Civil Engineering to Finance

33M, Chartered Civil Engineer (Highways) based in the UK, with around 9 years' experience.

I enjoy the technical side of my job, but I've always felt frustrated by the salary progression. It often feels like meaningful pay rises only come from changing jobs, and opportunities can be more limited when you're not based in a major city.

For some time, I've been considering a move into finance, particularly something related to infrastructure, renewable energy, sustainable development, or investment in major projects.

My priorities are:

• Better long-term earning potential
• A realistic path towards a six-figure salary
• Good work-life balance
• The ability to leverage some of my existing engineering experience rather than starting completely from scratch. One of my concerns is that I can't realistically afford to drop back to an entry-level salary.

I'd be really interested to hear from anyone who has moved from engineering into finance or a finance-related role.

In particular:

• What role did you move into?
• How was the transition?
• What did salary progression look like?
• What is the work-life balance actually like?
• Are there any routes you would recommend for someone with an engineering background?

Thanks in advance.