0
- 7 -1 7 - 9
-7
-6
-1 5
-1 3
+4
-5
-1 1
-1 0
-2 8
-2 5
-3 6
-3 7
-4 7
-1 5
-2 1
-2 4
-2 1
-1 8
-2 5
-2 8
-51
-1 0
-1 2
-1 8
-9
-8
-1 5
-1 3
+6
-5
-1 1
-7
-3 2
-2 5
-3 8
-3 7
-5 5
-1 9
-2 1
-21
-3 0
-1 6
-2 7
-3 3
-5 9
-1 4
-1 2
-1 5
-3
-1 0
-1 4
-6
+9
-7
-1 0
-8
- 8 -2 1 -1 0 -1 2 -2 6 -1 9 - 8
However, these figures do not shed fight directly on the adequacy
of the rates paid for similar types of service. For example, electrical
engineers in 1934 were younger than civil engineers (table 75). It is
perhaps not surprising, therefore, that in 1929 electrical engineers
earned less than civil engineers in private-firm employment. N or is
it surprising that at the level of earnings of the lowest 10 percent in
private employ in 1929, civil engineers should rise from fourth to
second place. Conversely, the earnings of chemical engineers in
private firm employment in 1929 appear in even a more favorable
light when it is realized that they are nearly the same as for the older
group of mining engineers at the three intermediate levels.
MONTHLY EARNINGS! OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
185
From 1929 to 1934 there were great changes in rates of pay at all
earnings levels among engineers in the employ of private firms.
Differences among the various professional classes resulted in some
inversion of the relative level of earnings from that reported in 1929.
The order of the professional groups was the same in 1929 and 1934
for the upper 10 and 25 percent in private-firm employment, except
that civil engineers were below electrical engineers in 1934. However,
civil engineers rose from fifth to second place at the median and lower
levels and chemical engineers fell from second to fifth. Here again,
these were the rates paid in various types of engineering service.
But in 1934, while 78.7 percent of the civil engineers in private-firm
employment were 30 years or older, the proportion of chemical and
ceramic engineers in this same age group was only 52.2 percent.
In both 1929 and 1934 there was a marked spread in the earnings in
private-firm employment of each professional group. As between the
groups, however, there were significant differences. In 1929, the
earnings of the upper 10 percent of reporting civil engineers were 106
percent greater than the median earnings of the group, the corres
ponding difference for mining and metallurgical engineers was 135
percent. In the case of the other three professional classes, the dif
ferences were: 111 percent for electrical engineers, 117 percent for
mechanical and industrial engineers, and 119 percent for chemical
and ceramic engineers. These differences in spread as between the
professional groups were even more marked in 1934. Thus, the
earnings of the upper 10 percent of reporting civil engineers were 107
percent greater than the median earnings of the group, the corres
ponding difference for mining and metallurgical engineers was 138
percent. The differences for the other three professional classes were:
118 percent for electrical engineers, and 127 and 163 percent, respec
tively, for mechanical and industrial, and chemical and ceramic
engineers.
As is evident from these figures, in all professional groups there was
a somewhat greater dispersion of rates of pay in private-firm employ
ment in 1934 than in 1929. That is to say, that in each professional
class, rates of pay of engineers in the employ of private firms declined
slightly more at the level of the lowest 10 percent than at the level
of the highest 10 percent, and at the level of the lowest 25 percent
than at the level of the highest 25 percent. Thus, the upper 10
percent of the chemical engineers in private employ earned at least
5 times as much as the lower 10 percent in 1934; in 1929 they had
earned 4.3 times as much. The smallest increase in spread occurred
at these levels among electrical engineers, the ratios being 3.8 in 1929
and 4.2 in 1934.
While there was a general tendency to increased dispersion of rates
of pay in private-firm employment between 1929 and 1934, it was
186
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 -3 4
more marked as regards the upper and lower 25 percent than with
regard to the upper and lower 10 percent. Thus, among chemical
engineers the upper 25 percent earned 2.2 times as much as the lower
25 percent in 1929; 2.6 times as much in 1934. This measure of dis
persion at this level increased 20 percent; at the 10-percent level, cited
in the earlier paragraph, 17 percent.
In contrasting the rates of pay for all engineers in other kinds of
employment it has not been possible to distinguish the professional
groups. Nor are there enough cases to warrant the presentation of
the age distributions such as were shown for private-firm employment.
Age is an important factor, especially in evaluating the significance
of the higher earnings in independent consulting.
In 1929 there was a considerable range in earnings opportunities
among the various kinds of engineering employments. While onehalf of the engineers in the employ of State and county governments
earned not less than $236 a month— the lowest at this earnings
level— the highest median monthly earnings of $439 were reported
by independent consultants. Second in order at this same earnings
level came the earnings of engineers who reported that they were
engaged in the teaching of engineering subjects with $310 per month,
followed by median monthly earnings of $301 for all reporting
engineers in the employ of private firms. Third and fourth in order
were, respectively, the earnings of engineers in the employ of municipal
governments and other public authorities, and the Federal Govern
ment, the respective figures being $272 and $264 a month.
The gradation of earnings at the two lower earnings levels was the
same as that noted for the median. At the two higher earnings
levels private-firm employment exceeded teaching, being second in
order after independent consultants, while the earnings of all three
public engineering employments were lower in each instance than
those of engineers engaged in teaching.
In other words, while a smaller proportion of the engineers engaged
in teaching were employed at low salaries than among those employed
by private firms, a smaller proportion of the teachers were employed
at high salaries. Thus, in 1929 the upper 10 percent of the teachers
earned $554 per month, the lower 10 percent earned $190. In privatefirm employment the spread was from $638 to $167, and in municipal
employment the spread was even narrower— from $457 to $188 per
month. Here, as in teaching, a smaller proportion were employed
at low salaries than in private employment, but the largest difference
was in the proportion at high salaries. In 1929 the Federal Govern
ment paid the lower 10 percent of its engineers as little as private
industry, but the upper 10 percent earned only $434 per month or
more. State and county work offered the smallest proportion o f
jobs at the higher salaries. In fact, the level of earnings of the upper
M O N TH LY EARNINGS’ OF PROF ESS IO N AL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
187
25 percent in 1929 was about the same as the average in private
employment.
Although these data show that independent consultants had a
distinct advantage in earnings, it cannot be said that this field of
employment offered the greatest opportunities. In the first instance,
independent consulting is generally agreed to be one in which pro
fessional engineers become established only after having obtained
considerable engineering experience. Furthermore, it is questionable
if such a thing as a rate of compensation can be applied to this field
of engineering service, for, unlike the other kinds of engineering
employment, the rates reported were almost necessarily derived
directly from the earned annual incomes reported. These un
doubtedly are made up from fees dependent on experience and skill,
as well as the cost of completion of work, rather than from a salary
scale.
Over the period 1929-34 there was an especially marked decline in
the earnings of independent consultants as compared with the decline
in rates for the other kinds of employment. These changes are to be
regarded as in large part a measure of under-employment.
In the other kinds of employment, the largest decline (27 percent)
in average rates paid was in private-firm employment. The smallest
decline (14 percent) was in teaching. State and county, and munici
pal and other public employment declined 19 percent and 17 percent,
respectively. Average rates with the Federal Government, reflecting
in part the influx of many younger engineers, declined 23 percent.
The relative attractiveness of the several employments, even aside
from differences in stability of employment, changed markedly.
Thus, in 1929 teaching averaged $310 and private-firm employment
$301 per month. In 1934, teaching averaged $266; private-firm
employment $220. In 1929 municipal employment averaged $29
less than private; in 1934, $7 more. The changes at the extremes
were even more marked. The upper 10 percent of the teachers
averaged $84 less than the corresponding group of private-firm
employees in 1929; but only $13 less in 1934.
In private-firm employment, in teaching, and among engineers
employed by municipal and other public authorities, earnings of the
upper 10 and 25 percent declined less than the average; earnings of
the lower 10 and 25 percent, somewhat more than the average. In
Federal Government employment, the declines at all but the highest
level of earnings were similar to the decline of the average rate. Thus,
in general, the spread of earnings was greater in 1934 than in 1929,
especially the spread between the level of earnings of the upper 10
percent and the lower 10 percent. A t these levels the greatest
increase in the range occurred in municipal employment (17 percent)
and private employment (15 percent). Thus, the upper 10 percent
188
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
of the municipal engineers in 1934 earned at least 2.9 times as much
as the lower 10 percent; in 1929, 2.4 times as much. As between
the upper and lower 25 percent, there was no change in the relative
spread of earnings from 1929 to 1934 for teachers and Federal em
ployees. There was about a 10-percent greater spread for privatefirm employees and municipal engineers.
Valuable as the findings of the preceding analyses are it has been
indicated that they must be accepted qualifiedly because it was not
feasible for the Bureau to effect tabulations of these data on an age
basis. Accordingly, partially to clarify such differing relationships
as may exist between age and the earnings received from the several
kinds of engineering employment, a separate analysis of these earn
ings as reported by both older and younger engineers is warranted.
Again in table 77 it will be noted that the proportions reporting
earnings were in general not lower than 90 percent of the total of
those reporting in each kind of engineering employment, while the
proportion of independent consultants reporting was relatively much
lower.
The earnings data for the older engineers, that is, those men who
reported they were professionally active prior to 1930, will first be
considered. These are shown in table 78. However, since the earnings
reported for 1929 are the same as those discussed in the preceding
analysis, consideration will be given only to the changes which
occurred in them over the period 1929-34.
These figures emphasize the extent to which earnings in 1934 were
diluted by the influx of younger engineers. It has previously been
indicated that, considering each group of employed engineers as a
whole, earnings fell more at the lower levels than at the higher. This
did not occur among the homogeneous age groups. For the “ older”
engineers the four other earnings levels sank in almost exactly the
same ratio as the average in the case of private-firm employment,
teaching, Federal Government, and State government employment.
Furthermore, the average decline for this age group was materially
less than was the case for the employment as a whole. In the case of
teaching, the decline in earnings was 12 percent, the three kinds of
public engineering employment averaged decreases of 14 percent,
while earnings of men in private engineering fell by only 18 percent.
T able
77.— Comparison of total number of engineers reporting kind of engineering employment only and total number reporting monthly
earnings from engineering employment at end of 1929, 1932, and 1934, by age group
1932
1929
Kind of engineering employment
Engineers born
1910-14 3
Engineers born 1907-9 2
1934
1932
1934
1934
Per Total Num Per Total Num Per Total Num Per Total Num Per Total Num Per
Total Num cent
cent
cent num
cent- num
cent num
cent num
ber
num ber
ber
ber
num ber
ber
age
age
age
age
Sage
age
ber report report
ber report report
ber report report
ber report report
ber report report
ber report report
ing
ing
report ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing report
ing report
ing report
ing report
ing report
ing
ing income income
ing income income
ncome income
ing income income
ing income income
ing income income
All kinds______________________________ 29,298 27,206
92.9 26,402 24,178
91.6 27,097 25,258
93.2
4,205
3,869
92.0
5,836
5,634
96.5
4,347
4,115
94.7
Private firm___________________________
Chemical and ceramic______________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_
Electrical_______ ______
_______
Mechancial and industrial_____ _ ___
Mining and metallurgical___________
92.7 15,487 14,081
891
976
91.7
93.6 3,357 3,010
93.4 4,939 4,567
91.7 5,429 4,904
709
91.2
786
90.9 15,210 14,041
950
91.3 1,030
89.7 2,778 2,552
92.5 4,847 4,529
90.3 5,734 5,254
90.2
821
756
92.3
92.2
91.9
93.4
91.6
92.1
2,646
356
535
770
895
90
2,413
326
471
710
824
82
91.2
91.6
88.0
92.2
92.1
91.1
3,765
575
577
1,042
1,389
182
3,616
555
545
993
1,350
173
96.0
96.5
94.5
95.3
97.2
95.1
3,114
634
448
675
1,207
150
2,936
610
419
624
1,139
144
94.3
96.2
93.5
92.4
94.4
96.0
997
1,626
1,510
2,617
76.0
94.8
93.6
97.8
1,479
1,844
2,141
3,098
1,028
1,751
2,033
3,029
69.5
95.0
95.0
97.8
1,275
1,782
3,436
3,147
935
1,720
3,292
3,100
73.3
96.5
95.8
98.5
44
193
425
692
31
165
413
660
70.5
85.5
97.2
95.4
25
149
940
735
22
139
920
721
88.0
93.3
97.9
98.1
18
91
555
430
14
75
535
419
77.8
82.4
96.4
97.4
2,294
96.0
2,353
2,256
95.9
2,247
2,170
96.6
205
187
91.2
222
216
97.3
139
136
97.8
19, 590 18,162
1,035
949
5,193 4,863
5,844 5,461
6,588 6,041
930
848
Independent consulting________________ 1,311
Teaching______________________________ 1,716
Federal Government_____
__________ 1, 614
State and county government___________ 2,677
Municipal government and other public
authority____________________________ 2,390
1 Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who entered the profession during the years 1930-32.
3Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who entered the profession during the years 1933-34.
189
MONTHLY EARNINGS’ OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 192 9 - 3 4
Engineers born prior to 1907 1
190
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 7 8 . — C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings at en d o f 1 9 2 9 ,
1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 o f all older
1 en gineers reporting,
hy k in d o f en gin eerin g em p lo ym en t
Proportion with monthly engineering income of more than specified.
amount
Kind of engineering employment
10 percent
25 percent
50 percent
75 percent
90 percent
1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934 1929 1932 1934
A l l en g in eers born p r io r to 1907
D o l. B o h D o l
Chemical and ceramic. ---Civil, agricultural, and architectural - Electrical------ ------------------Mechanical and industrial - __
Mining and metallurgical__
Teaching ____ ____ __________
Federal Government______
State and county governmentMunicipal government and
other public authority _.
D o l. D o l, D o l.
D o l. D o l. D o l.
D o l. D o l. D o l.
638 544 517 434 377 360 301 260 248 220 186 183
746 640 652 498 435 430 341 296 289 230 198 197
D o l. D o l. D o l.
167 138 139
174 142 145
618
581
684
797
517
516
563
621
501
503
515
623
350
346
360
419
300
276
314
338
257
246
268
287
249 226 192 192 180
239 204 181 181 153
244 228 187 176 173
275 244 190 190 189
1, 251
554
434
377
732
511
416
351
767 731 432 428
485 417 383 364
391 351 328 297
332 303 280 257
439
310
264
236
248
288
242
220
259 291 146 156
273 240 222 212
225 196 182 169
203 195 174 160
209 87 96
190 177 168
163 150 142
155 142 137
457 429 407 347 328 309 272 252 234 222 203 186
188 159 148
422
404
465
510
356
353
395
425
137
138
139
136
146
137
133
144
Percentage increase or decrease
CM
os
1-1
§
gg
_7_
2
!os
co
|
8
ios
rH 1-1
CM
C
O CO
d
§
8
CO
M
CO C
&
OS
i
TH
os
s
8
i
OS
1-1
CO
CM
|
A l l en g in eers born p r io r to 1907
Private firm___________ _____
Chemical and ceramic _ _
Civil, agricultural, and archi
tectural______________ _
Electrical. _______ __ _
Mechanical and industrial- - _
Mining and metallurgical___
-1 9 -1 5 - 5 -1 7 -1 3 - 5 -1 8 -1 4 - 5 -1 7 -1 5 - 2 -1 7 -1 7 + 1
-13 -1 4 +2 -1 4 -1 3 - 1 -1 5 -1 3 - 2 -1 4 -1 4 - 1 -1 7 -1 8 +2
-1 9
-1 3
-2 5
-2 2
—16 —3 —17 —16
-1 1 - 3 -1 4 -1 3
-1 8 - 9 -23 -1 5
0 -1 8 -1 7
-2 2
-2
-2
-9
-1
-1 7
-1 3
-2 2
-1 9
-1 4
-1 1
-1 5
-1 5
Independent consulting. ______
Teaching______ ___________
Federal Government______ ___
State and county government___
Municipal government and other
public authority.______ ____
-3 9
-1 2
-1 0
-1 2
-4 1 +5 -41 -41 - 1
- 8 - 5 -1 3 - 8 - 5
—4 —6 -1 5 - 7 - 9
- 7 - 5 -1 5 - 8 - 8
-4 1
-1 2
-1 5
-1 4
-4 4 -H
-7 -5
-8 -7
-7 -8
-1 1 - 6
- 5 -11
-5
- 6 -1 4
-7
-3
-3
-9
-4
-15
-11
-2 3
-2 2
—15
0
-11
0
-1 8 - 6
-2 2
0
-4 6 -5 0
—12 - 8
—14 - 7
-1 8 -1 1
- 7 -1 6 - 9
+7
—5
—7
-8
—19 —24
-1 0 -1 0
-23 -2 0
-2 4 -2 8
+7
—1
-4
+6
-5 4 -5 8 +10
—12 —7 —5
—13 —8 —5
-1 2 - 8 - 4
- 8 -21 -1 5
—7
i
Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930;
all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
Those engineers who entered the profession in the years 1930-32
(table 79) reported slight increases in the earnings received in 1934
over those obtained in 1932. But engineers who entered the profes
sion in the years 1933-34 received less in 1934 than did those in 1932
who had entered the profession in 1930-32. For example, while the
median monthly earnings in 1932 of engineers born in 1907-9 were
$133 with private firms, the most recent entrants to the profession
received only $112 a month in 1934. The corresponding figures for
Federal employment were $155 and $133 a m onth.13
13 It should, however, be noted that the earnings data for engineers who entered the profession in the
years 1930-32 covered a period of 3 years, as against 2 years in the case of the later entrants to the profession.
M O N TH LY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
191
T a b l e 79,— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gineering earnings at end o f 1 9 3 2
rep o rtin g , b y k in d o f en gineering em p lo ym en t
Engineers born 1907-9
Kind of engineering employment2
1934 income (dols.)
