6 or 1/2 dozen the other?

July 6, 2009 2:37 PM

Consulting engineering is driving me up the wall. Would being a patent agent be any better?

I have a BS in Civil Engineering, my PE, and I've been a consulting engineer for 7 years. Technically, I love the work when we have it. But, the office I'm in doesn't seem to do the kind of work I like (see prev AskMe). I'm a nuts-and-bolts plans production engineer for highway and railroad design, and this office does a lot of non-technical pre-design work. I'd try to get another job, but even in this "recession-proof" industry, nobody's hiring and there aren't that many firms in Los Angeles proper that do what I want to do.

It seems like every engineer's dream to break free of the mid-level salaries of consulting and become a high falutin' patent lawyer. In my case, the lawyer part would be far off since I'm sans JD, but I think I could handle being a patent agent for a while. What scares me off, though, is that I might be giving up one form of stressful mind-numbing work for another. The ol' greener-grass thing.

Does anyone have experience with a career jump like this? Can I even do this with a degree in Civil, when most patent jobs seem to want EEs or MEs? Should I stand pat and just be happy I have a decent job (for now, bankrupt state and all...)?

posted by hwyengr to Work & Money (3 answers total)

You should probably consider going back for at least a MS if you want to branch out on your own. I have a BSCE but my cousin has a PhD in Materials Engineering. She does a good business doing forensic engineering and as an expert witness. It depends a lot more on your character. If you have that type A personality and love the field to death then go for it. I'm plenty happy working as a junior engineer and having free time to do other things.
posted by JJ86 at 2:45 PM on July 6, 2009

Patent agents are not nearly as marketable as patent attorneys. Also, civil engineer is on the low end of marketable for getting a patent agent/attorney job, unless you want to litigate. Still it's a good gig and the work would be interesting if you prefer words over numbes. I have data easily at hand for 2006 in which the median salary for a patent agent was $90,000.
posted by caddis at 2:54 PM on July 6, 2009

Don't forget about other branches of civil engineering. I have a BSCE, a PE and 7 years experience, too. I did highway and rail work early in my career and found it mind numbing. I have been in aviation for four years and I couldn't be happier.
posted by Uncle Jimmy at 3:32 PM on July 6, 2009