Cassie Mathison’s journey from making $8 an hour at a frozen yogurt shop to earning a substantial $132,000 annually as a mechanical engineer is truly inspiring. Now the primary earner in her household, Mathison’s story is a testament to determination and strategic career planning.
Growing up in California, just outside Los Angeles, Mathison opted to live with her parents while commuting to college. This decision was not just about convenience but also a smart financial move to save money during her studies.
Equipped with an MBA from California State University, Long Beach, Mathison has carved out a successful career in mechanical engineering—an industry traditionally dominated by men. Her affinity for problem-solving was evident early on. “I was that weird kid who liked math word problems,” she shared with the Daily Mail, highlighting how her early interests naturally aligned with the demands of engineering.
Her professional achievements have also redefined her household’s financial dynamics. While her husband initially pursued a career in engineering, he eventually transitioned to teaching at a high school. This career shift has placed Mathison in the role of the family’s primary breadwinner, showcasing a modern twist on traditional family roles.
Her career success has also flipped the traditional dynamic at home.
While her husband once worked in engineering too, he has since switched careers to become a high school teacher – making Mathison the breadwinner.
‘We were a little uncertain about the shift initially because we knew his income ceiling would be lower,’ she revealed.
‘Regardless, he makes a comfortable living and he’s significantly happier being out of industry and that’s what really mattered to us both.’
Cassie Mathison and her partner use credit card points to take ‘spontaneous trips,’ including an Alaskan cruise
Cassie Mathison is a mechanical engineer based outside of Los Angeles
Together, the couple brings in around $240,000 a year before tax – but living near one of the most expensive cities in the US means they still have to be strategic.
The couple’s monthly expenses hover at about $6,000, including utilities and groceries. About $5,000 is set aside each month for savings.
Mathison prioritizes cutting costs ‘in a reasonable way.’ She and her partner have goals of retiring early, so that means being savvy and scrappy wherever possible.
The couple cook at home, buy clothes secondhand or borrow from friends, use their home gym, spend credit card points to travel, and ‘other little things that save us a few bucks here and there.’
‘I have to be savvy with my money if I intend to live here for the rest of my life,’ she said.
The couple deliberately bought a smaller, attached home for $475,000 – below what they were approved for – and now carry a $407,000 mortgage as their only debt.
‘We settled for less space than we wanted and took a more conservative route,’ she said. ‘But honestly, a lot of it still feels like luck.’
At the same time, she’s built up more than $700,000 in assets between her house, cars, shares and metals. She said the best money advice she had was to focus on acquiring assets.
Some women who earn engineering degrees never enter the field, with only ten percent of mechanical engineers being women
But Mathison’s success comes in a field where women remain a stark minority.
Just ten percent of mechanical engineers are women, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That’s something Mathison thinks about ‘every day’ she is in the office, which is why she often prefers working from home.
‘My experience has been dependent on how the person I’m interacting with feels about women,’ she said. ‘I have also been able to change a couple of minds about women engineers, for the better.
‘For the most part, people have been great,’ Mathison added. ‘Now that I’m reflecting on it, I wish I told them how grateful I am that they made me feel safe and valued.’
Of the women who earn an engineering degree, 40 percent either leave the field or never enter it at all, according to a 2014 study presented at the American Psychological Association’s 122nd Annual Convention.
Some disagree, though, noting a recent shift in workforce trends.
‘As we head into 2026, the data indicates a significant shift in the workforce landscape,’ ZipRecruiter’s labor economist Nicole Bachaud told the Daily Mail.
‘Women have returned in full force to the labor market and are increasingly entering and thriving in industries where they have historically been underrepresented.’
Mechanical engineers can find careers in automotive, aerospace, robotics, manufacturing, energy and biotechnology industries
Cassie Mathison saves money by cooking meals, buying secondhand items and using her home gym to work out
Bachaud cited ZipRecruiter’s survey of job seekers, which revealed an ‘interest-to-employment’ gap. That means more women are interested in becoming engineers than currently are working in that field.
Less than one percent of employed female job seekers are currently engineers, but 6.8 percent of all female job seekers ‘are actively considering it for their next role.’ A big reason for the interest is the financial incentives.
Indeed reports that mechanical engineers in Los Angeles make on average $123,456 per year, which is higher than the national average. With several years of experience under her belt, Mathison is making roughly $10,000 more than her colleagues in the area.
For Mathison, however, engineering as a degree and a career felt ‘safer,’ with the California native mentioning the high chance of employment, job security and ‘comfortable’ salary.
‘I’ve been tempted to pivot into a new role several times,’ Mathison said. ‘But first, it’s much harder to pivot than I expected, I think because at this point I’m not willing to take a pay cut to do so, and second, I ultimately decided that the grass is not greener anywhere else.’
Even if Mathison and her partner save $5,000 each month for retirement purposes, the couple still enjoys going on ‘spontaneous trips’ and spending time with friends.
She credits this ‘breathing room’ with her high salary and, of course, the fact that they don’t have kids.
‘Goodness knows how much money we’re saving with that choice,’ she added with a laugh.
