I am 40 in December & I have been working at the same company in England since I was 16 although we have been bought out several times & relocated. I started as a mechanical engineer for a valve manufacturing firm. I did the normal apprenticeship working on various metal turning machines & fitting. I then progressed to the drawing office as a design engineer & then into the sales team as a contract engineer & now I am a applications engineer. The field I am is pretty specialised although at the end of the day I am a qualified engineer so I should be able to turn my hand to most things engineering wise. I just think that I have got myself into a comfort zone but I am now thinking I want something more. I would like to further my career but I am not sure how. I am on 34k I am not even sure if this is the going rate here in the North of England for what I do? There are a few valve manufacturers about that I could approach but like I say I am not sure if I could increase my salary at these places. I would ideally like a better salary with a more senior role. I am moving next month to a bigger place so money is going to be a factor & I wonder if now is the time to try & get out of my comfort zone or maybe I could approach my current employer & ask them for a rise / more senior role? Any advice please?