This proxy has a major disadvantage in that some engineers worked before receiving
advanced degrees. Nevertheless, it can roughly show one’s work experience in that the
longer since the highest degree, the longer the work experience. Workers with different
types of work activities (such as management and computer applications) and supervisory
status often earn different salaries. Also, different sectors reward workers differently, and
location matters because some regions have higher living costs than others.
FINDINGS
Descriptive Results. Among engineers, without controlling for personal,
educational, or employment characteristics, we find that U.S.-educated immigrants have
the highest mean salary, the highest educational attainment with the largest share of both
master’s and doctoral degrees, and the shortest time since receiving their highest degrees
among the four groups (Table 1). Yet, the percentage of supervisors is the highest among
whites, who also comprise the highest percentage among managers or administrators.
Asian-trained immigrants have the lowest mean salary, longest work experience, and
highest mean age.
Disaggregated data show that Asian Americans earn the most at the bachelor’s
and doctoral levels, and whites earn the most at the master’s level. Asian-educated
immigrants earn the least among the four groups at each educational level (Table 2).
Thus, without considering other characteristics, we find that the U.S.-born earn more than
the Asian-born, and the Asian-educated earn the least among the four groups.
11/22
Convention