90 percent earned
more than
75 percent earned
more than
50 percent earned
more than
1 25 percent earned
1
more than
10 percent earned
more than
90 percent earned
more than
75 percent earned
more than
;
50 percent earned
more than
25 percent earned 1
more than
|
10 percent earned
more than
1932 income (dols.)
Private firm_____ __ ______ __ . 90
99
Chemical and ceramic. _ _ ____
Civil, agricultural, and architec
90
tural______________________
90
Electrical___________________
89
Mechanical and industrial____
Mining and metallurgical___
(3)
111 133 155 186
116 139 158 188
112
111
108
101
136
134
129
125
Teaching______ . . .
_
87 111 137
Federal Government. _
_ . __ 106 132 155
State and county government_____ 95 116 141
Municipal government and other
92 115 155
public authority_______________
158
155
152
148
92 111 136 162 195
96 117 140 169 205
196 101 117 140 167 207
179 90 110 136 162 193
183 88 108 132 159 192
94 114 136 158 185
(3)
Engineers born
1910-14
1934 income (dols.)
90 percent earned |
more than
75 percent earned
more than
| 50 percent earned
more than
25 percent earned
more than
10 percent earned
more than
1 en gineers
|
and 1 9 3 4 o f all you n g er
81
82
94 112 132 152
96 114 134 153
84 101 120 139 157
78 92 110 128 148
80 91 109 129 148
82 93 112 133 152
173 205 97 126 152 184 220 (3)
63 108 142 (3)
172 189 113 131 149 167 189 100 114 133 153 172
155 171 102 118 139 155 174 85 101 117 134 151
202 228 104 121 142 162 190
87 103 123 150 186
1 Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who entered the profession in the years 1930-32 and
1933-34; all tabulated on a year-of-birth basis.
2 The earnings reported for independent consulting by the younger engineers are not believed to be sig
nificant, and therefore are omitted.
3 Fewer than 100 persons reported.
While the 2 preceding analyses have dealt with monthly engineering
earnings in 6 kinds of engineering employment, similar data were also
requested in regard to two other aspects of engineering services: (1)
The field of engineering activity,14 and (2) the type of work15 engaged
in within these fields of activity. It should again be emphasized
that these data were given only for the period ending December 31,
1934, and as in the immediately preceding discussion these two groups
of data are analyzed separately for older and younger engineers.
Earnings by Field of Engineering Activity 16
In table 80 there are presented the numbers of engineers who
reported the field of engineering activity in which they were engaged
at the end of 1934. Of all older engineers reporting, 93 percent
furnished their monthly rates of compensation, while, for the two
groups of younger engineers the proportions furnishing this informa
tion were 95 and 96 percent. This was also the case for the several
fields of activity. The earnings data for these older engineers are
presented in table 81.
14 These comprise: (1) Construction, (2) extractive industries, (3) public utilities, (4) transportation,
(5) manufacturing, (6) personal service, and (7) Federal, (8) State and county, and (9) municipal govern
ments.
16 These comprise: (1) Design and research, (2) construction, (3) operation, (4) consulting, (5) teaching,
(6) sales, and (7) general administration and management.
16 A hand tabulation was made to determine the age composition of the engineers in the 5 professional
classes who reported they were engaged by public utilities and in personal service. This showed that,
relatively, the age composition of each professional class was similar to that noted for private firm employ
ment as shown in table 75.
192
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 80 , — N u m b er o f engineers reporting m on th ly en gineering ea rnings at end o f
1 9 3 4 , b y field o f en gineering activity
j
Field of engineering activity
Municipal gov
ernment
j
State and county
government
Personal service
i
Manufacturing
j
Transportation
Public utilities
Extractive
in
dustries
Total
Construction
Age group
F ederal Govern-j
ment
I
Public employ
ment 1
Private employment
Number
Older engineers:2
Gross number reporting________
Number reporting earnings-------Engineers born 1907-9:3
Gross number reporting________
Number reporting earnings-------Engineers born 1910-14:3___________
Gross number reporting________
Number reporting earnings--------
25,967 2,696 1,267 3,148 1,006 7,083 2,387 3,260 3,266
946 6,484 2,210 3,106 3,196
24, 223 2,374 1,162 2,959
1,854
1,786
5, 731
5, 524
426
406
320
305
68V
671
134 2,107
133 2,023
253
238
884
855
767
745
153
148
4,192
3, 972
356
333
273
260
384
360
124 1,802
117 1,699
168
148
548
533
443
430
94
92
93
94
88
95
97
97
98
97
97
96
97
98
Percentage
Older engineers____________________
Engineers born 1 9 0 7 - 9 . _
____
Engineers born 1910-14_____________
93
96
95
88
95
94
92
95
95
94
98
94
94
99
94
92
96
94
1 The data reported were primarily for men engaged in construction.
2 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to
1930; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
3 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active in the year
shown; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
The earnings shown in table 81 are those of engineers with 5 years
or more of experience. The figures for public employment are
essentially a breakdown among the 5 professional classes of the data
shown in table 77 earlier in this chapter. They are presented here
largely because it becomes possible to contrast the earnings of civil
engineers, the most important group in public employment, with the
earnings of civil engineers in the private-construction industry, for
most of the engineers in public employment are engaged in construc
tion. Thus, it may be noted that the lowest averages for civil en
gineers are in construction.
State and county government em
ployees average $205; Federal employees $221; and civil engineers
in private construction $232.
In general, it may be said that among engineers with 5 years or more
of experience State and county employment is at lower rates than
Federal or municipal.
This is true of the higher and lower levels of
earnings, as well as of the average level. The Federal Government
averages less than municipal governments for civil engineers and
mechanical engineers, but more for electrical engineers. For these
three types of engineers, public employment averages less than any
of the fields of private employment except construction. Thus, civil
M O N TH LY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 19 2 9 - 3 4
193
engineers averaged $234 per month in municipal employment and $232
in the private-construction industry, but ranged from $248 to $270 in
other fields of private employment. Only in the case of chemical
engineers do the rates in Federal employment exceed those received
in the dominant field of private employment. Thus, chemical and
ceramic engineers with the Federal Government averaged $300 per
month in 1934 as against $296 in private manufacturing industries
(and $285 in extractive industries).
T a b l e 81 .— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings at en d o f 1 9 3 4
o f all older
1 en gineers
reporting field o f en gineering a ctivity , by professio n a l class
Monthly earnings in dollars by field of engineering activity
Public utilities
Transportation
Manufacturing
Personal service
| Federal Government
State and county
government
[ Extractive industries
(3)
468
377
458
(3)
(4)
529
(4)
536
634
(4)
477
534
545
(3)
(3)
496
492
523
(5)
668
488
506
514
603
604
496
481
520
608
(3)
375
398
415
(4)
(3)
335
(4)
356
(3)
(3)
402
367
463
(3)
(3)
316
268
315
(>)
420
388
328
404
432
367
362
360
374
(3)
(3)
357
351
359
(5)
433
344
353
361
428
434
370
346
378
400
(3)
288
309
302
390
(3)
258
308
283
(3)
(3)
308
299
342
(3)
310
232
203
221
230
285
270
270
264
277
249
251
241
269
190
320
256
260
258
(5)
296
248
251
241
295
306
269
252
279
313
300
221
228
234
265
167
205
215
208
183
253
234
215
257
220
C9
170
146
154
(3)
195
200
188
194
195
200
190
186
191
(3)
(3)
199
184
186
(5)
196
189
187
175
205
215
207
200
204
233
(3)
165
186
179
196
<*)
162
152
163
(3)
(3)
188
162
204
(3)
(3)
128
114
118
(3)
(4)
149
(4)
145
145
(4)
148
144
145
(3)
(3)
161
144
144
(5)
145
145
137
132
163
143
160
149
149
183
(3)
142
144
144
(4)
(3)
140
(4)
140
(3)
(3)
151
138
167
(3)
Construction
Percentage of professional class at specified
income levels
10 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic_____ ____ __ . .
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_____
E lectrical.-._____________ .
Mechanical and industrial______________
Mining and metallurgical_______________
25 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic_____ ____________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural_____
Electrical______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Mechanical and industrial______________
Mining and metallurgical—. ___________
50 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic___ ____________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural __ ..
Electrical_____ ______ _____ _ _
Mechanical and industrial..
_ _ _ __
Mining and metallurgical-_____
—
75 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic___
_ . ____
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical_____________________________
Mechanical and industrial.- __
Mining and metallurgical.
_
90 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic. . . . _ . __ __ .
Civil, agricultural, and architectural___
Electrical_____ ___________________ __
Mechanical and industrial. _____ ._ ___
Mining and metallurgical _ _______ . _
Municipal government
Public employ
ment 2
Private employment
1 Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930;
all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2 The data reported were primarily for construction.
Thus, of 4,692 in Federal employment, 82 percent
were so engaged. In State and county work and municipal government employ the proportions in con
struction were 95 and 97 percent, respectively.
3 Fewer than 50 persons reported.
4 Fewer than 100 persons reported.
« Fewer than 10 persons reported.
Within the various fields of private employment, average rates in
the construction industry are low. This has already been shown to
194
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
be the case for civil engineers. It is quite as striking in the case of
mechanical engineers and electrical engineers.17
Thus, in the case of chemical and ceramic engineers, while the high
est median monthly earnings of $320 were received by men in trans
portation work, $310 per month were reported by those engaged in
private construction. Similarly, for men of the same professional
class in the employ of the Federal Government and in personal serv
ice, there was only a difference of $6 in the monthly earnings reported.
The figures were, respectively, $300 and $306. The earnings of
chemical and ceramic engineers in the employ of public utilities and
those engaged on municipal government construction were practically
the same. The latter figure of $253 a month was, however, less than
that of $285 reported for extractive industries, while this in turn was
exceeded by the earnings of $296 a month received by engineers
engaged in manufacturing.
For mechanical and industrial engineers the median monthly earn
ings of $221 for private construction work were lower than those re
ported for Federal and municipal construction. The latter, however,
did exceed the median monthly earnings of $241 of men engaged in
manufacturing and were the same as those earned by mechanical
and industrial engineers in the field of transportation. The range in
earnings of the three other fields of engineering activity was from
$264 for extractive industries to $279 for men engaged in personal
service. In the case of mining and metallurgical engineers only
public utilities7 earnings were less than the three fields of construction
work. Thus, while $190 a month were reported for the former, the
range in the latter was from $220 for municipal construction to $265
for men engaged in Federal construction work. The earnings in the
three remaining fields of engineering activity were greater, being $277
for extractive industries, $295 for manufacturing, and $313 for engi
neers of this professional class engaged in personal service.
From the preceding analysis of the 1934 median monthly earnings
reported for fields of engineering activity it can be concluded that,
except for contruction work, there were no marked differences in earn
ings opportunities for each professional class. However, subject to
the qualification that these data are analyzed without regard to age,
within each field the relative earnings of the five professional classes
show distinct variation. Thus, in the five fields of private engineer17
The fact that members of all 5 professional classes reported construction as a field of engineering activity
has to be qualified. First, it is obvious, for example, that the numbers of opportunities for, say, chemical
and ceramic engineers in construction are somewhat limited. Second, it has to be borne in mind that the
field of engineering activity was requested only for the period Dec. 31,1934. At that time there was a lack
of opportunities in normal fields of engineering activity for all 5 professional classes. Hence, it is highly
probable that for engineers in certain professional classes the fields of engineering activity reported were
more of an accidental choice than a deliberate one, due to the conditions which prevailed at that particular
time. Therefore, no special significance is to be attached to the fact that the few chemical engineers hap
pened to average more than those in other fields of employment.
MONTHLY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
195
ing activity and in personal service, chemical and ceramic engineers,
and mining and metallurgical engineers appear to have had a dis
tinct advantage in earnings, whereas among the three other profes
sional classes the differences in the median monthly earnings reported
were not very great. Although a similar situation also prevailed at
the two higher earnings levels, it will be noted that there was less
spread in the earnings reported for public employment than in those
received by engineers in the other fields of engineering activity. For
example, while the median earnings of civil engineers in Federal
employment were $221 a month, at the upper 10-percent earnings
level the earnings received were $375 a month. B y contrast, civil
engineers in manufacturing received median monthly earnings of
$248 a month and $488 a month at the upper 10-percent level.
T a b l e 82 .— C om p a riso n o f m ed ia n s o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings at en d o f 1 9 8 4
o f all you n g er
class
1
en gineers reporting field o f en gin eerin g activity, by p rofessio n a l
Monthly earnings in dollars by field of engineering activity
Engineers born 1907-9:
Chemical and ceramic__________________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural. __
Electrical
...
________
Mechanical and industrial.. __________
Mining and metallurgical __________ __
Engineers born 1910-14:
Chemical and ceramic__________________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical_________________________ ____
Mechanical and industrial-. __________
Mining and metallurgical.______________
Municipal gov
ernment
1
State and county
government
Personal service
i
Manufacturing
Transportation
Public utilities
1
Extractive indus
tries
Construction
Professional class
Federal Govern
ment
Public employ
ment 2
Private employment
(3^
138
123
123
(3)
125
146
139
148
137
112
135
144
138
(3)
(3)
151
136
133
(3)
114
142
130
131
134
95
148
146
148
157
130
150
141
151
134
(3)
140
124
127
147
(3)
140
146
144
(3)
(3)
118
106
112
(3)
151
132
129
121
121
138
108
108
109
(3)
(3)
142
122
112
(3)
141
114
109
108
104
130
113
103
114
(3)
150
134
116
138
135
(3^
118
110
123
(3)
(3)
127
(3)
(3)
(3)
1 Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who entered the profession during the years 1930-32 and
1933-34; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2 The data reported were primarily for construction work.
3 Fewer than 10 persons reported.
A t the lower 25-percent earnings level the data show no marked
departure from those noted in the discussion of median earnings,
except that the monthly earnings reported at this level for public
employment were slightly higher than those reported by engineers
engaged in private construction. This condition also occurred at
the lowest earnings level with the exception that the earnings reported
for public employment were practically the same as those received by
engineers in each of the remaining fields of engineering activity.
Likewise, for the earnings shown in table 82 for two groups of younger
engineers, that is, those born in the years 1907-9 and 1910-14, the
196
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
monthly earnings received for public construction work were slightly
greater than those received for private construction work. There
was, however, very little difference in the earnings reported by each
age group for public construction and those received in the other
fields of engineering activity, except private construction.
Earnings by Type of Engineering Work
Those engineers who reported a field of engineering activity were
also requested to indicate the type of work that they were engaged in
within their particular field. The numbers so reporting are shown in
table 83, while the earnings data of the older engineers are presented
in table 84.
T a b l e 8 3 . — N u m b er o f en gineers reportin g m on th ly en gineering earnings at en d o f
1984y b y typ e o f en gin eerin g w ork
Type of engineering work
Age group
Total
Design
and re
search
Con
struc
tion
Sales
General
ad
minis
tration
and
man
age
ment
1,836
1,683
1,233
1,181
2,477
2,241
Opera Con Teach
tion sulting
ing
Number
Older engineers:1
Gross number reporting___ ____ 24.822
Number reporting earnings. _- _ 23, 419
Engineers born 1907-9: 2
Gross number reporting_______
5,201
Number reporting earnings. . . 5,068
Engineers born 1910-14:2
Gross number reporting______
4,078
3,909
Number reporting earnings____
6,425
6,151
6,070
5,847
4,942
1,859
4, 703 # 1,613
1, 521
1,488
1,349
1,312
1,655
1,613
159
156
147
141
168
163
202
195
1,104
1, 067
817
798
1,676
1,601
128
117
87
76
112
105
154
145
93
96
87
96
97
94
90
97
94
Percentage
Older engineers___________________
Engineers born 1907-9_____________
Engineers born 1910-14____________
94
97
96
96
98
97
96
97
98
95
97
96
87
98
91
1 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to
1930; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active in the
year shown; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
The data on rates of earnings are tabulated without regard to age,
except for a break-down as between those engineers who were profes
sionally active prior to 1930 and those who entered the profession in
1930 or later years. Among both groups the largest proportions
were in design and research, construction, and operation. However,
among the older group 10 percent were in general administration and
management, about 7.5 percent in teaching and consulting, and 5
percent in sales, while among the younger groups the proportions are
4 percent in general administration, 3 percent in sales and consulting,
M O N TH LY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
197
and 1.5 percent in teaching. It seems probable that the§e differences
between the younger and older groups similarly exist within the older
group.
T a b l e 84 .— C o m p a riso n o f 5 levels o f m on th ly en gin eerin g ea rnings at end o f 1 9 8 4
o f all older
1
en gineers reporting typ e o f en gin eerin g w ork , by p r ofessio n a l class
Monthly earnings in dollars by type of engineering work
Percentage of professional class at specified
income level
10 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic_________________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural ___
Electrical__________________ _________
Mechanical and industrial_____________
Mining and metallurgical___ - _________
25 percent earned more than:
Chemical and c e r a m i c . ___ _______
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical_____________________________
Mechanical and industrial________ ____
Mining and metallurgical___ ___________
50 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic_________________
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical_________________________
Mechanical and industrial __ ____ . __
Mining and metallurgical______________
75 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic___ _ _ _
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical_______________________ _____
Mechanical and industrial____ ____ ____
Mining and metallurgical. _____________
90 percent earned more than:
Chemical and ceramic____________
_
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical _________
. . . . _____
Mechanical and industrial_____________
Mining and metallurgical______________
Design Con
and
struc
research tion
Opera Con Teach
tion sulting
ing
Sales
General
admin
istra
tion
and
man
age
ment
577
365
509
463
492
(2)
352
392
437
(3)
512
406
432
485
515
(3)
540
541
611
692
(2)
478
438
494
532
592
484
467
496
(2)
418
278
353
329
376
00
271
295
314
291
371
304
296
333
394
516
361
387
395
484
(2)
363
335
369
391
400
330
329
355
00
699
426
504
496
618
285
218
245
228
262
213
211
215
228
220
253
226
204
235
260
345
260
235
242
314
320
274
248
282
310
307
255
251
254
270
483
312
359
324
393
203
169
190
167
193
(2)
164
166
169
152
175
176
150
171
174
223
188
177
167
219
(2)
216
201
211
238
217
195
188
192
00
310
225
251
222
283
151
140
146
132
152
(2)
141
132
130
(3)
136
141
116
129
140
(3)
140
130
125
154
(2)
176
154
165
187
144
145
135
143
(2)
(3)
587
734
741
1,028
(3)
171
162
158
181
1 Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930;
all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2 Fewer than 50 persons reported.
