[thackney]

I’d say one to five years beyond a Master’s degree would be a fair measure.

I would say (and have experienced) that a Master's degree is not needed to be quite successful with an engineering degree.

[9YearLurker]

If that’s going to be your criterion, then you probably can’t fairly be compared with those on the most usual financial fast-track.

But you’re rare among engineers, including here on FR, for not whining about engineers topping out at an unfairly low pay ceiling and being put out to pasture all too young if they don’t move up into management in good time.