Is it fair to compare my salary against salary surveys? UPDATE!

[ScottFern]

Ok, so I have been scouring the web looking for different IT salary surveys and other facts, but I keep finding salaries that are way above and beyond mine for the same position. Now the obvious answer is I am a chump and getting underpaid, but ultimately I desperately want to find out if I am dreaming about the raise I want in comparison to what the averages are.


I tried payscale and salary but they jerk you around and after you fill out the profile they want you to pay for the results!

I have now worked 1 year in a Help Desk/Admin position and want a 30% raise next month.


UPDATE: I just had my review today! I got bumped from 27000 -> 31000 and fully paid for MCSA boot camp. Which my boss and I both agree is worth approximately $34,000 in TOTAL compensation. I also put in a request to have my title changed to System Administrator after I complete the MCSA training.

I am satisified, I am always striving for more but this was adequate compensation. Oh yeah, my company also pays for my internet and cell phone ($100/month).

 

[dustmann]

I think it depends on where you work (geographical location and type of job) Financial institutions generally are really high stress and pay a lot better. The same position at a private college will pay likely a lot less, maybe even 50% less.

 

[ScottFern]

Right but I work for a private company in the suburbs of Chicago and they are definitely for profit and even hiring new people because they are expanding.

 

[Casawi]

I have done that and the answer was that those salaries for experienced people. Which is true ... but 30% ... you must be underpaid.

Best luck,

 

[ScottFern]

Honestly I do believe I was underpaid coming into this job and my role has definitely expanded and I have shown I can take on new tasks and more responsibility so thats mainly why I believe I deserve 30%.

 

[bonkers325]

compare responsibilities and experience, and u will have ur answer

the more u do and the more u know how to do will dictate ur salary. find someone in a similar job position and ask how much they make, and take into account changes in cost of living

 

[SoulAssassin]

It all comes down to whether you can justify it to your boss.

 

[GoPackGo]

I don't know..but I am trying the same thing right now....to get to the low-mid of my position vs where im at would require about a 29 percent increase...so we shall see.

 

[ScottFern]

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
I don't know..but I am trying the same thing right now....to get to the low-mid of my position vs where im at would require about a 29 percent increase...so we shall see.

Wish you the best of luck we both need it!

 

[nageov3t]

just be aware that most people inflate their salaries and that it can vary widely depending on the region you're in and cost of living (you'd probably get paid a lot more in NYC, for example, than you would if you were doing the same job out in the boonies of some rust belt state).

 

[jandrews]

30% is pretty crazy, you are doing the right thing though. Find/create the job description you were hired and then make a list of the things you are now responsible for to help your argument.

 

[thepd7]

If you have money saved up and can afford to leave use that as a bargaining chip. It will cost a company a lot more to find a new person and train them than to give you a 20-25% raise.

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: thepd7
If you have money saved up and can afford to leave use that as a bargaining chip. It will cost a company a lot more to find a new person and train them than to give you a 20-25% raise.

you better be ready to leave though cause i don't think you'll ever have any leverage/bargaining if you pull out the 'i'm leaving card' and don't follow through. assuming they don't fire you.

 

[Idontcare]

Make sure that the numbers you throw in the face of the hand that is feeding you stack up for the area in which you currently live.

For example, don't throw 30% in their face if that number is skewed by folks who live in CA or NY. You might want to shop around your home-town and see just what people are paying folks of your caliber.

To put it another way, should you piss off these people and they decide the labor market in your area affords them the ability to tell you to piss off...what pay level can you expect to find in your forthcoming job search (without having to relocate).

Should you make 30% more? Sure why not, hey everyone should get a 30% raise, why not? Will someone do your job without requiring the 30% more? If the answer is yes then you better look out as the free market will equilibrate supply vs demand quickly.

 

[spidey07]

A 30% raise is totally out of the question. That's nuts.

Bring the survey results and salary.com information and make the case. But generally to get that kind of raise you need a salary adjustment or a big promotion (and the accompanying raise in responsibility).

 

[randay]

how much are you making, how many users do you support, do you touch any servers, does your boss/coworkers/users like you?

 

[Mxylplyx]

Seems help desk people around here always think they are underpaid. Sorry to break it to you, but help desk people are a dime a dozen, and dont command much of a salary.

 

[ScottFern]

Yes everyone likes me and I know specifics about software no one else knows about because I am at a satellite location. I touch servers on a daily basis maintaining them, replacing broken hardware and configuring Server 2003 MMCs. I support roughly 60 users and maintain 72 workstations.

 

[KLin]

So how much do you make right now?

 

[ScottFern]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Seems help desk people around here always think they are underpaid. Sorry to break it to you, but help desk people are a dime a dozen, and dont command much of a salary.

Your funny. lol

I was definitely hired as a help desk technician but my role has significantly expanded way beyond changing toner, stocking paper and changing passwords. Its been clear to me that I have been told to work independently troubleshooting issues and working on my own and in my own way I am a pseudo-admin. Not in the true sense, but I do take on many of those responsibilities.

It has taken me a year to finally become comfortable with the applications and systems we use. Go ahead and replace me and watch the same exact situation occur. It's in the company's best interest to keep some who has already gone through the ropes and knows the system a chance to advance.

 

[torpid]

Is it fair to say that you are a basic server, workstation, and network grunt right now? If so you need to compare to other grunts, not all IT people. IT includes programmers, architects, etc.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: ScottFern

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Seems help desk people around here always think they are underpaid. Sorry to break it to you, but help desk people are a dime a dozen, and dont command much of a salary.

Your funny. lol

I was definitely hired as a help desk technician but my role has significantly expanded way beyond changing toner, stocking paper and changing passwords. Its been clear to me that I have been told to work independently troubleshooting issues and working on my own and in my own way I am a pseudo-admin. Not in the true sense, but I do take on many of those responsibilities.

It has taken me a year to finally become comfortable with the applications and systems we use. Go ahead and replace me and watch the same exact situation occur. It's in the company's best interest to keep some who has already gone through the ropes and knows the system a chance to advance.

There's one universal truth to every position.

You're replacable. Everybody is. Once you accept this you'll be much better off.

 

[mugs]

If you work at a large company that has guidelines for salaries and raises and you ask for a 30% raise, you'll probably be laughed out of your boss's office. If you want a raise of that magnitude, you need to either get a promotion or get a job at another company.

 

[xdreadpiratedoug]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Seems help desk people around here always think they are underpaid. Sorry to break it to you, but help desk people are a dime a dozen, and dont command much of a salary.

Wrong - call center people are a dime a dozen. Competent, helpful help desk techs are not ...

 

[jjones]

The only way I could see that kind of raise is if this was just a probationary period, or if your job has significantly changed in responsibility where your new resonsibilities far outweigh those originally given to you.

If you feel you are being substantially underpaid, talk to your boss about it and see if you can come to an agreement. You should have hard facts to back up your position of being substantially underpaid.