3 Fewer than 100 persons reported.
The purpose of table 84 is to show the rates of earnings in 1934 of
engineers with 5 years or more of experience in various types of work.
In this comparison the engineers in general administration and
management were, without any important exception, the best-paid
group.18 On the average, engineers engaged in general administration
make from half again to twice as much as those engaged in design,
construction, or operation. Thus, at the median-earnings level the
range for chemical and ceramic engineers who reported monthly earn
ings was from $213 for construction 19 and $253 in operation to $483
13 The contrast between general administration and design, construction, or operation would be height
ened if the averages were diluted by the earnings of younger engineers.
19
There were less than 50 chemical engineers engaged in construction. It is doubtful that the average is
of any special significance.
2 8 5 2 0 8 ° — 4 1 --------1 4
198
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
for general administration and management. A t this same earnings
level the corresponding figures for the upper and lower extremes in the
case of mechanical and industrial engineers were $228 and $324, or a
range of $96.
Consulting,20 teaching, and sales in all instances averaged less than
administration and generally averaged more than design, construction
and operation. In the case of electrical engineering, the average rate
in design and research was $10 higher than in consulting and a few
dollars less than in teaching and sales; all of these four classes of work
were substantially above construction and operation. The average
rate for teaching was generally higher than for sales and consulting, a
relationship that held also as regards the earnings of the lowest 10 and
25 percent. A t the level of earnings of the upper 10 and 25 percent,
consulting yielded more than sales and teaching.
In all professional groups, except electrical engineering, higher rates
were paid in design and research and in operation than in construction.
Among electrical engineers the highest-paid 10 percent engaged in
operation also received more than the highest 10 percent in construc
tion, but at the lower earnings levels construction paid more. In the
case of civil engineers and mechanical engineers, there was relatively
little difference in average rates of pay for these three functions. For
example, at the median-earnings level, civil engineers engaged in con
struction received $211 a month, while members of this same profes
sional class engaged in design and research and in operation received,
respectively, $218 and $226 a month. Furthermore, mining engineers
averaged nearly the same in design and research as in operation. In
the case of both chemical and ceramic engineers and electrical engi
neers, those engaged in design and research averaged more than those
engaged in operation, and at the higher levels of earnings the differ
ences between them were even more marked.
In regard to differences in earnings within each type of work, it will
again be noted that, except for construction, chemical and ceramic
engineers, and mining and metallurgical engineers had the advantage.
Thus, the former professional class reported median monthly earnings
of $285 for design and research; the latter received $262 a month.
The range in monthly earnings for the three other professional classes
was from $218 to $228.
Due to the variations in spread, these differences in earnings became
accentuated at the two higher-earnings levels. For example, while
mining and metallurgical engineers reported median monthly earnings
of $393 for general administration and management, one-quarter re
ceived not less than $618 a month and one-tenth not less than $1,028
a month. B y contrast, the corresponding figures for civil engineers
20
In the present table, “ consulting’’ includes reports from independent consultants and from employees
of private firms whose function is to act as consultants.
MONTHLY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 19 2 9 -3 4
199
engaged in the same type of work were $312, $426, and $587 a month.
Although the spread in earnings for consulting was less than that
noted for general administration and management, it was relatively
greater than that which occurred in any of the other types of work.
The smallest spread occurred in the earnings reported for construc
tion. Thus, electrical engineers in this field had median monthly
earnings of $215, but at the upper 10-percent earnings level they were
only $392.
T a b l e 8 5 . — Comparison of medians of monthly engineering earnings at end 1934 of
all younger1 engineers reporting type of engineering work, hy professional class
Monthly earnings in dollars by type of engineering work
Professional class
Engineers born 1907-9:
Chemical and ceramic____ _ __ ______
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical_____________________________
Mechanical and industrial _ _______
Mining and metallurgical._ __________
Engineers born 1910-14:
Chemical and ceramic - ______ _______
Civil, agricultural, and architectural____
Electrical____________________ ___
Mechanical and industrial _
______
Mining and metallurgical... __ _______
General
admin
istra
Sales tion and
man
age
ment
Design
and
re
search
Con
struc
tion
152
146
146
134
145
141
143
138
130
143
134
145
134
130
133
150
144
119
133
135
130
143
145
158
(2)
167
144
140
149
(2)
160
156
143
138
(2)
121
125
114
112
113
115
124
105
118
118
112
126
108
110
112
125
121
117
112
(2)
(2)
110
113
113
(2)
(2)
(2)
108
108
(2)
(2)
136
129
110
(2)
Opera Con Teach
tion sulting
ing
1Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers who entered the profession during the years 1930-32 and
1933-34; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2 Fewer than 10 persons reported.
Although the preceding analysis does evidence a somewhat steep
gradation in earnings by type of work for each professional class, it
should again be emphasized that these should be considered in relation
to the earnings opportunities within each of the types of work reported.
Obviously, the possibilities in general administration and management
were very small. They were also relatively smaller for teaching and
consulting. On the other hand, in the four other types of work shown,
the numbers of opportunities available were relatively much greater.
In addition to the numbers of available opportunities in each type
of work, the effects of age and experience should also be borne in
mind. The influence of the last two factors is made evident by con
sidering the median-earnings data for two younger groups of engineers
presented in table 85. These show that in all types of engineering
work younger engineers start with practically the same level of earn
ings.
200
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS----ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 192 9 -3 4
Earnings by Geographical Division
In the preceding analyses of monthly engineering earnings the data
were dealt with on a national basis. Consideration will now be given
to determine what variations obtained in the rates of monthly com
pensation received by engineers located in different geographical
divisions throughout the country.
For these purposes the only data compiled on a regional basis were
those reported by o ld e r21 graduate and “ other” or nongraduate
engineers in the three major professional classes of civil,22 electrical,
T a b l e 86.— Number of older graduate and “ other” engineers reporting monthly
engineering earnings in 1929, 1982, and 1984, by region
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
Percentage re
porting earnings
Number reporting
Graduate engineers
“ Other” engineers
Professional class by region
Earnings
Earnings
Edu
Edu
ca
ca
tion 1929 1932 1934 tion 1929 1932 1934
Grad “ Other”
uate
engi
engi
neers
neers
1929
1929
C ivil, ag ricu ltu ra l, and architectural
United States_____ ______ _______ 10,318 9,064 8, 216 8,593 4,341 3,856 3,500 3,691
659
601
643
290
259
238
New England_______________
777
247
951
846
736
761
Middle Atlantic_____________ 2,389 2,081 1,810 1, 822
279
283
313
273
67
61
61
61
District of C olum bia_______
484
566
415
440
East North Central
_______ 1,761 1,536 1,360 1,409
712
716
659
405
333
848
356
South Atlantic
_
350
302
341
269
301
452
476
480
635
979 1,020
1,161 1,032
546
473
439
480
1,647 1,510 1,374 1,443
87.8
84.8
87.1
89.1
87.2
84.4
88.8
89.3
89.0
91.0
85.5
87.9
88
135
455
275
897
82
128
436
255
816
86
138
455
289
864
88.6
89.0
88.9
86.6
91.7
90.7
84.4
91.4
86.5
90.7
United States___________ ______ 5,184 4,406 4,060 4,003 1,285 1,098
342
341
New England.. . . .
. . . ___
431
356
115
89
444
384
Middle Atlantic .. ________ 1,961 1, 711 1,604 1,562
95
75
71
75
25
22
District of Columbia________
897
809
793
279
East North Central ..............- 1,050
246
252
376
287
255
87
77
South Atlantic_____________
998
76
343
21
219
72
980
75
332
23
215
71
85.0
82.6
87.3
78.9
85.4
76.3
85.4
77.4
86.5
88.0
88.2
88.5
19
32
67
35
114
18
31
66
39
110
88.7
87.4
82.8
83.9
85.5
77.8
82.5
83.5
78.0
87.2
United States___________________ 6,599 5,539 4,492 5,105 2,407 2,029 1, 773 1,882
New England_______________
434
597
483
450
226
187
170
173
Middle Atlantic .. ............ 2,435 2,068 1,809 1,837
604
838
705
649
District of Columbia_______
115
106
101
103
29
26
26
26
East North Central ________ 1, 558 1, 316 1,160 1,216
668
502
586
539
South Atlantic______________
383
497
347
357
131
104
99
100
East South Central___ _____
142
119
121
113
49
36
31
33
West South Central_________
214
253
206
214
63
50
47
46
West North Central_________
382
321
297
308
143
115
111
106
Mountain_____________ _____
115
112
104
99
48
42
34
39
505
417
376
395
212
Pacific_________________ ____
178
154
166
83.9
80.9
84.9
92.2
84.5
77.1
83.8
84.6
84.0
97.4
82.6
84.3
82.7
84.1
89.7
87.7
79.4
73.5
79.4
80.4
87.5
84.0
East South Central _______
West South Central_________
West North Central... ------M oun tain .___ ___________
Pacific______ ____ _____ _____
97
160
498
318
989
E lectrica l
East South Central _. ______
West South Central...............
West North Central_________
Mountain__________________
Pacific____________________ _
115
167
412
137
440
102
146
341
115
376
94
132
312
102
339
96
136
305
100
343
27
40
85
50
133
21
33
71
39
116
M e ch a n ica l and in d u stria l
21 Those engineers who reported they were professionally active prior to 1930.
22 Also includes agricultural and architectural engineers.
MONTHLY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 192 9 -3 4
201
and m echanical23 engineering. The figures in table 86 show that
reports on earnings were furnished by more than 300 graduate civil
engineers in each of the 10 geographical divisions for 1929. The
sample of mechanical and electrical engineers is smaller, but for
virtually any division at least 100 reports are available. In general,
there were reports on income from about five-sixths of the engineers,
though the percentage of returns from New England and the South
Atlantic States is persistently slightly below the average.
A t this point it is pertinent to note that since the regional data
were compiled without regard to employment status reported, the
base of reference for the percentages of returns is the type of educa
tion reported and not the kind of engineering work engaged in.
The choice of this particular base for 1929, however, is warranted.
First, in that year the number of unemployed engineers was less than
1 percent; second, even if allowance had been made for those men
engaged in nonengineering work, the general relationships for the
percentages shown would not be vitally affected. The adequacy of
the regional data can, however, be gauged from the data presented
in the ensuing discussion of earnings by size of city. These earnings
are shown related to men engaged in engineering work and range from
88.7 percent for men employed in Cincinnati, Ohio, to 94.8 percent
for Newark, New Jersey.
The monthly rates of compensation reported from engineering work
of graduates and “ other” or nongraduate engineers in these three
professional classes are presented in table 87 without regard to age.
In 1929 there were persistent differences in the average rates of pay
of three types of engineering. Graduate mechanical engineers in
1929 averaged higher than electrical or civil engineers in all divisions,
except in the District of Columbia. The spread within the regions
differed substantially, however. Thus, among the graduates the
greatest ranges were $46, which occurred in the New England area,
and $56 in both the East North Central and West South Central
divisions. The smallest ranges, namely $8 and $11, occurred, respec
tively, m the Pacific and Mountain regions. Within the other five
regions the extremes in the median earnings varied from $22 in the
Middle Atlantic division to $36 in the East South Central States.
In all regions except New England, electrical engineers earned less
than civil engineers. In the Mountain States and the Pacific States
there was an over-all spread of only about $10 among the three
classes. In three other regions—New England, South Atlantic, and
East South Central States— the difference between graduate civil and
electrical engineers was less than $10.
23 Also includes industrial engineers.
202
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 87.— Comparison of median monthly engineering earnings in 1929, 1932,
and 1934 of all older graduates1 and “ other” engineers2 reporting, by region
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
fl
ll
if
Region
.a
12
Ti
SS
rrt T2
II
flS
-re
5S
O
Older graduate engineers 1
New England____________________
Middle Atlantic_____ ____ _____
District of Columbia__ _ _______
East North Central----- . . . ----------South Atlantic----- . ------ -----------
$271
318
316
307
266
$280
297
291
270
261
$317
319
293
326
284
$238
275
308
250
227
$262
268
277
244
238
$292
274
276
270
248
$222
238
300
230
199
$266
269
239
242
231
$276
254
273
254
242
East South Central_________ _____
West South Central__________ . . .
West North Central______________
Mountain. ___ ________________ .
Pacific_________________________ -
259
290
263
245
275
256
253
249
239
269
292
309
276
250
277
223
263
233
226
240
227
223
227
222
246
241
270
235
225
240
219
238
220
225
237
221
209
224
231
239
239
259
218
227
227
Older “ other" engineers 2
New England__________________ .
Middle Atlantic___________ ____
District of Columbia. ______ ____
East North Central___ . . .
...
South Atlantic___________________
$238
286
294
276
254
$269
295
360
279
249
$305
329
300
326
323
$221
244
273
223
216
$251
255
268
233
209
$264
271
250
266
270
$210
209
258
201
197
$235
238
237
225
209
$246
236
274
235
274
East South Central_____ _____ . . .
______ . . .
West South Central.
West North Central... ___ _____
Mountain. . . . _.
_ _________ .
P acific..----------------- ------------ . . .
246
294
228
217
259
245
238
258
247
257
344
308
299
256
296
206
257
210
192
227
190
226
256
233
233
273
238
240
207
254
207
233
190
185
218
200
228
240
237
224
254
225
227
190
230
Percentage income of “ other" engineers formed of that of graduate
engineers
New England___ . _ _________ .
Middle Atlantic__________________
District of Columbia________ _____
East North Central___________ . . .
South Atlantic____ _________ . . .
88
90
93
90
96
96
99
124
103
95
96
103
102
100
114
93
89
89
89
95
96
95
97
95
88
90
99
91
99
109
95
88
86
87
99
88
88
99
93
90
89
93
100
93
113
East South Central___________ . .
West South Central. ____ _____
West North Central... _________
Mountain. ----------- ---------------Pacific----------------------------------------
95
101
87
89
94
96
94
104
103
96
118
100
108
102
107
92
98
90
85
95
84
101
113
105
95
113
88
102
92
106
95
98
86
82
92
90
109
#107
103
94
106
87
104
84
101
1Includes all postgraduates, nonengineering graduates, and first-degree engineering graduates who re
ported they were professionally active prior tol930.
2Includes all engineers with college course incomplete, and those with noncollegiate technical school
and secondary-school education.
Between 1929 and 1934 the average rates of graduate electrical
engineers fell less than those of civil engineers. In only two regions—
District of Columbia and the West North Central States— did elec
trical engineers average less than the two other professional groups.
In the M iddle Atlantic States they averaged more than mechanical
engineers, as was also the case in three regions— West North Central,
M O N TH LY EARNINGS' OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
203
Mountain, and Pacific States— where earnings in the various pro
fessional groups were all more or less alike.
The differences in rates as among the various regions are not
consistent from one group to the next, nor from*one year to another.
However, the Middle Atlantic States and the District of Columbia
appear in general to be slightly above New England and the East
North Central States. This is especially the case among civil engi
neers. These four regions are generally above the Pacific States and
the W est South Central States, both of which rank fairly high as
regards earnings of civil engineers. Electrical engineers are as high
in the Pacific States as in the East North Central; in 1934 especially,
mechanical engineers in the West South Central States ranked high
as regards average earnings. In general, the lowest average rates
were reported from the Mountain States and the West North Central,
though the differences between the averages in these regions, and those
in the South Atlantic and East South Central States are not consistent.
Earnings b y Sise o f C ity
In addition to obtaining data by region, an analysis was also made
to determine what effects size of city had upon the earnings oppor
tunities of professional engineers. These data were, however, tabu
lated only for the years 1929 and 1934 for 18 individual cities and
groupings of 4 others by size of population. From the data in table
88 it will be noted that approximately 90 percent of the engineers
reporting furnished their income data. The corresponding figures
of earnings on an adjusted basis are shown in table 89.
As regards average earnings in 1929 there was an extreme range
among the cities with a population of 400,000 or more from about
$280 per month for Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and St. Paul to $351
for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh also had the highest average in 1934; the
lowest average rates were in Milwaukee, Buffalo, and Cincinnati.
The extreme differences in rates as among cities appear large, being
equivalent in 1929 to $1,056 per year. But in general the averages
seem to depend upon local conditions of employment. The largest
of these cities do not have the highest average. Cities in one section
of the country are not regularly higher than those in other sections.
Rather, widely separated and dissimilar cities have often almost iden
tical earnings. The order of the cities changed sharply from 1929 to
1934.
204
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 8 8 .— Comparison of total number of engineers reporting engineering em
ployment and total number reporting monthly engineering earnings in 1929 and
1934, by size of city
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34 and without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
All engineers
1929
1934
City
Percent
Percent
Total
Total
Total
Total
age
age
number reporting
number reporting reporting
reporting income reporting
reporting
income
income
income
Total...........................................................
29,207
27,124
92.9
31,846
29,806
93.6
New York___....... ............ .........................
Chicago.......... ........................... ................
Philadelphia-------- ------------------------------Detroit_______________________________
Los Angeles. ______________ _____ ____
2,977
1, 395
636
485
979
2,744
1,291
586
433
921
92.2
92.5
92.1
89.3
94.1
2,557
1,317
660
522
983
2,362
1,214
607
475
915
92.4
92.2
92.0
91.0
93.1
Cleveland------------- -------------------------- St. Louis______________________________
Baltimore_____ ______________ ______
Boston-----------------------------------------------Minneapolis and St. Paul______________
454
340
201
351
503
409
317
178
329
462
90.1
93.2
88.6
93.7
91.8
518
388
236
371
554
467
366
210
347
514
90.2
94.3
89.0
93.5
92.8
Pittsburgh.......... .........................................
