How many of us have ever dreamed of forming our own company? Based on the results of this year's Design News Careers Survey, that thought has crossed the minds of many design engineers. In fact, survey results show that 15% of the 2,792 respondents have already taken steps to do so.

What's the major reason behind such a venture? At least half of the respondents tell us they are looking for ways to make more money. Another third say they are seeking more challenging work, and one-quarter are disillusioned with their present employers or feel they have a great product or service idea. Fear of unemployment also serves as a significant factor.

This issue of Design News profiles five engineers who have made it big as entrepreneurs. They may not be household names, but their work has had a broad impact on engineering.

You can read about their technology, how they started their own companies, and the lessons they learned.

This issue also reports on the results of our 1995 salary survey, which shows design engineers doing surprisingly well. On the following pages, you can compare your pay with that of your peers by industry, geographic region, and years of experience.

We hope you'll find these stories useful in your own career planning.