Comparisons made easy

Thank you for putting together such thorough and useful information in “The fifth annual compensation survey,” which was published in the March issue of Structural Engineer.You have really done a nice job of “cutting sections” so to speak, and providing some very interesting comparisons.

I particularly like the way you have presented salary figures exclusive of the value of the fringe benefits that comprise the total compensation package.

The format is much more conducive to making comparisons.

Chris Conrad, P.E.
Glastonbury, Conn.

The other side of the story

I read “Concrete under stress,” in the April issue of Structural Engineer, which discussed the benefits of post-tensioning for the parking garage at BWI airport near Baltimore, Md., and it brought to mind a down-side of the method. I lived in a couple South Texas cities for more than 20 years, and have never seen official investigations into the negative aspects of the use of post-tensioned slabs in expansive soils. Housing contractors went to them years and years ago because they are cheaper to install, but they are not the best solution. House foundation repair is big business in that area, and it is mostly due to post-tensioned slabs that cannot handle the contraction and expansion of clay soils.

David Lee
Tulsa, Okla.

Sending wrong messages

I was dismayed by your May editorial.

When an engineer is part of the ownership of an organization, sacrifices such as those you describe are appropriate.

Whenever a salaried engineer is required to pay a portion of professional development costs, the employer sends a clear message that the development of that engineer is not important. Employers that dodge the myriad costs of their professional employees demean our profession and undervalue the contributions of their professional staff.There are certainly arrangements that permit employers and employees to establish creative solutions to budget challenges, but these should not include forcing the engineer to sacrifice portions of a meager livelihood based on a fixed salary. My advice to engineers employed by organizations that will not pay for fundamental training and professional activity is to find an employer that values professional staff and work there.

Anonymous via e-mail