San Francisco..................................... ........
Milwaukee---------------- --------- ---------------Buffalo........................................................
Washington------------------------- ------------ _
467
513
289
118
644
435
478
267
108
600
93.1
93.2
92.4
91.5
93.2
462
535
307
158
718
428
501
282
148
676
92.6
93.6
91.9
93.7
94.2
New Orleans__________________________
Cincinnati------ ------------------------------------Newark_______________________________
Population 100,000 to 400,000____________
Population 50,000 to 100,000_____________
140
222
191
5,161
2,613
129
197
181
4,785
2,437
92.1
88.7
94.8
92.7
93.3
168
273
189
5,878
2,914
156
241
176
5,496
2, 757
92.9
88.3
93.1
93.5
94.6
Population 10,000 to 50,000._ . . . ----------Population under 10,000________________
4,962
5, 566
4,639
5,198
93.5
93.4
5, 652
6, 486
5. 344
6,124
94.6
94.4
There does appear to be some relationship between city size and
average rates. None of the 18 cities of 400,000 or more in 1934 and
only two in 1929 had average earnings materially lower than the
average in the smaller cities. By and large, the cities of 400,000 or
more appeared to pay $200 to $250 more per year than cities of 50,000
to 400,000. These in turn averaged about $100 more than cities of
10,000 to 50,000; and these, about $200 more than was paid in
communities of less than 10,000.
A situation similar to that noted for average earnings reported also
occurred at the two lower earnings levels. But the concentration of
opportunities for higher earnings in the larger cities is fairly well
defined at the upper 25-percent level and more so at the upper 10-percent earnings level. Thus, the highest earnings reported in 1929 at
the upper 10-percent level were those of engineers in the city of Phila
delphia, who reported not less than $765 per month. These earnings
were only slightly higher than those reported for Boston. In Cleve
land and New York 10 percent of the engineers received not less than
$755 and $750 per month. Next in order came Detroit, Chicago,
Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, where earnings at the upper 10-percent level
ranged from $704 to $729 per month.
MONTHLY EARNINGS' OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 -3 4
T able
205
89 .— Comparison of 5 levels of monthly engineering earnings in 1929 and 1934
of all engineers 1 reporting engineering em ploym ent , by size of city
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34 and without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
75 percent
90 percent
1
|
25 percent
1929 income in dollars 1934 income in dollars
50 percent
<x>
ft
*a•
!>
90 percentj
«CUD
Percentage decrease
1929-34
10 percent
25 percent
i 50 percent
10 percent
j 90 percent
50 percent
75 percent
10 percentj
C ity2
|25 percent
Proportion with annual earnings of more
than specified amount
Philadelphia_____________________
Boston _____________________ Cleveland. ____________ ____ _ _ .
New York______________________
D etroit........................................... -
765
761
755
750
729
488
482
504
488
486
329
317
335
320
341
233
220
242
238
257
178
167
187
187
195
509
563
511
613
500
357
349
346
395
363
238
248
230
253
249
165
167
155
171
169
123
118
119
124
130
33
26
32
18
31
27
28
31
19
25
28
22
31
21
27
29
24
36
28
34
31
29
36
34
33
Chicago............................—........... .
Pittsburgh-......................................
B uffalo......................... ...................
Baltimore..... ................. ......... .........
Cincinnati....... ................................
721
713
704
676
653
488
498
480
445
434
326
351
329
299
308
240
271
223
223
228
188
209
174
163
159
518
511
482
503
420
352
388
310
333
304
237
269
215
228
214
159
193
143
147
145
121
130
114
110
107
28
28
32
26
36
28
22
35
25
30
27
23
35
24
31
34
29
36
34
36
36
38
34
33
33
Newark_____ ______ _____________
St. Louis.____ _________________ .
Milwaukee____________ ________
New Orleans_____ ______ ____ ___
Population 100,000 to 400,000. ..........
652
634
615
615
602
435
458
426
427
410
308
319
293
305
287
218
228
219
222
214
154
171
161
145
163
459
487
429
432
436
320
353
321
323
310
228
228
216
225
216
158
160
145
157
152
119
116
108
124
117
30
23
30
30
28
26
23
25
24
24
26
29
26
26
25
28
30
34
29
29
23
32
33
14
28
Population 50,000 to 100,000..............
San Francisco.................................. .
Washington, D. C _________ ______
Los Angeles______________________
Population 10,000 to 50,000.............. .
579
576
551
543
536
408
401
427
386
403
292
291
312
280
282
218
224
230
223
212
166
184
174
192
164
425
487
487
423
416
309
343
388
302
291
216
247
267
224
207
155
191
194
177
149
118
145
151
135
114
27
15
12
22
22
24
14
9
22
28
26
15
14
20
27
29
15
lfr
21
30
29
21
13
30
30
Population under 10,000____ _____
Minneapolis and St. Paul..... ........
503 355 263 203 156 377 267 194 144 112
494 375 279 213 182 399 297 220 164 128
25
19
25
21
26
21
29
23
28
30
1Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2Arranged in ascending order of incomes reported at upper 10-percent level for 1929.
In only three of the cities with 400,000 population or more did the
upper 10 percent of the engineers earn less than was earned at this
level ($602) in cities of 100,000 to 400,000. In cities with less than
10,000 population the upper 10 percent earned $503 or more in 1929.
Similar differences obtained in 1934.
Over the period 1929-34 the earnings at all income levels and for
all cities declined. The average rates paid declined about equally
from 1929 to 1934 in communities of different sizes. At the average
earnings level the smallest declines were reported for the cities of
San Francisco and Washington, D. C., in which the percentages of
decrease were, respectively, 15 and 14. But for the remaining cities
the decreases ranged from 20 percent in the case of Los Angeles to as
high as 31 percent for the city of Cincinnati. In general, greater
declines than those noted for average earnings occurred at the two
lower earnings levels, while those for the two upper earnings levels
were smaller.
206
EM P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
These data are also shown for two age groups in tables 90 and 91.
For engineers born prior to 1907 and who were, therefore, profession
ally active in 1929, the declines in earnings were practically the same
at all five earnings levels. As for the younger engineers, it will be
noted that there was almost no variation in their earnings by size of
city. As between individual cities, there was a spread at the average
level of approximately the same proportion as was noted in the aver
ages for all engineers.
T a b l e 90. — Comparison of 5 levels of monthly engineering earnings in 1929 and 1934
of all engineers 1 horn prior to 1907 reporting engineering em ploym ent , by size
of city
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
75 percent
90 percent
765
761
755
750
729
488
482
504
488
486
329
317
335
320
341
233
220
242
238
257
178
167
187
187
195
537
601
540
633
514
383
365
394
415
397
265
273
261
274
275
193
198
184
194
193
145 -3 0
141 -21
146 -2 8
141 -1 6
145 -2 9
-2 2
-2 4
-2 2
-1 5
-1 8
-1 9
-1 4
-2 2
-1 4
-1 9
-1 7
-1 0
-2 4
-1 8
-2 5
-1 9
-1 6
-2 2
-2 5
-2 6
Chicago. ......................... ........
Pittsburgh................................. __
Buffalo.-_
____ ____________ .
Baltimore____________________
Cincinnati___________________ . _
721
713
704
676
653
488
498
480
445
434
326
351
329
299
308
240
271
223
223
228
188
209
174
163
159
544
520
517
531
435
374
401
364
360
327
258
286
250
254
245
185
210
191
191
179
141 -2 5
155 -2 7
141 -2 7
142 -21
126 -3 3
-2 3
-1 9
-2 4
-1 9
-2 5
-2 1
-1 9
-2 4
-1 5
-2 0
-2 3
-2 3
-1 4
-1 4
-2 1
-2 5
-2 6
-1 9
-1 3
-2 1
Newark. ................................... ... .
St. Louis ----------------------------------Milwaukee____________ _
New Orleans____ _ _ _ -------------Population 100,000 to 400,000.
_
652
634
615
615
602
435
458
426
427
410
308
319
293
305
287
218
228
219
222
214
154
171
161
145
163
493
517
436
456
468
352
391
334
342
332
253
258
232
249
235
196
193
158
183
176
142 -2 4
142 -1 8
122 -2 9
147 -2 6
138 -2 2
-1 9
-1 5
-2 2
-2 0
-1 9
-1 8
-1 9
-21
-1 8
-1 8
-1 0
-1 5
-2 8
-1 8
-1 8
-8
-1 7
-2 4
+1
-1 5
579 408 292 218
Population 50,000 to 100,000.
San Francisco- - — _ ----------------- 576 401 291 224
Washington, D. C
----------------- 551 427 312 230
Los Angeles_____ _ _ ----------------- 543 386 280 223
Population 10,000 to 50,000------------- 536 403 282 212
166
184
174
192
164
442
494
497
433
440
329
349
402
309
313
236
255
284
231
227
178
201
214
186
172
142 -2 4
152 -1 4
166 -1 0
146 -2 0
136 -1 8
-1 9
-1 3
-6
-2 0
-2 2
-1 9
-1 2
-9
-1 8
-2 0
-1 8
-1 0
-7
-1 7
-1 9
-1 4
-1 7
-5
-2 4
-1 7
i
Philadelphia_____________ ______
Boston__ ____ ____ _____ _
Cleveland __________________
New York___________________ _.
D etroit... ____________________ -
I
50 percent
25 percent
90 percent
Percentage increase
or decrease, 1929-34
10 percent
75 percent
50 percent
25 percent
10 percent
90 percent
75 percent
!
: 50 percent
10 percent
City 2
25 percent
Proportion with annual earnings of more
than specified amount
J
1929 income in dollars 1934 income in dollars
Population under 10,000................ .
Minneapolis and St. Paul..... .........
503 355 263 203 156 408 290 216 161 131 -1 9 -1 8 -1 8 -2 1 -1 6
494 375 279 213 182 408 308 230 185 145 -1 7 -1 8 -1 8 -1 3 -2 0
1 Includes both graduates and “ other” engineers; aii tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2Arranged in ascending order of incomes reported at upper 10-percent level for 1929.
M O N TH LY EARNINGS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
207
T a b l e 91. — Comparison of 5 levels of monthly engineering earnings in 1934 of all
engineers 1 born 1907—14 reporting engineering em ploym ent , by size of city
[Without regard to kind of engineering employment reported]
Proportion with annual earnings of more than
specified amount
City
10 per
cent
25 per
cent
50 per
cent
75 per
cent
90 per
cent
1934 income in dollars
Philadelphia___________________________________
Boston________ _____________ _______ _______
Cleveland__________________ __________ ______
New York_____
______
_ ____
Detroit________________________________________
196
175
197
193
163
147
148
165
168
133
118
126
135
138
108
101
106
110
120
Chicago------------------- -------------------------------------Pittsburgh____ ______________________________
B uffalo_________________________ ____________
Baltimore______________
. . . __ _______ _
Cincinnati_________ ___________ ____ ____ _____
187
(2)
(2)
(2)
192
156
145
154
138
152
130
124
129
115
125
108
108
105
98
105
Newark_______ _______ ____ _________ _____
St. Louis__________________________ __________
M ilwaukee____ _______________________________
New Orleans__________________________________
Population 100,000 to 400,000_____________ ______
(2)
158
157
132
158
154
127
132
113
128
130
100
103
95
105
106
128
145
155
134
126
106
112
127
111
103
129
126
106
105
(2)
(2)
(2)
184
181
Population 50,000 to 100,000_____________________
San F r a n c i s c o . ______________________________
Washington, D. C_____________________________
Los Angeles________________ _____ _______ — —
Population 10,000 to 50,000______________________
(2)
210
179
177
151
169
177
154
151
Population under 10,000_____________ _____ _____
Minneapolis and St. Paul-. ____________________
175
173
152
147
176
1 Includes both graduate and “ other” engineers; all tabulated on year-of-birth basis.
2 Fewer than 100 persons reported.
89
Ca)
88
89
96
89
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
89
86
88
88
(2)
95
91
86
87
87
Chapter X
Limitations of the Data for Prediction Purposes
In the preceding analysis there has been presented a comprehensive
picture of the activities of professional engineers, as well as the earnings
derived from these activities. In regard to the latter it cannot be-too
strongly emphasized that these data relate only to what engineers of
various ages were earning in 1929, 1932, and 1934. Since there are
no better data available, it is almost inevitable that the figures will be
used to predict what young engineers may expect to earn 10 or 15
years hence. For that reason, it is important to emphasize the severe
limitations which attach to the data in this connection.
The first point— that the general level of engineering income fluc
tuates from year to year— needs merely to be mentioned in passing.
Therefore, the absolute level of incomes for engineers with any given
amount of experience cannot be forecast for any future year.
The chief danger to be guarded against is the assumption that the
income relationships for 1934 will hold in some future year. A
cautious use of such information may add to the value of the advice
of those who are directing young men into the various fields of speciali
zation. A careless assumption that this same relationship will hold
20 years hence for future graduates will make the resulting advice
dangerous.
The tabulations show merely the facts of the income distribution
in 1934 or some other particular year. For example, chemical and
ceramic engineers 20 years after graduation averaged $4,100 and onequarter of such engineers earned more than $6,000. On the other
hand, civil engineers 20 years after graduation averaged $3,100 and
the best-paid quarter averaged only $4,100 or more. It is evident,
therefore, that men graduating from college in 1914 advanced on the
whole to higher levels of income if their college work had been in the
field of chemical or ceramic engineering than if it had been in the
field of civil engineering. This much is fact.
B ut it must not be concluded from these data on income alone that
it is wise to encourage men entering college in 1940 to specialize in
chemical and ceramic engineering and to discourage their entering
the field of civil engineering. Such advice will be sound only if the
conditions surrounding the two fields of engineering and their pros
pects for the next 20 years are similar to the conditions of 1914 to
208
LIMITATIONS OF DATA FOR PREDICTION PURPOSES
209
1934. Years of experience are themselves a factor in determining
what kind of engineers are available. It is quite possible that there
may be a relative scarcity of engineers with a given type of academic
background and with 20 years of experience, while at the same time
the supply of younger engineers with that same type of formal educa
tion m ay have become excessive. It is quite easy to see that a special
scarcity value m ay have attached in 1934 to chemical engineers that
did not accrue to civil engineers graduating in 1914. There was a
tremendous expansion of the chemical industry in the United States
during and following the 1914-18 W orld War. It is a matter of com
mon knowledge that such enterprises had the greatest difficulty in
finding sufficient men with the requisite education and experience.
On the other hand, while there are more civil engineers and more jobs
for civil engineers than in 1914, a decrease in certain types of civil
engineering work— as, for example, the construction of new railroads—
has acted to restrain the development of relative scarcity values such
as may have attached to chemical engineers.
At the same time it is impossible to make a comparison of the earn
ings of the younger engineers in the several professional classes and
to conclude that the relationship between the professional groups will
hold when they have had 20 years’ experience. Thus in 1934 we find
that chemical and ceramic engineers who graduated in 1932 averaged
$1,286, whereas civil and mechanical engineers averaged $1,384. The
statistics do not preclude the possibility that there is a longer period
of apprenticeship for some types of engineering work than for others
and that, following such a period of apprenticeship, there may be a
more rapid advancement in the one line than in the other, ultimately
to a higher level of income.
Conclusions as to the relative desirability of entering one type of
engineering rather than another should be drawn only by those with
an intimate acquaintance with all fields of engineering. Available
statistics are probably a less satisfactory basis for advice than would
be the pooled nonstatistical judgments of a number of people with a
wide knowledge of the engineering profession and its opportunities.
The statistical materials of this study can be used safely in projection
only to fortify the judgments and forecasts of such individuals. To
those who know not only the present situation of the various profes
sional groups but also the changing background of those professions
over the past few decades, the income data will have particular signifi
cance. One who knows how the supply of and demand for particular
types of engineering training has changed can make allowances and
may attempt to estimate the most probable changes in future rela
tionships. He will be helped to appraise the state of the current
market for engineering services, by the earlier chapters of this report,
210
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
in which has been indicated the extent to which recent engineering
graduates have been able to find engineering jobs.
The statistics which are presented here have a value that varies
with the richness of the background of the user. Educational advisers
and directors are performing specialized work and by the very nature
of their work must guess what the future holds in store for various
professions. Their prognosis becomes better if it is based on an
extensive and accurate knowledge of existing conditions. This basis
of knowledge the Bureau supplies on a larger scale than previously
available. The Bureau has attempted as comprehensive an analysis
of recently existing relationships as its resources permit, and will
welcome further critical analysis from any source of the detailed
materials.
The Bureau has carefully refrained from describing differences in
the average incomes of graduate and nongraduate engineers as a
measure of the value of a completed college course in engineering.
From the data in hand, it is impossible to determine whether the
differences are due to the fact that given individuals have received a
college education or to other factors. It is possible that the differ
ences in income arise from an initial process of selection. It is also
possible that a prejudice in favor of the college graduate affords him
better opportunities to acquire valuable experience than are given
to the noncollege graduate. In such case, the advantages would
arise not from formal education which the man had received but from
his status as a college graduate.
It is a matter of common belief that college training has economic
value for the prospective engineer. The figures in this study support
this belief but cannot be taken as conclusive proof. Rather more
conclusively they prove the great importance of other factors in
addition to formal education. If formal education is an asset, the
young graduate engineer should advance more rapidly than the non
graduate of corresponding age. This does happen. The data thus
furnish supporting evidence as to the value of a formal education.
But were formal education an all-important element in determining
income in these early years, there should come a point at which no
further relative spread developed between the average earnings of
college graduates and nongraduates.
The facts show that the spread does increase. The difference is
greater both in absolute terms and in relative terms after 30 or 40
years of experience than it is after 10 or 15 years of experience. This
increased spread not only is noted with reference to the average of
the two classes but applies at the five levels that have been studied.
