https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=bc4d15b2eaf30440&q=Electronics+Engineer&l=San+Antonio,+TX&tk=1f1mapoutub8n804&from=ja&alid=5fdd87e586c0af7b1f518561

Is this really what you have to do or be, for just $50K a year? That's not very much money really, not in 2021. I'm talking about for someone with an average cost of living, not in a big city.

Is the job market that bad, that it's a "seller's market" for jobs? That companies can dictate terms and be choosy, due to record high unemployment?
Kyrie Eleison!

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Salary
$50,000 - $65,000 a year
Job Type
Full-time
Number of hires for this role
1
Qualifications

• • Bachelor's (Preferred)

Full Job Description
Title: Field Engineer
Reports to: Field Services Supervisor
Location: San Antonio, TX
Job Type: Full-time, Salaried Position
Compensation: $50,000 - $65,000
High Sierra Electronics is the leading expert in water monitoring systems. By monitoring floodways, roads, dams, and real time weather events, we can arm our customers with accurate data to confidently manage their environments. We design, install, maintain and troubleshoot Early Warning Systems that enable our customers to maintain safety and reliability in critical areas.
Job Summary
Deploy and manage turnkey Hydrologic Early Warning Systems from conceptual design to installation, involving but not limited to maintenance, integration, installation, and troubleshooting.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Maintain, monitor and repair EWS (Early Warning Systems)
Install or rehab vendor specific EWS systems, applying relevant protocols and options
Design and construct custom configurations appropriate for unique hydrologic/ geomorphic site limitation
Analyze consistency, completeness, and accuracy of collected data to ensure system reliability
Perform detailed data analysis using relevant sensor data, logs, and reports
Delegate to other field technicians for assistance in above tasks as needed and assign work activities to maximize resource efficiency
Perform out of state installations and maintenance requiring extended travel time
Assist in development of system designs, configurations, and new products
Prioritize unscheduled service calls
Work directly with customers in an account management role to provide equipment and overall system recommendations for customers
Determine appropriate sensor upgrades for site maintenance and reliability
Select locations most suitable for new installations
Configure appropriate system designs based on customer requirements
Create reports for individual inspection rounds, end of year summaries and installations
Program data loggers with customer specific requirements and develop data logger code to communicate with various sensor inputs
Troubleshoot various systems via onsite field work or customer phone support
Generate pricing for advanced early warning system components and installation
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Operation and proper use of hand and machine tools
Operation and proper use of digital multi-meters, oscilloscope and other electrical diagnostic tools
Detailed understanding of DC circuits and basic circuitry analysis calculations
Construction skills, including masonry, trenching, conduit, and structure erection preferred
Ability to prioritize and delegate tasks
Attention to quality and must be detail oriented
Ability to troubleshoot problems (in less than perfect environmental conditions) related to RF, electronics, poor hardware configurations, telemetry, and various meteorological sensors
Working understanding of ALERT/ALERT2 principles or other telemetry related background
Background in computers, customer support, training, marketing, and Public Relations, either through education or on-the-job experience
Understanding of hydrological and meteorological engineering principles
Advanced knowledge of electronics and radio technology
Ability to perform physically demanding tasks in adverse weather conditions
Familiarity with Microsoft® Windows® and the following computer software: Excel, Word, AutoCAD, and other software from various vendors.
Credentials and Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in physical science, engineering, or hydrology; or equivalent combination of education and previous work experience
Experience with RF Environments, dataloggers, cellular/satellite telemetry, or other data collection platforms is preferred but not required
Good driving skills and driving record. Insurable driver with valid driver’s license
Compensation is based upon experience and qualifications.

Well, down in your neck of the woods, indeed certain types of jobs have depressed wages due to competition from illegal immigrants, who work for a lot less.  In fact, even IT wages would be much higher than they are now were it not for all the cheap Indian labor they keep bringing in.

Also, women in the workforce have caused there to be a surplus of labor vs generations past.

I worked as a field engineer in the mid- to late- 90s, and I was making $50K back then (although that included a fair bit of overtime).

Corporations and government have deliberately been finding ways to suppress wages.

$50k in the late 90s was worth a lot more than $50k today, mind. 

I remember my mom (Baby Boomer, in her mid 60's today) telling me about the Dime Store, and how regular size candy bars used to be a dime.
All during the 80s and 90s (and maybe beyond), regular sized candy bars were about 40 to 45 cents (grocery store/discounter price, NOT convenience stores or gas stations which always have high markup)

Nestle brand were often 5 for $1.00 on sale at our grocery store.

You could get 6-packs of any regular sized candy bar, any day of the week, for $2 at the grocery store. In fact, I bought several of these 6 packs and went door-to-door selling them for 50 cents each (none of this "give me a $2 to $4 donation and I'll throw in a candy bar" rubbish), to raise money for camp.

Today grocery stores, discount retailers (walmart, target, etc.) have a new "going rate" for regular-sized candy bars: 80 cents and up.

I can now relate to my parents!

And who remembers those 10-packs (not 8-packs, not 6-packs) of mini candy bars you could get for $1.00? Kit-kats, etc.

$50k in the late 90s was worth a lot more than $50k today, mind.

I recall that in the early 90's, the highest paid B.S. degree, directly out of college, was Chemical Engineering, and it paid approximately $50k per year.

Not sure what it is today, but in my AO, even elementary teachers start out at that. 

$50-$65k for someone with a B.S. in hard science seems almost downright insulting.