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

[azazyel]

Originally posted by: 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.

It's actually good to be replaceable. If you're irreplaceable how are you going to get promoted? I was actually trying to get another job in the company I worked for but they wouldn't let me because I was one of the only ones who knows my system. (They did give me a nice raise though once they found out I was talking to the other department)

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: azazyel

Originally posted by: 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.

It's actually good to be replaceable. If you're irreplaceable how are you going to get promoted? I was actually trying to get another job in the company I worked for but they wouldn't let me because I was one of the only ones who knows my system. (They did give me a nice raise though once they found out I was talking to the other department)

You dont get promoted when your irreplaceable. You use your unique position to squeeze more and more money out of the company. I'd much rather have the big pay raises without the additional responsibility attached.

 

[azazyel]

Oh and one thing you should do is start keeping a list of things that you do that are above and beyond what you were hired to do. List the systems you use and how you use them.

 

[Koing]

Go for it. My first job out of Uni I was underpaid but took it for the experience. 9months later I negotiated a 53% pay rise for myself. I was very good at what I did and contributed a lot to the team and the boss agreed with me. I was willing to walk if I wasn't given my range though. Also the other hires made me look infinitely better as they were slackers with p!ss poor work ethic . Bright guys though but that doesn't mean jack if they aren't working as hard. I left the company 4months later though

Don't be a whimp and not negotiate for your pay rise. A few friends I know just take what they were given and never negotiated for more and as a conesquence didn't get more. The company saved themselves £££ and gave it to someone else that wanted more.

Koing

 

[jackace]

According to my father who is a mechanical engineer with almost 30 years work experience, the best and only way to guarantee a raise is to find another job. Employers are cheap as hell anymore and they will use you if you let them. If nothing else negotiate a new title from your boss. Then use that new title and your increased responsibilities to find a new job that pays more.

It honestly sounds stupid, but most companies do not realize how much a person was doing until they leave.

An experience my father had was he was working for a large corporation as a project engineer. They refused to give him a raise 3 years in a row so he left and found a new job. His pay increase was 40% just by finding a new job. 4 years later his old job at the original company opened up again and he reapplied. They hired him back with 20% raise. So by leaving and coming back he increased his wages from about $30k to just over $50k for the same job in just 4 or 5 years. This was back in the late 80s and early 90s time period.

 

[ScottFern]

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).

 

[Fritzo]

Wow...not to make yo feel bad, but I started in IT at $2000 more than you're making now, and that was 10 years ago.

 

[ScottFern]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Wow...not to make yo feel bad, but I started in IT at $2000 more than you're making now, and that was 10 years ago.

Different skill sets, different eras in relation to IT jobs, and other things come into play for salary. I mean this is my first solid year of experience working in the IT field. My boss is setting me up to be a network admin and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: ScottFern
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).

14% increase. Nice!

 

[Worthington]

Just make sure they agree to some kind of training budget for each year, and not let this MCSA camp be a one shot deal. Your total compensation might be at 34k but guess what.. you don't get raises based on total comp.. you get raises based on salary. So next year when you get your 3% (or 5, or 10 whatever) that MCSA bootcamp money won't help you at all. Plus, that's for this year. What about next year? Do those training dollers get refreshed, allowing you to take another course\bootcamp (CCNA or the like)?

I'm not trying to be negative as it sounds like your boss is genuinely trying to make things work for you.. but these are some things to think about.

 

[ScottFern]

Originally posted by: Worthington
Just make sure they agree to some kind of training budget for each year, and not let this MCSA camp be a one shot deal. Your total compensation might be at 34k but guess what.. you don't get raises based on total comp.. you get raises based on salary. So next year when you get your 3% (or 5, or 10 whatever) that MCSA bootcamp money won't help you at all. Plus, that's for this year. What about next year? Do those training dollers get refreshed, allowing you to take another course\bootcamp (CCNA or the like)?

I'm not trying to be negative as it sounds like your boss is genuinely trying to make things work for you.. but these are some things to think about.

I don't think thats exactly relevant as my boss explained he is very interested and (invested now) in making me a Network Administrator in 1-1.5 years. With that I most definitely would expect a significant raise.

 

[Worthington]

I would hope so

Good luck and congrats on the raise.

 

[chusteczka]

At the stated pay level, $27k-31k, I assume the OP does not have a degree. Without a degree, the OP will consistently remain below the typical salaries in the IT field. A substantial raise now would make the OP comfortable in his position, which may not be the best result due to the motivational need to increase his skillset.

$31k is underpaid for a skilled and helpful help desk position in the Chicago area. I would expect $35k for someone with no degree, with or without certifications. With a 4-year degree, I would expect $45k.

This fully paid MCSA certification deal is excellent and will provide motivation to complete the requirements. It is possible the manager may help with learning the skills by either teaching the OP or providing time during work hours to get some studying done. The manager will definitely understand when time off is needed to take the exams.

I would expect the OP to receive a substantial (hefty) raise within two years after completing the certifications.

This is an excellent opportunity. :thumbsup:

 

[ScottFern]

Originally posted by: chusteczka
At the stated pay level, $27k-31k, I assume the OP does not have a degree. Without a degree, the OP will consistently remain below the typical salaries in the IT field. A substantial raise now would make the OP comfortable in his position, which may not be the best result due to the motivational need to increase his skillset.

$31k is underpaid for a skilled and helpful help desk position in the Chicago area. I would expect $35k for someone with no degree, with or without certifications. With a 4-year degree, I would expect $45k.

This fully paid MCSA certification deal is excellent and will provide motivation to complete the requirements. It is possible the manager may help with learning the skills by either teaching the OP or providing time during work hours to get some studying done. The manager will definitely understand when time off is needed to take the exams.

I would expect the OP to receive a substantial (hefty) raise within two years after completing the certifications.

This is an excellent opportunity. :thumbsup:

Either I am not reading you right, or your not reading me correctly. My base pay is $31,000 plus we earn a Christmas bonus ($500 -$900) and my cell phone and internet is paid for ($1,200 value) and my boss is paying for a MCSA boot camp valued at around $3,000. After we add this all up $31,000 + 700 (educated guess) + 1,200 + $3,000 = $35,900 in TOTAL compensation. When you look it that way I am being compensated fairly and appropriately. Also, I do have a bachelor's degree in Political Science.