It was found not only in 1929 but also in 1932 and 1934.
It can hardly be argued that the scholastic background of engineers
who entered the profession in 1900 is a controlling factor with refer-
LIMITATIONS OF DATA FOR PREDICTION PURPOSES
211
ence to their earnings in 1929 and 1934. Certainly, the value of
their services is no longer primarily dependent upon the odds and
ends of information which they acquired in college, although it is
possible that habits of thinking and study which the engineer received
in his college days constitute a permanent legacy. B y and large the
factors controlling the value of a man’s engineering services after 30
years or more of experience must be primarily his native capacity
and the training which he has received on the various jobs that he
has performed.
As regards native capacity, there is reason to believe that, on the
average, better material will be found among college graduates than
among those who failed to complete a college course. There are of
course many individuals who are unable to complete an engineering
course for financial reasons. There are also many individuals of
limited capacity who receive degrees. But there is also a wholesale
process of weeding out that goes on in the engineering schools. Thus
even the differences in income shown in the earliest years of exper
ience may reflect differences in capacity rather than differences
arising from the value of the formal training.
Whether ability is more important than the differences in the kinds
of experience that are open to the college graduate and the nongradu
ate, it is impossible to tell. It is a matter of common knowledge
that for a number of years college education has been thought of as
a normal prerequisite to engineering work. A number of large em
ployers of engineers deliberately differentiate between the college
graduate and the nongraduate, offering the young engineer with a
college education opportunities for training on the job which either
are not available to the nongraduate or are open to him after special
consideration rather than as a matter of routine.
It must be noted that this latter type of advantage will tend
increasingly to accrue to the status of the graduate as opposed to the
nongraduate. In this sense status is gained by graduation, to some
extent no longer with regard to the value of the formal education as
such. The more common a college education becomes, and the more
widespread the assumption of a difference in capacity between the
college graduate and the nongraduate becomes, the more certain it is
that employers will discriminate in favor of the college graduate.
Such discrimination means that the college graduate will generally
be given more favorable opportunities for training on the job than the
nongraduate of equal capacity.
It is known, however, that many large employers of young engi
neers have already developed a highly selective process of employ
ment in interviewing candidates from engineering colleges. They
may assume that in general college graduates are more promising
material than nongraduates. They no longer recognize the mere fact
212
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
of graduation as evidence of employability and give special status
only to those who graduate with a standing substantially better than
the average of the class. Thus the advantage of status which may
have accrued a number of years ago through the fact of college grad
uation alone now accrues in equal measure only to graduation with
exceptional standing.
The candidate for a position in the engineering profession should
study carefully the tables not only for average earnings but also for
the upper and lower 10 and 25 percent of the engineers. Table 54 of
chapter V III shows clearly that a young man is well advised to enter
the profession after successfully completing a period of formal edu
cation beyond the high-school level. The earlier chapter on educa
tion indicated that college training was coming to be a prerequisite
for entrance to the profession. But it is unwise to rely heavily on
the value of a college education per se.
The present study gives conclusive demonstration of differences of
income which generally reflect different degrees of capacity. The
lot of the college graduate m ay be somewhat easier than that of the
nongraduate. But even in 1929 the lowest 10 percent of the college
graduates in civil engineering were earning less than $2,500 after 10
years of experience, with $2,700 after 20 years of experience. These
figures are to be compared with the average earnings of $3,600 and
$4,400 for these respective groups. On the other hand, the upper
10 percent of the civil engineers whose college course was incomplete
earned $5,200 or more after 10 years of experience and $7,600 or
more after 20 years of experience. The upper 10 percent of the
engineers with only a secondary-school education similarly showed
earnings substantially above those of the average college graduate.
In other words, graduation from an engineering school is no guaranty
of a satisfactory income, while there is still apparently an opportunity
for a man of outstanding capacity to secure far better than an average
engineering income even though he has not attended college.
The most significant differences in income revealed by the present
survey are not the differences in the average income received by
individuals who have received a college degree and those who have
not. Nor are they the differences as between individuals who have
entered one professional class rather than another. These differences
on the whole are moderate, though they are large enough to prove the
desirability of choosing well both the field of endeavor and the type
of training best adapted to advancement in that field. The most
striking differences are those which exist within each profession and
within each group classified on the basis of its educational background.
One out of 10 of the engineers in each such group secured an income
several times as great as the average for the group as a whole. At
least one out of 10 at the bottom of each such group, whether a college
LIMITATIONS OF DATA FOR PREDICTION PURPOSES
213
graduate or not, whether a chemical engineer or a civil engineer,
whether a man with many years of service or freshly out of college, is
hardly to be distinguished as regards income from a skilled wage
earner.
It is impossible to forecast from these data what the future holds
in store for the high-school boy who must be advised as to what type
of training will be most advantageous. But it may be pointed out
that in 1929 the average income of graduate engineers with 10 years'
experience ranged from $3,600 to $4,600 in the various professional
classes. In 1929 only 6.4 percent of the incomes in the United States
exceeded $4,000. Furthermore, engineering is a profession in which
earning capacity advances and is sustained until late in life. But if
in these respects the profession appears attractive on the average, its
rewards are not particularly attractive to the poorer or less fortunate
engineers. Even in 1929 the lowest-paid 10 percent of the engineers
could hope for no more than $2,500 to $3,000, though they might stay
in the profession for 40 years. In 1934, exposed as the profession was
to the risks of unemployment, the lowest-paid 10 percent of the en
gineers with less than 5 years' experience after graduation earned less
than $1,000. Even with 10 to 30 years' experience they earned no
more than $1,000 to $1,500. Judged from the basis of money income,
there can be no question but that the best of a group of skilled wage
earners are in a better economic position than those who struggle to
maintain a position on the fringes of the engineering profession.
285208°
41-
15
Appendix A
Facsimile of Questionnaire
STRICTLT CONFIDENTIAL
U . S . DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
W A S H IN G T O N
SURVEY OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION
Undertaken at tha Request of the American Engineering Council
1.
STATE......... ..................................
N a m e .......................................................... ..........................................
2.
CITY ...............................................
B usiness
3. Y
(Optional. Requested only to aid editing In case of error)
ear of birth
4. A re
yo u m ar r ie d ?
Y e3 .......
N o .............
5. E ducation :
(Detach Here and Beturn Questionnaire Only)
address , if a n t .............................................................
(Otherwise home address)
N um ber
of dependents
.
Nam* or iNSTiTtmoN
a. Secondary schools..........
(High or preparatory)
(Including wife, If married)
CorrESZ TAKIN (e. g. clvU
engineering, liberal arts,
etc.)
-(D -
6. Noncollegiatetechnicalschools.(2).
(Day or evening, beyond secondary schools)
e. University or college_
-(3).
d. Graduate work.—............ .......(4).
6.
The Bureau is tracing the change in engineering opportunities since 1929.
Please indicate your major occupation by using a check in the appropriate space to indicate
E m ploym ent:
an affirmative answer to describe your status at the END of each of the THREE years.
a. Were you engaged in engineering in a private firm or organization?_______________ ____ (1).
(Excluding private consulting work and teaching)
b. Were you engaged in engineering on private consulting work?
(1) As independent consultant.................................. .......... ....... ...................... .......... .......(2).
(2) As employee of private consulting firm.......................................................................(3).
c. Were you engaged in engineering as an employee of a public authority (excluding work relief) ?
(1) Federal Government............ ......................... ........................... ..................................._(4).
(2) State Government...........................................................................................................(5).
(3) County Government.......... ................................................... . ...................................__.(6).
(4) Municipal Government....................................... .......................................................... (7).
(5) Other public authority (please specify)............ ....................... ................................... (8).
d. Were you teaching engineering subjects as a member of an engineering faculty?-.............(9).
e. Were you employed on nonengineering work?........................ ...... ....... ................................ (10)(Indudlng teaching other than that indicated under (<f), but excluding direct relief or work relief)
Specify nature of work....................................... ........................................... .... .....................
j. Were you on work relief!............................................................... ............... .......................... (11).
(Specify relief agency and nature of work)
g. Any other employment (please specify)................................................................................-(12).
h. Were you wholly unemployed?...................... ........... ....................................................... (13).
i. Were you on direct relief (excluding work relief)?................................................................ (14).
7. U nem ploym ent and r e l ie f (during 60 months from Jan. 1, 1930, to Dec. 31, 1934):
a. Number of months totally unemployed...................(1)..................... If none please check here
(Excluding months on work relief or C. W. A.)
b. Number of months on work relief or C. W. A ...... (2)......... ...........
c. Number of months on direct relief.......... ...............(3)......................
(Excluding months on work relief or C. W. A.)
214
If none please check here
If none please check here
215
FACSIMILE OF QUESTIONNAIRE
8. E a r n e d
incom e
(please g ive data fo r each year):
a. For year ending
b. For year ending
c. For year ending
9. H a v e
From salaries or personal
services in both engineering
and nonengineering work
Average monthly rate from
engineering work for time
actually employed
December31, 1934.............(1)..
December31, 1932__
(2)..
December31, 1929__
(3)..
you e v e r b e en a m em b er of a n eng in e e rin g or a llie d te c h n ic a l s o c ie t y ?
Now a
member
Name of society
Formerly a
member
National societies.
State societies.
Local societies.
Answer questions 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 only if you had an engineering job at the end of 1934
10. E m p l o y m e n t
contract:
a. Are you under contract for your position? (1) Y e s .......
N o ....... For what period?...................
b. In the event of separation does your contract require a waiting period before taking similar
work? (2) Y e s ...........
N o ............
How many m onths?_____________
c. Have you the right to patent or to receive special compensation for inventions and improvements?
(1) Made in the course of your work (3)................. ............... ...........................................................
(2) N ot directly related to your work (4)............................................................................................
d. Have you pension privileges? (5)...............
e. Are you under civil service? (6).... ..........
11. S o u r c e
of
a. ____
b..........
c ..........
d. - ......
e ....... .
j ..........
g ..........
h. ------
in f o r m a t io n
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(G)
(7)
(8)
u sed
to
locate
C on tributory...............
presen t
p o s i t io n
N oncontributory..................
(please check media used):
Engineering society.
Private employment agency.
United States Employment or Keemployment Service.
Other public employment service (specify).....................
Personal contacts and recommendations.
Newspapers.
Technical journals.
Any other medium.
12.
At the end of 1934, in what industry, service, or zone of interest were you employed?
Service, or Zone of Interest” on opposite page— Classification I.)
(See “ Industry,
13.
W hat principal function did you perform in that work?
page— Classification II.)
14.
What was your professional classification as an engineer? (Mechanical, civil, electrical, mining,
metallurgical, chemical, marine, industrial (not otherwise classified), agricultural, military, naval
architect, etc.)
(Answer here, as "Public Utilities—Qas’’)
(See “ Functional Classification” on opposite
(Answer here, as "Operation—Testing” )
(Answer here, as "Chemical” )
( 2)
216
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
CLASSIFICATION I
INDUSTRY, SERVICE, OR ZONE OF INTEREST
(to help in answering question 12)
A. Construction such as—
C. Public Utilities such a
Electric light and power
Gas
Agriculture
Airport
Bridges
Buildings
Cable
Radio
Telegraph
Telephone
Highways
Mapping
Military
Power
Railroad
Reclamation
Refrigeration
Regional planning
Sewerage
Surveying
Tunnels
Ventilation
Waterways
Waterworks
General construction
B. Extractive Industries such as—
Coal
Copper
Iron and steel
Gold and silver
Lead and zinc
Other metals
Oil and gas
Nonmetallic minerals
D. Transportation Industries such a
Steam railroad
Electric railway
Water-borne
Automotive
Aeronautical
Pipeline
E. Manufacturing Industries such as—
Iron and Steel:
Machinery, machine tools, vehicles,
shipbuilding, aircraft, ordnance, etc.
Electrical Manufacturing:
Power equipment, transmission equip
ment, motors, lighting, heating, in
struments, appliances, etc.
Nonferrous Metal Working:
Copper and alloys, enamelware, etc.
Chemical and Allied Industries:
Charcoal and coke, explosives, paint and
varnish, petroleum refineries and
products, soap and other chemical
products, paper and paper products,
etc.
Textiles, Clothing, Boot and Shoes:
Yarn and cloth manufacture (cotton,
wool, silk, rayon, and other fibers)
printing and dyeing, garment manu,
lecturing and other textile productsshoe factories, leather products, etc.
Lumber and Furniture:
Lumbering, sawing and planing mills,
wood product manufactories, etc.
Food, Drug, Beverage, and Tobacco In*
dustries:
Canning, flour milling, meat packing,
sugar refining, other food products,
distilleries, breweries, tobacco fac
tories, etc.
Clay, Glass, TOe, and Stone Industries:
Brick, lime and cement, potteries, glass
works, etc.
F. Personal Service such as—
Education
Publications
Professional and trade organizations
Real estate
Banking
Insurance
Wholesale and retail establishments
G. Agriculture and Forestry.
CLASSIFICATION II
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
(to help in answering question 13)
A. Design and Research.
Including supervision and administration of
Design or Research.
Also Include here Exploration, etc.
Also Include here Production, Maintenance,
Testing, Chemical Analysis and Control,
Inspection, etc.
D. Consulting.
B. Construction.
Including supervision and administration of
Construction. '
E. Teaching.
C. Operation.
Operation.*1
Including Investigation, Production, Valu
ation, Appraisal, Arbitration, Testimony,
etc.
sion and administration of
Including supervision and administration of
Education, as Deans, Editors, etc.
F. Sales.
Including supervision and administration of
Sales,
G. General Administration and Man.
agement.
Including Financial Planning, Organization,
Promotion, Efficiency, etc.
Indicate this classification only it not prin
cipally or directly supervising or ad
ministering one of the other classifications
listed above.
'
217
FACSIMILE OF QUESTIONNAIRE
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
W A S H IN G T O N
Dear Sir:
This survey of the engineering profession and the incidence
of the depression on engineers is undertaken by the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics at the request of the American
Engineering Council, in the hope that the information obtained
will be of true service to engineers, and a guide to those who
are preparing to enter the profession.
The questionnaire has been prepared with the collaboration
of leaders of your profession; the information requested is
simple, quickly answered, and vital to the study. The third
page is no formidable array of questions, but is a guide to your
answers to questions twelve and thirteen. Please answer all
questions with the detail requested.
Your answers will be held in strictest confidence, avail
able only to regular sworn employees of this Bureau, for tabu
lating purposes alone. Your name need not be signed; though we
request that it be, so that we may have the opportunity to cor
respond with you about any apparent errors found in the sched
ule. The enclosed return envelop requires no postage. Please
reply promptly; no schedules can be used which are received
after July 8.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the societies of your
profession will appreciate your cooperation in this venture.
Sincerely yours.
Commissioner o f Labor Statistics.
(4)
v. s. ••mauNT niMTiaa orrice
U—3067
Appendix B
T a b l e 1.-— A lloca tio n o f en gineers in m in o r p rofessio n a l classes 1 with allied m a jor
p r ofessio n a l classes
C o m b in e d w ith—
Professional class reported
Total
i
_________
3.605
Administrative
_ _ ________ ____
Aeronautical_ _____ _______ _
Automotive
_ _____________ _____ _
Bridge
_______ ___ _ _ _ _______
Combustion .
_______ __________
11
224
91
23
24
Commercial _ _ ____ ______ _
_ _ _
Communications __ _ ____
..
Construction - . __ ______ _______
Electro-chemical __ __ _______ ___ ____
31
62
121
21
41
Forestry . __ _ _________ ____
Fuel "
- _________ - __
________________________________
Gas
General engineering
_ _____
12
9
25
127
88
Geophysical _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
Heating and ventilating.- _ _______
Highway
_
_ _ _ ___________ _ _
____
______
Hydraulic
Hydroelectric ____ ____________
41
131
258
86
20
Total______ . ___________
Agricul
tural
Electrical : Mechan
ical
Civil
19
1,583
1,420
11
224
91
23
24
31
62
121
41
21
12
9
25
127
88
41
131
258
86
20
__________ _______ _
________ ______ ____
_________ _______ ___ ___
____________ ____ ___
_______ _______
13
42
5
20
129
Military
_ _ __ _________ __
Miscellaneous
__ _________
Municipal
_ ________
Naval Constr., arch___ ________ _
Ordnance
_ _ _ _ _ ____ _______
70
149
12
153
6
70
Petroleum
_______
______
Power
__ __ ____________
Production __ ________ _____ __
Radio
__ _ ________ _ _
Radio broadcast __ _ ________ _ _
224
13
43
439
3
224
13
Irrigation
Lighting
Logging
Lubrication
Marine
583 !
13
5
42
20
129
149
12
153
6
439
43
3
Radio tube _ _
__
___________ _
Railroad
_______ _ __
Railway, mechanical. _ _______ ______ __
Railway, electrical _ __________ ____
Refrigeration __ _ _ ________ ____ ______
11
22
Research
. _ _ _____ __ __________ __
Safety _ ______ ______ ____________
Sales engineering__ _____________ _______
Sanitary
___ _______________ __ _
Soil erosion _ . _ _ __________________
52
16
42
142
2
Sound engineering. _ ________________
Structural _
_ ________________ __
Telephone
_ ______ ______ ___________
Textile __ _ _ ______________________
Topographic _ __ _•_________________
24
247
62
81
9
24
247
Valuation___________ _____ ____________
Welding______________________ _______
45
13
45
22
11
3
3
5
5
62
52
16
2
42
142
9
62
62
81
13
1 The number of certain professional classes reported being so small, special analyses are not warranted.
Hence, they have been combined with one or another of the major professional classes, as used for the general
analyses of the data, to which they are most closely allied.
