FIRE Journey as Mechanical Engineer in Midwest: SINK, 31M, 640K NW Update

Hello All, I would like to share an update of the lesson learned past year.

To see my previous post, here is the link

Here are the nice looking graphs: link

TDLR: Added another 200k to my NW past year due to bull market

My background: Graduated from average state university with BS in Petroleum Engineering, MS in Mechanical Engineering focused on thermodynamics. Worked in automotive industry for 6.5 years and now in aerospace for just over a year. Repaid back a loan from my parents with interest (borrowed around $40k, repaid around $50k+)

Annual Base Income / Net Worth @ Year End / Job Title / Yearly Expenses

• Mid-2018: $19,000 / $34,106 / Graduate Research Assistant
• Late-2018: $46,000 / $56,048 / Systems Engineer / $29.5k
• 2019: $96,000 (due to OT) / $112,412 / Systems Engineer / $30.7k
• 2020: $91,237 / $185,656 / Performance Engineer / $26.9k
• Transitioned from Contractor (No benefits) to getting hired FT with benefits
• 2021: $92,500 / $247,686 / Senior Performance Engineer / $30k (took evening classes)
• 2022: $97,588 / $209,612 / Senior Performance Engineer / $42.2k
• 2023: $106,053 / $303,287 / Performance Technical Specialist / $46.7k
• 2024: $109,765 / $425,682 / Performance Technical Specialist / $42.2k
• Changed companies moved from Indiana to Ohio
• 2025: $127,000 /$640,289 / Advanced Lead Performance Engineer / ~$62k (bought a car in cash, link, traded in 2012 Toyota Rav4 after 140k miles)

Lessons this past year:

1. Making friends even at 30s is not that difficult as long as you are willing to be social and uncomfortable. It is also much easier to make friends if you live in the large city instead of the suburbs.
2. Changing industries is difficult, but it can sometimes be worth it. I went from 11 days + EOY last week off to 25+ days of vacation a year. It's so much easier to work in design that it is to work in manufacturing/production. Now I have a lot less pressure and can have more time to learn about the jet engines. I now work with the strategy team and also am able to see the entire design process when communicating with our clients.

The Plan for 2026:

Continue to work in the industry and meet new people. Need to get back into therapy to maintain my mental health. I'm living with a roommate and seeing if it might be worth it to get a house in the future. No big rush though.

Resources:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lLTCQ5OenXQI6fertwuPiisyd8rYnYcb/view?usp=sharing Link for Excel document (generic). You will have to download as excel workbook for pivot tables to work.