As this thread has stretched on I'm even more confused by the original post. You started out comparing your friend and family's pay that includes overtime to your salary, but then you add that you are side hustling working for your brother on the weekends. Was that included in your 60k starting number or bonus? Are you counted as an employee by your brother or are you a 1099 contractor to him?
Also I have to agree with the other posters that it is misleading to say you're an engineer w/o a bachelor's degree. With an Associates and 2 years experience hell yeah 60k is awesome pay.
To be fair, I also have an associates and my job title has "engineer" in it, but that is for marketing by my company, I am very aware that I am not an engineer like my friends that worked hard for their bachelors and their certified PE.
Sorry for the confusion. I only have an Associates in Architectural Engineering, I went for my BS in Arch but didn't finish because I ran out of money, decided to go back to work FT. I work for my brother on the side but did not include that to my 60k salary. I do not get overtime at work, but I do get reimbursed whenever I am traveling.
My job title is Project Engineer, I do know that I am not a 'real' engineer but am more of a 'detailer' or 'designer'. Same as you, it is a marketing thing and sounds great to customers when they hear that we have an Engineering Department. That said, I have the most 'real' engineering training as opposed to my coworkers in the 'engineering' department but I am new in comparison, and younger by ten years minimum. My company does not require us to be licensed or anything since it's a learn as you go, sales driven organization. My company is an integrator for Material Handling, in which, we deal with Conveyor systems, Warehouse Management, Pallet Racking, Mobile Racking, Vertical Lift Modules, Robotics, and anything else you can think of to out fit an entire DC.
With my 2-year degree, I have been working in engineering firms for seven years, two of which have been for my current employer. I make the most I've ever made and it has been on a steady upswing.
My initial post was to wrap my head around the idea of my friend who tapes and sands dry wall claims to make 100k a year.