I'm planning to get out of engineering and into tech. Can I expect to make at least 60k in an entry level position? Will I need to get more skills or take a significant pay cut in order to change careers?

It really depends. What are you bringing to the table that's still relevant for your employer?

My 2 cents .... learn to walk before you run !

Maybe what I'm asking is what skills should I start with in order to ensure that I do make at least 60k to start. I'm studying to take the CompTIA A+ and I've been looking into several programming languages. I've started some android/java courses, learned very basic html/css, but I hesitate to commit to any one thing. I'm also listening to a lot of podcasts and immersing myself in as much development language and culture as I can find.

@Adamacious how are your communication skills? Problem solving? Google-fu? I think it'd probably be easier to move to dev management than to development, but it depends.

What kind of experience do you have? Remember, a fresh graduate has still been writing software for four years.

Fwiw, with an astrophysics degree and a comp sci minor (and two software internships), I was hired for 62k for doing C++ work in industry.

I currently have experience leading a successful implementation of a tool management system that required training all employees on use of the tool vending machines and management software (SQL based).

In my current position, I'm a product manager in a sense. I compile manuals and spare parts lists for our custom engineered pneumatic convey systems. I also have experience with editing as a writing tutor and even some administrative experience as the president of a small oil and gas startup.

I feel like I can be successful in a wide range of positions, but I'm looking for direction to land closer to where I want to be in the future since I understand I may have to compromise in order to get the experience I may need. Right now I'd be tickled just to get in anywhere.

@Adamacious I'd angle towards being a product owner if I were you. Maybe look at some BA/BI stuff to supplement that. I'd avoid implementation, but stay more in management / direction instead for stability and so that you don't need to learn everything over again in three years.

So basically, check out stats models and other 'direction level' tools and steer away from stuff that's super user-facing.

Thanks @starless. One recent podcast that really interested me was about data science services in the development market. I can see myself working in that niche. About a year ago I applied for a BA position, but they wanted more experience, which I'm not sure how to get. I'm doing a course on Udemy about product management, which seems very similar to what they were looking for in a BA. From what I've learned through the course, I've decided to rewrite my resume so it's more product management skills oriented.

@Adamacious you seem to very money focused saying that you want to get 60k etc.

You need to know your stuff technically, you need to have good communication skills both written and spoken, You need to gain the respect of your peers and you need to gain the confidence of the senior management before anything else.

I would recommend becoming a subject matter expert; find something in your organisation that is poorly understood and learn about it, if possible get certification in it. Use that knowledge to further your career and with it the pay scale will increase with it.

@bluescreen my current job is not in tech. I'm not concerned about money for money's sake, but I currently deliver pizza nights and weekends on top of my 9-5. Time is my most valuable commodity. I'm trying to determine the most time efficient way to get where I want to go i.e. tech, and once I get there I'd like to be at or above what I'm currently making if possible. My question was posed to feel out whether the latter is wishful thinking or not, and hopefully glean some wisdom from people who have gone this way before.

@Adamacious that sounds solid. See if you can use what you're learning at your current position "hey check out these usage stats! Check out these production stats!" to gain good experience. I imagine actual applied work like this is much more relevant than linguistic fluency.

How's your math background? If you were to take a course in something, stats or data analysis might be the best bet.

@starless I went through differential calculus as an engineering student. Math is not a problem ;)

@Adamacious but can you make it a strength? Calc-based stuff and statistics are different animals, but could also be worth a shot. If diffeq was tolerable, consider checking out some artificial learning algorithms/taking a modern/practical stats course. AI is super hot now, and it's kinda relevant to the sphere you seem interested in.

Python's sci kit learn is a nice place to start.

@starless I have a course on Udemy on Python for Data Science and one on machine learning on udacity. I was planning on getting into them later, but I'll check them out and see if I have an affinity for it. Thanks for the insight.

Depends on the currency...

@Adamacious pardon the minor crusade, but you talk about machine learning like it's not just math-- if you're determined and meticulous and OK with linear algebra, you'll be fine. It's math not magic.

Good luck!

My single cent - Learn JavaScript really in-depth, and become a web designer first, then move to high level programming languages.

@calmyourtities holy cow that's the best actionable advice anyone had posted yet.. that's sincerely a great place to start.

Web development is vital to literally every industry, and it can be lower on the programming pole while still learning many of the fundamentals.

Plus JS can get you far. It's simple to pick up but you'll use it the rest of your career.

@stisch I love JS. And now if you're really into it you can do it server side!