218
Appendix C
T a b l e 1.— D istrib u tio n o f all en gineering graduates with course sam e as professio n a l
class reported at end of 1934, by year o f graduation
Professional class
V
5
'g'3
ao
03U
t-i
bed
Mechanic;
Industrial
Electrical
I
so
n
<
Chemical
3u
3
g
s
3o
"E
be
aS
i
Graduating
classes Total
Ceramic
Course taken
Total
36, 969
244
359
326 2, 951 13,004 9,222
420 8,915 1.528
34, 242
1930-34 15, 412
1925-29 4, 967
1920-24 3,838
1915-19 2, 395
1910-14 2, 816
1905-9 2, 345
1900-4 1,198
1,271
0)
201
84
45
22
27
13
6
2
2
338
213
40
26
17
26
7
3
6
294 2, 488 12, 302 8, 460
145 1,753 4, 436 4, 274
73 204 1,819 1,378
36 176 1,429 957
991 518
15 107
14 123 1,340 539
64 1,124 434
8
518 203
3
36
645 157
25
403 8,390 1,366
294 3,739 474
63 1,219 126
22 1,010 160
11 604 105
3 594 164
4 530 168
93
4 336
76
2 358
33,098
1930-34 15,194
1925-29 4, 734
1920-24 3,687
1915-19 2,287
1910-14 2, 697
1905-9 2, 224
1900-4 1,100
1,175
0)
200
84
45
22
26
13
6
2
2
329
211
37
26
16
25
6
2
6
289 2, 385 11,884 8,165
144 1,724 4, 380 4, 206
70 182 1,741 1,310
36 164 1,380 916
97
955 487
15
14
10 91, 281 516
58 1,067 408
8
2
30
477 187
21
603 135
389 8,174 1,283
288 3, 695 462
58 1,173 118
20 979 144
11 584
96
3 581 155
4 511 156
3 315
82
2 336
70
1,000
202
209
120
93
98
111
83
84
1
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
, 1915-19
! 1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
9
2
3
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
86
12
11
19
10
13
9
5
7
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
58
4
13
12
5
8
1
10
5
engineering graduates with
Engineering only, total
_ _ _ _
Engineering, plus B. A. in liberal
arts, total.
Engineering, plus M. A. in liberal
arts, total.
Engineering, plus Ph. D. in liberal
arts, total.
1
1
1
1
4
3
T
1
1
89
28
21
8
7
12
6
4
3
376
54
70
41
33
48
55
37
38
245
62
57
30
26
17
23
13
17
13
6
5
1
6
1
33
2
7
7
3
7
2
2
3
26
2
4
7
3
3
3
1
3
8
9
12
1
1
24
4
7
4
2
3
5
1
3
1
1
2
1
2
3
2
2
2
I
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
4
2
1
197
39
44
27
19
13
16
19
20
66
11
6
13
6
7
10
7
6
1
14
5
5
1
1
3
1
1
3
1
1
1Prior to 1900.
219
1
2
1
1
4
220
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 1.— D istrib u tio n o f all en gin eerin g graduates w ith course sam e as p rofessio n a l
class reported at end o f 1 93 4 > by yea r o f graduation — Continued
Master’s degree in engineering, total _
1930-34
1926-29
1920-24
1916-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
Engineering only, to ta l____________
Engineering, plus B. A. in liberal arts,
total.
Doctor’s degree in engineering , total
Prior to 1900.
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
2,477
916
540
327
191
207
133
75
88
42
10
11
10
21
10
7
8
1
2
2, 448
911 '
530
321
190
203
131
75
87
42
10
11
10
8
2
1
2
1
30
14
9
2
3
2
1
2
>
O
6
30
14
9
2
3
2
1
29
5
10
6
1
4
2
o
A
W
699
277
172
88
55
49
34
13
11
15
9
680
180
149
97
51
77
49
36
41
360
182
73
44
24
16
6
6
9
672
180
145
95
51
76
48
36
41
690
275
168
87
55
48
34
13
10
13
7
3
2
3
8
2
9
2
4
1
2
1
4
2
1
1
1
363
182
73
46
24
17
1
250
31
51
54
28
25
23
13
25
Mechanical
A
6
6
1
21
10
7
1£
1
a>
Mining and
metallurgical
0
Industrial
Ceramic
Gradu
ating Total
classes
Agricultural
Course taken
Architectural
Profe;ssional class
8
3
3
1
1
1
1
483
181
90
66 :
40i
421
33,
121
19
144
54
26
15
9
15
10
”
8
479’ 141
181i 52
88
26
661 15
39
9
41 ! 15
33
9
12
7
19
8
4:
!
2
1
1
!
3
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
100
13
21
21
9
14
10
5
7
22
2
6
3
3
2
1
5
63
7
16
14
6
6
6
3
5
2
1
1
42
6
3
9
6
4i
3
3
8
18
2
4
5
3
1
2
1
221
APPENDIX C
T able
2 . — D istrib u tio n
o f all en gineering graduates with cou rse d ifferent fr o m
p rofessio n a l class reported at end o f 1 9 8 4 , b y yea r o f graduation
Mechanical
Mining and
metallurgical
Industrial
Electrical
Civil
Chemical
Ceramic
j
Gradu
ating Total
classes
Agricultural
Course taken
Architectural
Professional class
4,413
111
39
20
144 1, 657
362
361 1,441
278
193(Ki4
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
4,109
1, 547
560
522
372
372
337
218
181
97
38
15
8
5
11
12
5
3
38
7
4
7
4
8
4
2
2
15
3
7
3
1
1
121 1, 572
53
644
15
187
15
215
6
122
15
122
8
125
4
87
5
70
333
82
54
56
50
31
33
14
13
343 1, 356
163 479
56 206
36 140
23 135
23 146
25 110
9
77
63
8
234
78
23
38
24
15
19
20
17
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
3, 963
1, 532
537
499
353
353
315
204
170
92
38
15
6
5
11
11
4
2
38
14
7
3
4 ----7
4
2
8
1
4
1
2
2
117 1, 521
53
638
14
185
14
206
6
116
13
115
8
115
4
80
5
66
322
81
54
53
48
30
30
14
12
332 1,309
161 474
53 190
34 135
19 131
23 141
25 104
9
75
8
59
218
77
22
37
22
11
17
16
16
128
15
20
20
16
16
21
12
8
4
1
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
11
1
Total engineering graduates with
course different from professional
class.
First degree in engineering, total____
Engineering, plus B. A. in liberal arts,
total.
Engineering, plus M . A. in liberal
arts, total.
Engineering, plus Ph. D. in liberal
arts, total.
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
i Prior to 1900.
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
49!
6
2
9
6
7
9
6
4
10
1
2
2
1
3
10
2
3
2
3
38
5
14
5
3
3
6
1
1
12
1
1
6
2
2
-
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
3
2
4
1
2
1
7
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
2
1
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
1915-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
264
66
62
45
35
20
17
12
7
14
3
4
1
4
1
1930-34
1925-29
1920-24
191.5-19
1910-14
1905-9
1900-4
0)
256
65
58
44
34
20
17
11
7
14
3
4
1
4
1
Master’s degree in engineering, total.
Engireering only, total............ .........
2
2
2
2
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
2
1
1
19
8
5
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
2
1
1
18
8
5
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
75
18
17
20
6
3
4
7
25
3
7
5
4
1
2
73
18
15
20
6
3
4
24
3
7
5
3
1
2
15
8
2
1
3
1
3
3
15
8
2
1
3
i
79
21
17
11
8
9
5
5
3
31
4
8
4
7
4
4
75
20
15
11
8
9
5
4
3
31
4
8
4
7
4
4
222
EM P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
2 .— D istrib u tio n o f all en gin eerin g graduates w ith cou rse different fr o m
p r o fessio n a l class reported at end o f 1 9 3 4 > by yea r o f gra d u a tion — Continued
T able
t Prior to 1900.
Appendix D
T a b l e 1.— N u m b er o f enrollm ents and first-degree graduations fr o m
colleges , 1 9 2 0 to 1 9 8 4
en gineering
1
Enrollments and number of first degrees
Professional class
1919-20 1921-22 1923-24 1925-26 1927-28 1929-30 1931-3211933-34
Total enrollment
51,908
56, 649
57,690
59,315
66, 637
74,000
73, 766
62,601
5, 743
Chemical________ ______ ____
Civil____________ ______ __________ 8,859
9,469
Electrical________________________
Mechanical-— ________________ — 11, 789
All others_________ ____ __________ 16,048
5, 364
9, 672
12,374
12,154
17,085
4,141
10,024
14,002
10,637
18,886
4,238
10,829
15,666
9,743
18,839
4,948
11, 501
15, 781
10, 434
23, 973
4,474
11, 563
15, 647
11, 597
30, 719
8,738
11,049
14,903
13, 445
25,631
7,222
8, 391
11, 372
11,485
24,131
All classes________________________
Number of first degrees
All classes................... ....................
4, 620
7, 358
7,984
7,977
8,284
8,947
10, 374
11,421
Chemica_______ ______ __________
Civil_____________________________
Electrical________________________
Mechanical__ — _______________
All others_______ ________________
732
1,093
931
1, 238
626
1,009
1, 615
1,490
1,673
1,571
835
1,748
2,047
2,055
1,299
741
1,866
2,246
1,809
1, 315
702
1,874
2,565
1, 622
1,521
818
1,977
2,427
1,674
2,051
1,148
2,100
2,480
2,085
2, 561
1,359
2,036
2, 558
2,454
3,013
1 Figures derived from the Biennial Surveys of the Office of Education for the years shown.
223
Appendix E
T a b l e 1.— D istrib u tio n o f all en gineers reporting gross 1 u n em p lo ym en t
1980
to
1 9 3 4 1 by typ e o f education and p rofessio n a l class
11,367 33.9 12.2 2,810 2,805 1,891 1,313
Total graduate engineers 2______
Graduating classes in—
1933-34___________________ 3,489 47.1 7.5 1,438 1,217 452 210
5,902 53.5 11.9 1,431 1,558 1,129 691
1930-32_________ ______ _
2,340 36.0 12.1
560 601 453 313
1925-29________ _________
2.245 27.1 13.4
523 514 362 255
1915-24............ ...................
1,570 23.8 17.8
278 294 220 217
1905-14___________ _____ _
810 23.5 23.1
104
95 116 106
Prior to 1905___ ____ ______
Chemical and ceramic 3_______
Graduating classes in—
1933-34_______ ____ _
1930-32__________ _____
1925-29________________
Prior to 1925__________
Civil, agricultural, and architec
tural 3 ___________ _______ _
Graduating classes in—
1933-34-........................
1930-32. .......... ...... .........
1925-29.................... ........
1915-24,.__________ ____
1905-14______ _______
Prior to 1905__________
Over 48 months J
42 and under 48
months
36 and under 42
months
|
30 and under 36
months
24 and under 30
months
l 18 and under 24
months
1 12 and under 18
I
months
Under 6 months!
1
6 and under 12
months
Median period
in months
i
Type of education and professional
class
N um ber re
porting u n employment
Percentage of
grand total
Number whose unemployment and work relief
895
641
459
273
280
66
429
186
211
179
86
28
291
94
164
137
97
30
194
75
99
113
67
17
94
38
68
58
57
31
85
20
49
74
82
9.8
229
219
114
74
29
24
19
11
14
40.3 7.0
44.3 10.6
29.8 11.1
15.1 11.4
174
150
34
43
141
166
37
38
49
94
22
25
25
56
18
18
3
28
6
8
1
26
5
6
1
21
5
4
1
7
3
4
2
7
2
8
4,950 38.0 12.8 1,184 1,181
733 29.2
397
555
132
154
1, 212
2,147
1,007
1,114
832
422
55.1
59.7
41.9
34.4
26.8
27.0
7.9
11.9
12.2
12.9
17.0
22.9
Electrical3. . ............ ................ 2,343 31.6 12.1
Graduating classes in—
878 48.9 7.7
1933-34__________ ____ _
1930-32________________ 1,610 54.7 13.2
534 31.3 12.4
1925-29________________
362 19.6 14.1
1915-24_________ ______
202 17.2 20.7
1905-14.................. .........
79 17.1 25.3
Prior to 1905......... .........
858
582
m
283
197
125
133
472
532
226
270
157
60
574
418
550
270
260
152
45
164
421
205
186
129
64
92
261
128
117
121
51
28
147
91
102
89
43
11
104
37
74
68
50
9
68
31
45
47
38
8
32
13
31
27
35
10
32
6
29
42
36
589
403
269
184
125
93
58
48
346
330
139
84
26
8
319
411
121
76
43
7
123
319
107
59
20
10
44
199
75
40
27
13
14
133
42
37
29
7
7
94
23
25
20
10
10
62
13
17
22
7
3
36
9
15
10
6
12
26
5
9
5
11
Mechanical and industrial3____ 2,685 31.9 12.1
Graduating classes in—
892 40.7 7.1
1933-34________________
1930-32___________ ____ 1,379 48.5 11.1
1925-29.......................... .
598 34.2 12.0
1915-24..........................
576 25.4 15.2
384 24.7 18.5
1905-14............................
242 23.3 22.2
Prior to 1905..................
719
703
441
334
231
175
126
73
63
391
362
148
119
*67
32
309
382
151
123
72
33
102
255
109
85
49
31
43
151
79
80
48
36
20
101
43
60
44
27
8
59
24
53
39
28
9
35
24
27
35
19
5
16
13
19
17
14
5
18
7
10
13
22
Mining"and metallurgical 3....... .
Graduating classes in—
1933-34________________
1930-32________________
1925-29___________ ____
Prior to 1925.............
104
113
75
54
44
34
24
6
22
55
57
13
39
30
49
22
54
14
40
10
40
6
24
13;
271
1
20
4
30
1
8
5
25
1
8
2
18
0
3
0
5
2
2
0
20
See footnotes at end of table.
224
476 30.2; 13.7
110
211
69
258
45.6 6.0
54.7 11.9
33.7 11.7
23.9 17.4
225
APPENDIX E,
T a b l e 1 . — D istrib u tio n
o f all en gineers reporting gross u n e m p lo ym en t 1 9 8 0 to
1 9 8 4 , b y typ e o f education and p r ofessio n a l class — Continued
Over 48 months
42 and under 48
months
|
36 and under 42
months
30 and under 36
months
J
24 and under 30
months
18 and under 24
months
12 and under 18
months
6 and under 12
months
| Under 6 months!
Median period
in months
Type of education and professional
class
N u m b e r re
porting un
employment
Percentage of
grand total
Number whose unemployment and work relief
was—
416
358
319
281
213
157
117
60
81
12.5
14.0
14.2
14.6
19.4
24
81
79
66
166
26
80
80
61
111
17
66
54
50
132
13
53
52
33
130
10
39
33
36
95
4
18
28
25
82
4
17
14
13
69
2
5
7
8
38
3
8
10
6
54
Civil engineers 4_______________ 1,182 39.1 15.8
Born in years—
52 55.9 13.8
1910-14-...................... .
209 57.3 13.9
1905-9_________________
199 43.5 13.2
1900-4_________________
164 37.8 14.1
1895-99________________
558 33.3 18.3
Prior to 1895__________
270
205
182
182
108
89
63
34
49
12
49
48
37
124
11
45
46
35
68
10
34
27
28
83
7
37
28
18
92
6
19
16
16
51
3
10
16
16
44
1
9
9
8
36
2
2
3
2
25
0
4
6
4
35
Mechanical engineers 8________
Born in years—
1910-14....................... .
1905-9....... .............. .......
1900-4______ _____ ____
1895-99________________
Prior to 1895____ ______
820 31.2 16.9
146
153
137
99
105
68
54
26
32
11.4
14.3
15.1
15.3
22.0
12
32
31
29
42
15
35
34
26
43
7
32
27
22
49
6
16
24
15
38
4
20
17
20
44
1
8
12
9
38
3
8
5
5
33
0
3
4
6
13
3
4
4
2
19
Noncollegiate technical school8____
Born in years—
1910-14__________ ____ ____
1905-9____________________
1900-4____________________
1895-99___________________
Prior to 1895______________
955 35.6 17.3
148
202
143
127
90
90
73
28
54
48.2
49.8
41.4
34.1
32.3
15.0
15.3
16.0
14.7
19.2
8
18
24
25
73
4
28
32
32
106
3
18
28
19
75
3
20
20
11
73
3
10
10
11
56
3
10
11
16
50
0
3
14
10
46
1
2
5
4
16
2
3
5
3
41
Total secondary school8___________
219 22.6 12.4
50
58
24
28
15
17
15
4
8
Total college work, incomplete_____
Born in years—
1910-14___________________
1905-9____________________
1900-4_______ _______ _____
1895-99__________ ____ ____
Prior to 1895........................
2,002 35.4 16.3
103
367
357
298
877
51
158
158
134
319
27
112
149
131
536
47.9
49.5
39.0
33.4
30.4
41.8
42.0
34.4
29.3
26.3
1 Includes direct relief and work relief.
2 The United States totals for graduate engineers have been adjusted as explained on p. 34.
3 Includes gross unemployment figures for first-degree engineering graduates, postgraduates, and onengineering graduates combined.
4 Includes agricultural and architectural engineers.
6Includes ceramic, chemical, electrical, industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers,
c Includes all professional classes combined.
226
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 19 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 2 , — D istrib u tio n o f all en gineers reporting n e t 1 u n e m p lo ym en t 1 9 3 0 to 1 9 3 4 ,
by typ e o f education and p rofessio n a l class
Over 48 months
42 and under 48
months
36 and under 42
months
30 and under 36
months
24 and under 30
months
18 and under 24
months
12 and under 18
months
6 and under 12
months
Under 6 months
Median period in
months
Number whose reported unemployment was—
I
Percentage of grand
total
Type of education and
professional class
Number reporting
unemployment
T otal2
Total postgraduates 3....... ................
Graduating classes in—
1933-34___________________
1930-32___________________
1925-29___________________
1915-24___________________
Prior to 1915 _ _
___
691 27. 1 10.9
188
194
125
69
50
30
16
11
8
33.9 6.1
47.2 9.3
32.4 11.6
20.1 11.8
16.7 13.9
32
132
53
36
22
25
120
60
37
29
5
73
45
24
19
1
38
27
13
11
0
17
17
14
11
1
8
9
10
7
1
6
5
3
5
0
1
1
4
5
0
1
0
2
5
Total nonengineering graduates3-.
