Working
Engineers usually work in project teams made up of people with expertise in different areas. They typically work a standard 40-hour week, but sometimes deadlines or design standards may require work longer hours. Being flexible and being able to manage time effectively are important skills.

The average starting salary for an engineer with a bachelor's (4-5 year) degree ranges from $35,000 to $60,000. This is significantly higher than salaries for graduates with bachelor's degrees in many other fields.  The table below lists the average starting salaries for different engineering disciplines. Imagine that right after college you could be earning this kind of money!
 

Discipline	Average Starting Salary 2007
Aerospace / aeronautical	$53,405
Agricultural	$49,764
Architectural	$48,664
Bioengineering and biomedical	$51,356
Chemical	$59,361
Civil	$48,509
Computer	$56,201
Electrical / electronics	$55,292
Environmental	$47,960
Industrial / manufacturing	$55,067
Materials	$56,233
Mechanical	$54,128
Mining and mineral	$54,381
Nuclear	$56,587
Petroleum	$60,718

Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers

Playing
As you can read about in the Gallery of Women Engineers on this site, women engineers enjoy many different types of hobbies in their spare time. They travel, play sports, read books, race cars, work in the garden, and any number of other hobbies. An engineering career can provide the financial security that allows you to really enjoy your hobbies.

Living
Women engineers have families, friends, and are active in their communities. Engineering is versatile enough to provide opportunities for rewarding careers in many different places for people in many different situations.