182 17.8 10.3
54
52
38
16
5
12
3
1
1
9, 876 32.9 11.3 2,575 2,680 1,746 1,051
Total first-degree engineering graduates 3__________________________
Graduating classes in—
1933-34___________________
1930-32___________________
1925-29___________________
1915-24___________________
1905-14___________________
Prior to 1905 ____________
Chemical and ceramic________
Graduating classes in—
1933-34________________
1930-32________________
1925-29________________
Prior to 1925
_ - _--
65
396
217
143
114
3,081
5,183
2,003
1,952
1, 369
683
43.0
51.4
35.3
26.7
23.1
22.8
163
173
27
159
42
57
78
57
24
63
16
30
37
39
17
53
11
26
44
60
171
89
57
21
20
13
7
11
176
115
21
29
124
137
27
22
41
84
14
16
18
49
10
16
3
25
4
4
1
20
5
5
1
17
2
3
2
6
0
3
1
5
2
6
791
456
285
189
127
67
73
110
410
175
176
137
59
41
178
93
107
103
50
17
96
51
72
68
41
7
77
23
46
42
39
5
44
15
20
36
33
12
21
6
11
16
19
3
14
1
15
25
24
513
568
363
220
157
89
66
38
33
325
276
123
80
24
4
289
384
117
80
47
11
93
297
94
56
23
8
33
174
61
31
21
10
11
112
35
26
29
7
7
73
12
22
12
9
11
58
9
9
11
5
4
26
6
8
4
6
10
22
2
6
2
9
688
677
429
280
206
132
95
44
42
382
333
149
121
58
25
287
360
145
125
73
31
84
236
101
96
53
29
29
124
64
68
39
37
19
85
33
49
49
26
7
48
24
30
29
23
9
31
15
22
24
15
5
9
4
10
10
13
2
11
6
5
9
16
391 29.3! 13.3
82!
98
74
38
34
24
20
7
14
95;
175i
50I
215i
49i
48
8:
29i
26i
41
17
50i
10i
35
14
39'
5
19
7
20i
1
14
2
25
1
7
1
19
1
9
1
14
1
1
0i
6
1
1
0
M echanical and industrial-.. 2, 593 31.6 11.4
Graduating classes in—
824: 38.5i 6.6
1933-34________________
1930-32________________ 1,237 47.0i 10.8
541 34.5 11.0
1925-29.
____________
526i 25.7 13.1
1915-24________________
344: 24.4 16.6
1905-14________________
215i 22.81 22.0
Prior to 1905 ________
321
23
225
65
106
100
79
186
Electrical engineers___________ 2,057 31.1 11.4
Graduating classes in—
783 45.3 7.4
1933-34________________
1930-32________________ 1, 422 52.7 13.0
459 31.1 11.5
1925-29________________
318 19.7 11.9
1915-24________________
182 17.3 17.2
1905-14________________
69 17.3 25.3
Prior to 1905- ________
See footnotes at end of table.
464
51
332
125
154
159
83
9.6
Civil, agricultural, and architec
tural_______________________ 4,260 35.7 11.3 1,106 1,166
Graduating classes in—
459 358
1933-34_______________ 1, 012 47.2 6.8
515 536
1930-32________________ 1. 891 56.1 10.8
868 40.0 10.5
227 277
1925-29________________
969 33.0 11.2 255 267
1915-24________________
722 25.3 14.9
139 156
1905-14________________
340 24.8 22.3
28
47
Prior to 1905 ________
M in in g and m e ta llu rg ic a l-..
Graduating classes in—
1933-34________________
1930-32________________
1925-29________________
Prior to 1925 ________
703
126
544
235
220
180
102
39.4 6.4
43.5 11.0
27.3 10.8
15.0 12.4
575 29.7
367
458
85
104
6.9 1, 391 1,084 338
11.4 1,287 1, 458 1,062
10.9
528 583 398
11.6 494 513 352
15.8
239 299 233
22.6
59
97 107
41.7' 5.8
53.4 11.8
33.3i 12.0
23.3; 16.4
227
APPENDIX Ei
T a b l e 2 . — D istrib u tio n o f all en gineers reporting net u n e m p lo ym en t 1 9 3 0 to 1 9 3 4 ,
b y typ e o f education and p rofessio n a l class —
T ota l 2
I I
g o
Civil engineers 4___
Born in years—
1910-14_______
1905-9________
1900-4________
1895-99_______
Prior to 1895 - __
Mechanical engineers s_
Born in years—
1910-14___________
1905-9____________
1900-4____________
1895-99____________
Prior to 1895______
T o t a l noncollegiate technical
school6_______________________
Born in years—
1910-14_________________
1905-9____________________
1900-4____________________
1895-99___________________
Prior to 1895______________
Secondary school,6 United States
6
* 8 -3
© i§
o
CO
CO
so
CM
Cl
1
©
©
£
Ph
§
co
« a
.3
§1
(-1
'O
§
£
CO
a
l l
3
03
A«
35
33
O
TJ S
3
03
'SfC
CM
O
CO
!
33
0
3
3 fl
o
831
a
3
08
3
S3
CM
oc
-3 a
a
3 c3
'c
G
C«
Ui
'C j2
G 7*
a
© rr,
0
'g
O
a
00
g
03
CO
CO
CM
t-i
>
0
1,841 32.6 14.2
381
422
326
246
170
119
91
45
43.3
45.7
36.1
31.3
27. 7
11.2
11.6
11.6
12. 9
17. 7
23
75
78
63
142
27
101
94
68
132
19
65
54
56
132
7
40
49
31
119
5
26
19
26
94
4
14
22
16
4
10
2
63
1, 054 34.8 13.1
240
253
190
143
81
49.5
51.0
38.7
34.6
29.5
11.2
10.8
11.1
11.8
15.9
10
41
47
38
104
15
65
49
38
86
9
35
27
31
88
3
3
22
27
13
78
787 30.0 15.7
141
169
136
38.5
40.7
33.6
28.2
25.1
11.3
13.3
12.2
14.3
21.5
13
34
31
25
38
12
36
45
30
46
10
30
27
25
44
885 33.0 15.7
139
202
6
21
27
26
59
6
26
31
30
109
48
59
93
339
331
279
799
46
186
177
150
495
47
153
154
129
304
25
103
142
121
494
44.6
45.8
39.4
31.5
29.8
13.0
13.4
14.3
13.3
17.5
205 21.2 11.5
7
5
G
'G a
G
S3
3
41
2
5
15
55
2
3
35
1
27
57
45
26
19
11
9
11
47
4
5
11
8
29
0
5
4
8
28
2
1
0
2
21
0
1
3
1
14
103
89
62
46
19
22
4
18
22
18
41
2
15
10
15
47
0
9
11
8
34
4
2
5
3
7
27
0
2
2
1
14
0
13
164
113
86
71
53
24
33
3
20
34
21
86
2
16
13
11
71
2
7
12
11
54
3
8
8
11
41
0
2
13
6
32
1
2
2
2
17
12
20
30
15
14
13
2
4
i
1 Without regard to direct relief or work relief reported.
2 The United States totals for graduate engineers have been adjusted as explained on p. 34.
3 Includes all professional classes.
4 Includes agricultural and architectural engineers.
5 Includes ceramic, chemical, electrical, industrial, and mining and metallurgical engineers.
6 Includes all professional classes combined.
1 00
! ^
u
© CO
a
h
§
s
00
CO
.3
® a
•g §
a a
33
Total college work incomplete____
Born in years—
1910-14___________________
1905-9____________________
1900-4____________________
1895-99__________________
Prior to 1895___________
cs
a
a
Type of education and
professional class
Number whose reported unemployment was—
T3
s g
to a>
Continued
6
4
3
5
1
2
23
228
EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 3 .— N u m b er o f graduate en gineers reporting u n e m p lo ym en t , and w ork relief
after specified u n e m p lo y m e n t , 1 9 8 0 to 1 9 3 4 , b y yea r o f graduation
Number whose reported unemployment and work releif
(in months) was—
Year of graduation
Under
6
6 and
under
12
12 and
under
18
18 and
under
24
24 and
under
30
30 and
under
36
36 and
under
42
All engineers with college degrees
obtained prior to 1930:
Total unemployed____________
Total securing work relief______
6,611
284
5,136
479
3, 492
439
2,285
312
1,485
222
919
169
532
96
282
53
Civil, agricultural, and architectural:
Total unemployed____________
Total securing work relief - . . .
3,133
187
2,422
289
1,621
254
1,027
184
653
118
398
88
236
50
126
31
952
60
705
97
409
71
213
55
111
28
50
13
24
8
8
5
1,035
75
757
102
472
92
282
59
172
34
95
34
47
13
26
7
766
45
616
68
450
65
308
51
200
38
128
20
81
18
43
10
Total unemployed-------- --------Total securing work relief---------
380
7
344
22
290
26
224
19
170
18
125
21
84
11
49
9
Other professional classes:
Total unemployed______ _____
Total securing work relief------ _
3,478
97
2, 714
190
1,871
185
1, 258
128
832
104
521
81
296
46
156
22
1,309
33
961
71
604
64
348
39
185
25
102
20
51
10
20
4
1,095
41
828
62
555
69
362
46
237
28
145
28
75
15
36
3
709
20
594
42
436
37
328
30
243
37
150
21
87
9
43
8
365
3
331
276
15
15
220
13
167
14
124
12
83
12
57
7
42 and
under
48
1 9 2 5 -2 9
Total unemployed____________
Total securing work relief______
1915-24.
Total unemployed------------------Total securing work relief--------1905-14
Total unemployed_____________
Total securing work relief___
P r io r to 1905
1925-29
Total unemployed... -----------Total securing work relief______
1915-24
Total unemployed_________ . . .
Total securing work relief______
1905-14
Total unemployed_____________
Total securing work relief--------P r io r to 1905
Total unemployed_____________
Total securing work relief---------
Appendix F
T a b l e 1 .— D istrib u tio n o f gross 1 n u m ber o f all en gineers com bined reporting a n n u a l
ea rn in g s in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 , and 1 9 8 4 f r o m all typ es o f e m p lo ym en t , b y age
[Without regard to employment status or type of education reported]
Year of graduation. ____
Year of birth __ ______
_ __
___
Age in years__ _ ____________
1929 1927-28 1925-26 1921-24 1917-20 1913-16 1905-12 1897- 18891904
96
<0
1904-5 1902-3 1898- 1894-97 1890-93 1882-89 1874- 188681
73
1901
(*)
1906
24-25
23
26-27
28-31
32-35
36-39
40-47 48-55 56-63 64+
Number reporting in 1929
C la ss interval
Total reporting earnings_______
1, 518
2, 723
2, 760
5,131
3, 345
3,702
254
307
147
90
135
93
184
127
45
54
33
24
8
3
1
5
2
2
54
34
47
81
183
231
470
533
254
321
223
161
54
26
11
8
12
3
10
2
1
3
1
18
16
24
33
72
85
210
311
265
460
474
414
185
57
51
16
25
8
16
7
3
2
2
1
1
1
3
34
11
11
29
42
47
150
292
214
543
817
1,039
642
377
306
130
140
78
101
36
23
19
6
11
15
3
7
3
1
1
14
7
10
9
21
17
44
87
72
225
325
551
424
315
284
166
177
110
176
62
72
43
20
23
39
9
14
7
3
4
15
19
2
10
9
13
12
32
64
58
186
257
501
408
349
338
179
243
144
287
98
109
61
41
52
70
33
54
25
11
10
27
Under $800_______________ ___
$800 and under $1,000_________
$1,000 and under $1,200______
$1,200 and under $1,400_____ __
$1,400 and under $1,600 ______ _
$1,600 and under $1,800. __ ____
$1,800 and under $2,000.. _____
$2,000 and under $2,200-. ___ _ _
$2,200 and under $2,400
$2,400 and under $2,600_____
$2,600 and under $3,000________
$3,000 and under $3,400 ___ _
$3,400 and under $3,800______
$3,800 and under $4,200 _ ___ ___
$4,200 and under $4,600________
$4,600 and under $5,000________
$5,000 and under $5,400.-_ __ ___
$5,400 and under $6,000________
$6,000 and under $6,600
_ _
$6,600 and under $7,200
- __
$7,200 and under $7,800______ $7,800 and under $8,400 _ _ _ _
$8,400 and under $9,000______
$9,000 and under $9,600 ______
$9,600 and under $10,200
...
$10,200 and under $12,000.
__
$12,000 and under $13,800
$13,800 and under $15,600
__
$15,600 and under $17,400
___
$17,400 and under $19,200 __ _ _
$19,200 and over . . .
_ _ __
1
1
1
4
257
6,618 2, 943 1,036
37
14
21
16
31
15
56
103
63
227
380
686
663
497
515
397
502
321
532
176
247
153
97
107
192
94
181
109
33
40
113
24
9
9
20
23
12
30
39
21
101
122
283
241
184
216
173
213
135
257
108
115
74
47
72
84
44
96
68
18
19
86
16
8
9
10
12
4
14
21
15
35
45
74
76
65
57
62
56
44
96
36
45
36
11
20
27
23
37
15
12
9 1
46
[
See footnotes at end o f table.
229
285208'
41-
16
9
5
1
3
1
2
9
4
3
20
7
17
14
21
22
8
14
5
22
10
10
4
4
7
14
2
3
5
1
3
7
230
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T a b l e 1 . — D istrib u tio n o f gross n u m ber o f all en gin eers com bin ed rep ortin g a nnual
ea rn in gs in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 f r o m all typ es o f em p lo ym en t, b y age — C o n tin u e d
1925- 1921- 1917- 1913- 1905- 1897- 1889Year of graduation____________ 1932 1931 1930 1929 1927(J)
24
12 1904 96
28
26
20
16
1904- 1902- 1898- 1894- 1890- 1882- 1874- 1866Year of birth................................ 1909 1908 1907 1906 5
(3)
3
1901 97
89
93
81
73
........... .....................
26 27-28 29-30 31-34 35-38 39-42 43-50 51-58 59-66 67+
23 in24
Age
years25
Number reporting in 1932
C la ss in terva l
Total reporting earnings............. 1,799 2,937 3,089 1,654 2,659 2,630 4,889 3,184 3,506 6,178 2,695
Under $800___________________
104 801
$800 and under $1,000__________
177 297
$1,000 and under $1,200______ _ 110 322
$1,200 and under $1,400_____ __ 112 402
$1,400 and under $1,600________
82 374
44 258
$1,600 and under $1,800 _______
$1,800 and under $2,000 ________
53 237
$2,000 and under $2,200________
28 123
$2,200 and under $2,400________
18
40
$2,400 and under $2,600.__ __ _ _
20
36
$2,600 and under $3,000____ _ .
22
11
$3,000 and under $3,400 _______
11
8
$3,400 and under $3,800________
4
5
$3,800 and under $4,200____ ____
2
$4,200 and under $4,600._______
3
$4,600 and under $5,000________
$5,000 and under $5,400________
1
$5,400 and under $6,000 _______
1
1
$6,000 and under $6,600________
1
$6,600 and under $7,200 _______
1
$7,200 and under $7,800________
$7,800 and under $8,400________
$8,400 and under $9,000.............
2
1
$9,000 and under $9,600______
$9,600 and under $10,200. __
__
2
$10,200 and under $12,000______
$12,000 and under $13,800 ______
$13,800 and under $15,600.______
$15,600 and under $17,400_______
$17,400 and under $19,200
$19,200 and over______ _______ j____
1
See footnotes at end of table.
428
236
248
319
449
380
524
282
69
79
39
20
6
5
1
1
180
84
106
123
163
199
302
223
85
93
43
32
8
5
3
1
1
1
1
228
100
86
140
213
196
332
346
286
259
224
144
46
19
15
6
7
3
5
1
1
1
161
53
89
94
125
123
256
281
234
347
320
276
116
62
36
13
16
6
13
3
2
2
1
1
1
3
1
273
95
101
139
164
129
279
342
273
519
680
697
412
255
194
94
74
42
57
15
21
9
153
58
53
70
52
60
131
146
136
241
338
456
319
222
195
105
112
94
84
43
34
18
8
5
10
7
17
1
4
4
12
2
6
2
1
1
2
7
136
45
65
74
78
53
95
127
115
236
306
440
320
286
259
152
154
115
151
62
58
'40
16
22
38
13
23
12
2
5
8
291
83
108
130
120
76
158
228
141
348
428
691
525
474
394
283
324
234
297
139
143
98
57
65
92
51
88
42
15
17
38
175
44
45
57
52
26
76
92
38
110
158
246
215
170
163
124
142
150
172
60
61
54
27
40
56
31
43
19
11
9
29
931
231
80
16
22
15
22
9
18
27
10
44
49
58
70
64
57
39
52
27
69
25
30
26
g
17
9
10
8
15
4
5
16
17
8
6
5
8
1
8
9
6
12
9
19
12
13
15
4
15
7
15
8
4
6
1
7
4
2
1
1
2
2
4
231
APPENDIX F
T a b l e 1 . — D istr ib u tio n o f gross n u m ber o f all en gin eers com b in ed rep o rtin g
ea rn in g s in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 2 , and 1 9 3 4 f r o m all typ es o f e m p lo y m e n t , b y age —
annual
Continued
1925- 1921- 1917- 1913- 1905- 1897- 1889Year of graduation_____ 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 192726
24
28
20 16 12 1904 96 P )
1904- 1902- 1898- 1894^ 1890- 1882- 1874- 1866Year of birth................... 191114 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 5
3
93
1901 97
89
81
73 P>
Age in years. ................. . 20-23 24
26
25
27
28 29-30 31-32 33-36 37-40 41-44 45-52 53-60 61-68 6 9+
Number reporting in 1934
C la ss interval
Total reporting earnings. 2,826 3, 549 3, 733 3,626 3, 367 1, 741 2.806 2,737 5,058 3, 275 3, 619 3, 416 2r819
Under $800____________ 1,891
$800 and under $1,000___ 361
$1,000 and under $1,200.. 198
$1,200 and under $1,400.. 170
83
$1,400 and under $1,600..
31
$1,600 and under $1,800..
31
$1,800 and under $2,000..
19
$2,000 and under $2,200..
8
$2,200 and under $2,400..
8
$2,400 and under $2,600..
7
$2,600 and under $3,000..
8
$3,000 and under $3,400. _
3
$3,400 and under $3,800..
1
$3,800 and under $4,200..
1
$4,200 and under $4,600. _
$4,600 and under $5,000.
1
$5,000 and under $5,400..
1
$5,400 and under $6,000. _
3
$6,000 and under $6,600..
$6,600 and under $7,200
$7,200 and under $7,800
$7,800 and under $8,400
.
$8,400 and under $9,000..
$9,000 and under $9,600..
$9,600 and under $10,200
$10,200 and under $12,000
$12,000 and under $13,800.
$13,800 and under $15,600.
$15,600 and under $17,400.
$17,400 and under $19,200
$19,200 and over_______
853
510
594
591
421
224
161
93
33
30
16
603 460
454 312
573 403
627 523
599 556
311 430
254 456
147 248
49
88
48
78
29
37
10 17 20
3
7
5
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
2 1
4
1 1
1 1
2_____
3
1
1 2
1
1
1 i
277 100
185
75
277 105
367 127
428 180
451 199
579 291
379 282
148 116
125 110
78
72
40
45
16
18
4
8
3
3
4
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
3
168
80
107
191
185
232
398
366
270
323
204
158
47
33
18
116
46
72
105
156
165
280
302
268
333
350
245
105
70
53
174
79
119
169
230
190
384
391
354
520
628
666
366
256
179
103
8 20
5
15
68
1 9 50
11 46
7
1 16
1
2
1
1
4
4
3
1
2
1
24
18
5
102
41
63
86
112
82
179
178
176
281
358
438
283
202
175
105
103
81
82
43
21
18
15
103
49
61
96
116
101
160
185
120
257
339
422
328
243
223
143
154
114
127
50
54
29
15
25
30
237
87
115
167
172
133
262
269
198
429
490
683
517
425
403
293
290
197
279
123
126
85
49
69
85
62
67
40
176
54
66I
73
88
53
107
106
81
137
180
235
210
167
168
115
149
126
149
46
59
41
25
32
47
34
41
8 12
14
3
2 4 21
8 21
7
1 4 13
22
1 2 3 12 7
3
3
12 4
1 4 14 40 21
972 246
101
32
29
25
35
21
23
24
17
39
44
71
62
57
58
39
43
40
47
26
19
16
10
16
17
16
11
4
1
5
14
25
7
8
18
10
4
9
9
4
11
9
26
9
18
13
4
11
7
14
3
9
3
3
4
2
1
i
4
1Total number of engineers who reported monthly engineering earnings in [any 1 year, irrespective
of whether or not they reported in other years.
2 Prior to 1889.
®Prior to 1866.
232
Appendix G
a b l e
1 .— Distribution of number of engineers reporting monthly engineering earnings in 1 92 9 , 1 982 , and 1984
[Figures adjusted as explained on p. 34]
i
Chemical and ce
ramic engineers
Total
Class interval
Total reporting earnings_____
Mechanical and in
dustrial engineers
Mining and metal
lurgical engineers
1929
1932
1934
1934
1929
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
1929
1932
1934
_____ 28, 511 28, 642 32,836
1,288
1,473
1, 958 12,920 12,889 14,624
5,504
5,687
6,222
7,568
7,411
8, 648
1,231
1,182
1,384
3
4
3
19
33
84
37
58
152
124
113
94
68
107
47
80
34
20
42
15
34
31
7
5
25
13
16
6
6
2
6
21
16
47
78
93
131
70
77
172
112
124
100
64
88
45
50
30
16
21
24
23
21
5
5
11
6
11
4
1
1
6
16
7
19
100
277
347
261
334
821
650
572
461
216
355
156
230
79
78
98
50
107
68
28
19
52
24
22
14
7
5
31
69
52
144
246
350
509
361
429
854
608
502
364
234
224
115
144
80
52
73
38
75
46
15
18
24
19
12
10
3
2
15
78
101
262
431
462
536
416
492
912
563
478
360
227
221
107
142
85
39
61
31
61
48
15
18
24
17
11
7
3
4
10
19
11
22
89
199
317
273
368
947
839
910
656
332
607
239
448
145
96
200
110
159
171
52
28
107
31
74
37
16
8
58
105
77
192
344
462
536
434
407
1,024
773
685
574
246
428
168
272
82
77
114
71
87
84
28
12
46
27
22
15
5
2
12
120
130
391
657
682
763
570
582
1,147
766
651
487
291
381
167
228
94
73
98
61
81
81
29
21
39
19
16
4
6
2
11
2
2
5
5
12
46
39
40
154
117
159
100
43
112
39
85
33
17
39
17
28
35
3
4
23
16
18
7
5
1
25
20
15
20
49
55
79
50
55
150
116
109
94
56
79
40
54
14
14
22
9
12
23
5
6
7
4
8
5
4
1
7
15
11
48
87
98
124
69
76
161
131
114
89
55
73
35
58
17
9
26
5
21
16
7
6
8
5
7
3
2
Under $60_______ _______________ _
$60 and under $80________ _________
$80 and under $100_______ ____
____
$100 and under $120-____________
$120 and under $140__________________
$140 and under $160__________ _______
$160 and under $180______ ______ _ _
$180 and under $200_______ _____ _ ___
$200 and under $240___________ _
__
$240 and under $280________________ _
$280 and under $320- __ _____________
$320 and under $360____ __________ _
$360 and under $400________________ _
$400 and under $440________________ _
$440 and under $480__________________
$480 and under $520______________ __ _
$520 and under $560______________
$560 and under $600__________________
$600 and under $640__________________
$640 and under $680-. _______________
$680 and under $760____ ____________
$760 and under $840__________________
$840 and under $920__________________
$920 and under $1,000__________ ____
$1,000 and under $1,080_______________
$1,080 and under $1,240_______ ______
$1,240 and under $1.400___ _
______
$1,400 and under $1,560_____________ $1,560 and under $1,720_______________
$1,720 and under $1,880_________ ____
$1,880 and over___ ________________
Electrical engineers
1934
1929
79
49
91
326
786
1, 399
1,176
1,626
4, 355
3, 559
3, 455
2,565
1,150
2,014
779
1, 362
450
300
602
316
465
439
134
77
306
116
191
102
51
23
168
1932
Civil, agricultural,
and architectural
engineers
439
275
656
1,232
1,603
2,331
1,784
2,034
4, 520
3,238
2,650
2,025
1,003
1, 310
600
817
309
232
340
200
270
247
73
52
128
73
71
44
22
8
56
391
393
1,171
2, 214
2, 722
3,387
2,383
2,516
4,862
3,138
2,243
1,821
1,050
1,222
531
689
311
188
285
156
257
227
75
59
126
60
57
25
20
12
45
24
40
117
202
198
179
108
98
207
130
114
108
64
94
42
52
20
17
26
18
22
23
8
8
14
6
9
4
1
1
4
1929
39
25
42
113
265
605
566
826
2,281
1,829
1,701
1,254
491
833
298
519
159
89
223
124
137
134
44
21
99
32
61
38
17
7
48
1932
224
115
253
515
643
1,076
869
1,066
2, 320
1, 629
1,230
893
403
491
232
297
103
73
110
58
73
73
20
11
40
17
18
10
9
2
16
154
111
353
837
1,282
1,785
1,220
1, 268
2, 435
1,548
1,086
777
413
453
180
209
95
50
74
41
72
59
16
6
41
13
14
7
8
5
12
8
E M P L O Y M E N T , EARNINGS ---- ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T
233
APPENDIX G
T
a b l e
2 . — Distribution of gross 1 number of all engineers combined reporting monthly
engineering earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1932y and 1 9 3 4 > by age
[Without regard to employment status or specific type of education reported]
Year of graduation.__ ----------
1929
192728
192526
192124
191720
191316
1905- 1897- 188912
1904
96
(2)
Year of birth........................ ......
1906
1904r5
19023
18981901
189497
189093
1882- 1874- 186689
81
73
(*)
Age in years . . . ______ ______
23
24-25
26-27
28-31
32-35
36-39
40-47 48-55 56-63
64+
Number reporting in 1929
C la ss interval
Total reporting earnings_______
1,446
2,638
2,645
4,905
3,186
3,484
10
7
29
135
355
425
177
116
126
36
12
4
1
9
5
18
73
240
517
427
479
555
178
71
29
3
18
2
9
2
1
1
2
6
4
11
21
74
196
236
378
858
438
238
80
27
31
12
16
3
3
3
2
2
1
11
8
5
26
34
116
171
328
1,212
991
842
485
161
222
74
97
25
18
19
14
14
16
2
2
1
1
4
2
1
1
10
5
5
13
16
36
48
102
443
527
526
431
182
274
91
163
56
32
68
33
42
36
10
4
10
5
4
5
1
6
1
8
7
4
3
10
12
24
33
82
384
428
528
480
192
331
143
253
82
58
110
43
76
69
22
12
39
11
21
11
1
1
14
Under $60____________________
$60 and under $80_____________
$80 and under $100......................
$100 and under $120___________
$120 and under $140___________
$140 and under $160___________
$160 and under $180____ _ _
$180 and under $200_______ ____
$200 and under $240___________
$240 and under $280___________
$280 and under $320___________
$320 and under $360___________
$360 and under $400. ___ _____
$400 and under $440___________
$440 and under $480___ _ ____
$480 and under $520___ _____ _
$520 and under $560___________
$560 and under $600. _ ________
$600 and under $640___ ________
$640 and under $680________ __
$680 and under $760__ _________
$760 and under $840__________
$840 and under $920 . __ ______
$920 and under $1,000_____ ____
$1,000 and under 1,080. . . . ___
$1,080 and under $1,240 _______
$1,240 and under $1,400 . . . . . .
$1,400 and under $1,560.___ __
$1,560 and under $1,720 ______
$1,720 and under $1,880________
$1,880 and over________________
See footnotes at end of table.
6
2
1
1
1
1
6, 233 2, 766
4
9
8
26
27
47
57
79
500
620
824
689
365
722
289
481
161
103
221
129
180
188
55
33
143
55
87
41
21
9
60
11
2
5
12
15
26
17
38
187
247
307
261
154
296
122
249
77
61
119
60
109
80
32
15
78
26
59
25
21
7
48
970
235
8
3
6
7
11
7
5
18
65
78
86
83
49
96
38
79
34
19
50
32
29
31
10
12
27
14
17
14
6
4
32
3
2
1
3
1
5
5
5
25
15
20
22
15
17
7
15
9
6
11
2
12
14
2
1
2
3
2
3
2
5
234
E M P LO YM E N T, EARNINGS— ENGINEERING PROFESSION, 1 9 2 9 - 3 4
T able 2 . — Distribution of gross number of all engineers combined reporting monthly
engineering earnings in 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 8 2 , and 1 9 3 4 , by age— Continued
1927- 1925- 1921- 1917- 1913- 1905- 1897- 1889Year of graduation____________ 1932 1931 1930 1929 28
(2)
12 1904 96
24
26
20
16
Year of birth_______ _________
Age in years---------------------------
1909 1908 1907 1906
26 27-28 29-30 31-34 35-38 39-42 43-50 51-58 59-66 67+
25
24
23
1904- 1902- 1898- 1894- 1890- 1882- 1874- 1866(3)
3 1901 97 93
89
73
5
81
Number reporting in 1932
C la ss interval
Total reporting earnings----------- 1,050 2,044 2,506 1,419 2,389 2,395 4,433 2,907 3,175 5,620 2,431
Under $60____________________
$60 and under $80______________
$80 and under $100_____________
$100 and under $120____________
$120 and under $140____________
$140 and under $160-.- ________
$160 and under $180____________
$180 and under $200____________
$200 and under $240--- _ ______
$240 and under $280____________
$280 and under $320____________
$320 and under $360____________
$360 and under $400___________
$400 and under $440 __________
$440 and under $480___________
$480 and under$520 . _ . . . ___
$520 and under $560________
$560 and under $600_________ _
$600 and under $640 ___________
$640 and under $680 ___________
$680 and under $760-__________
$760 and under $840 _______ _ _
$840 and under $920____________
$920 and under $1,000 ___ _____
$1,000 and under $1,080_________
$1,080 and under $1,240_________
$1,240 and under $1,400 ________
$1,400 and under $1,560- _
$1,560 and under $1,720_________
$1,720 and under $1,880_____
$1,880 and over____ ______ _ _
See footnotes at end of table.
80
89
206
264
173
124
35
20
36
13
4
1
2
76
79
259
467
478
388
143
54
74
14
5
1
2
45
45
147
330
574
729
315
144
131
23
11
6
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
32
49
32
27
28
27
16
27
16
17
52
37
59
36
30
135
75 109
64
40
227 116 154
55
65
373 253 261 106
88
95
326 256 278 102
436 331 366 175 158
499 650 1,085 513 461
166 317 766 454 440
64 166 524 424 424
22
80 331 285 361
21 132 145 189
10
11
20 122 181 219
1
45
8
70 101
1
11
4
84 147
46
1
3
14
58
33
1
2
9
25
43
1
2
20
47
36
1
15
28
10
5
2
38
16
1
1
38
8
18
2
5
8
4
2
9
3
17
3
2
8
1
4
8
1
1
1
3
2
2
i
1
2
2
6
19
15
56
106
234
360
231
170
167
36
12
6
3
41
78
28
14
23
44
41
113
85
34
52
74
72
146
192
58
672 242
710 245
678 257
605 224
312 135
482 200
205 135
276 176
107
55
42
88
141
55
42
80
108
69
96
55
21
30
26
13
56
36
34
17
29
19
19
12
3
9
1
3
18
18
837
201
27
5
12
12
12
27
16
23
74
61
79
89
45
62
30
58
32
7
31
21
23
23
7
6
6
8
9
5
2
1
4
7
6
9
7
23
18
13
20
11
13
5
14
6
4
3
9
6
5
6
3
7
7
1
1
1
1
3
3
235
APPENDIX G
T
a b l e
2 . — Distribution of gross
number of all engineers combined reporting monthly
engineering earnings in 1929, 1932, and 1934, by age— Continued
Year of graduation___ 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1927- 1925- 1921- 1917- 1913- 1905- 1897- 1889- (2)
12 1904 96
24
26
20
16
28
Year of birth________ 1911- 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1904- 1902- 1898- 1894- 1890- 1882- 1874- 1866- (3)
14
3 1901 97
89
5
93
81
73
Age in years________
20-23 24
25
27
26
28 29-30 31-38 33-36 37-40 41-44 45-52 53-60 61-68 69+
Number reporting in 1934
C la ss in terval
Total reporting earnings----- ------ --------- 2,054 2,500 2,602 2,635 2,618 1,477 2,483 2,454 4,549 2,985 3,290 5,808 2, 554
Under $60___________
$60 and under $80___
$80 and under $100___
$100 and under $120...
$120 and under $140. __
$140 and under $160.
$160 and under $180. __
$180 and under $200...
$200 and under $240...
$240 and under $280. „
$280 and under $320...
$320 and under $360. _.
$360 and under $400...
$400 and under $440...
$440 and under $480...
$480 and under $520. _.
$520 and under $560. .
$560 and under $600 ...
$600 and under $640...
$640 and under $680.__
$680 and under $760.
$760 and under $840...
$840 and under $920...
$920 and under $1,000 _
$1,000 and under $1,080.
$1,080 and under $1,240.
$1,240 and under $1,400.
$1,400 and under $1,560.
$1,560 and under $1,720.
$1,720 and under $1,880
$1,880 and over______
69
180
481
614
420
166
54
24
19
4
2
1
1
1
68
127
474
714
556
324
110
52
46
9
3
2
1
2
1
1
64
121
390
602
665
423
164
79
57
21
4
4
2
2
1
1
47
58
225
486
603
679
257
143
106
14
9
1
1
28
33
135
336
483
718
396
234
180
46
14
2
4
4
1
1
11
21
42
114
204
320
287
197
191
47
23
9
1
4
2
2
1
2
3
3
2
2
5
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
25
13
54
177
242
431
349
385
505
168
67
30
16
7
1
6
1
17
29
11
22
32
42
78 119
161 250
307 382
248 345
384 458
637 1,025
270 685
135 479
82 302
34 116
25 127
5
42
40
15
15
7
2
22
3
13
2
4
13
1
1
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
29
10
21
65
108
186
161
177
534
427
386
297
182
210
93
121
54
36
46
20
28
37
8
9
20
5
9
1
2
1
2
7
20
11
24
61
112
172
162
215
556
447
357
250
152
148
67
81
33
27
17
12
24
16
1
1
8
5
2
2
1
4
1
2
1
1
51
26
57
129
174
240
224
274
810
728
626
543
330
444
174
221
122
67
117
59
104
91
28
30
47
27
26
10
6
7
16
38
16
29
51
77
149
79
118
275
253
258
209
159
184
110
146
54
32
54
30
54
52
23
13
32
23
13
5
3
2
13
857 216
20
8
4
5
19
5
31 11
35
8
40 11
28 11
27
5
72 24
70 19
79 18
76 20
50
9
55 12
3
36
45 12
24
8
17
2
9
19
4
14
24
3
21
4
11 . . . .
4
11
2
3
6
4 ’ ""3
2....
7
1 Total number of engineers who reported monthly engineering earnings in any 1 year, irrespective of
whether or not they reported in other years.
2Priot to 1889.
3Prio? to 1866.
O
@FedFRASER