Why are computer tech jobs paying so low?

[gorcorps]

Absolutely you're right...

My point is really that I place more value in someone with little to no experience and no certs than someone with little to no experience but 3-4 certs.

I've found that these IT people with certs but no experience are actually MORE of a risk than people with no certs. They tend to "think" they really know what they're doing and risk much much more than someone who recognizes that the first 4-5 years of corporate IT is a teething experience.


It all seems obvious right? Except these guys with little no experience and a few certs seem to think they deserve 60k starting salary as helpdesk because that's how things were 10 years ago. They don't realize that certs by themselves mean absolutely nothing and properly training these people to function in a 'real' IT environment can be incredibly tough.


And they do get hired.... just takes awhile until they accept that $12/hr position the OP is bitching about and then they burn out before their feet are even wet.

I can see what you mean there. That's what the interview process is for though I guess. You can find "modest" folk that have certs too... at least I'd HOPE so.

But yes, it's the newbies that are overconfident that can really screw things up. They have a sense that if they ask questions then they'll be seen in poor light or something. That was actually one of my personal issues that I used to have that I've been trying to work on with my new job. If there's any doubt, ask somebody that will know.

 

[HumblePie]

I cant believe there's so many people in this thread saying that a Techie job is "nothing" and easy... That's complete BS.

The A+ Certification is not easy to get by any means. I guarantee I give you people the A+ test on the spot and most of you, if not all WILL fail it. There are many questions on this exam that go far beyond basic hardware repair.
It took me 3 months to prepare and pass the exam. I passed on the 1st try because I dealt with computers for many years before this, but it was very difficult even for me.
A PC Tech job is NOT easy at all. I don't know what kind of techs you have where you live, but here in NYC you have to be a jack of all trades to be a PC tech.

It's really not just installing hardware components. It's using Server 2003/2008, it's troubleshooting AND repairing printers, both inkjet and laser, it's answering phone calls, it's troubleshooting software, troubleshooting networks, and many, many more things depending on what is needed.

Before I got this job, I really was, just a PC hardware tech. Now I know much more than just hardware, and on some days my job is far from easy. I get paid $20/h but because this is NYC, the taxes make it more like $12/h.

I find it funny how so many people here say that there's too many other people like me out there. Ya know.. I don't see much of them, outside of my workplace.. What I do see is millions of dumb morons who cant even use windows and cant attach a picture to an email. Someone's gotta help these people right? So why the fuck should tech be getting paid $12/h?

I do see some small stores offering PC repair, but these guys charge astronomical sums for their service. We are talking $50-100/h and sometimes more. There are many online services offering to do the same thing, but they too charge about as much. So $12/h doesn't sound fair at all. It's too little.

Because repairing PCs IS easy. I am speaking from experience as well. I still repair PC's and I know plenty of people are really dumb about it. PC's and Macs actually.

Repairing a PC is nothing to say writing a 3D software simulation program using Delta3d, including the proper physics for all the vertices so that actors and players in the simulation match up correctly. Do you know the kinematic math I needed to do to get all that working? I have to take relative vectors of everything, matrix transforms of the global x, y, z coordinates, redo everything back into relative x,y,z coords. That is all done 60 times a second, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Or coding new features for a Sharepoint site based on really vague requirements. Sorry PC tech is just that, entry level. It does take more than "average" high school brains that are all that are required for burger flipping. Of that there is no doubt. But it doesn't take much more than that I can assure you.

 

[Wyndru]

Because repairing PCs IS easy. I am speaking from experience as well. I still repair PC's and I know plenty of people are really dumb about it. PC's and Macs actually.

Repairing a PC is nothing to say writing a 3D software simulation program using Delta3d, including the proper physics for all the vertices so that actors and players in the simulation match up correctly. Do you know the kinematic math I needed to do to get all that working? I have to take relative vectors of everything, matrix transforms of the global x, y, z coordinates, redo everything back into relative x,y,z coords. That is all done 60 times a second, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Or coding new features for a Sharepoint site based on really vague requirements. Sorry PC tech is just that, entry level. It does take more than "average" high school brains that are all that are required for burger flipping. Of that there is no doubt. But it doesn't take much more than that I can assure you.

This may not apply if you do all your own support for your computer at work, but how much do you value the support when the PC/Server you do the 3d sim on crashes? If it goes down, would you rather have a 12/hour employee that doesn't give a shit fixing it, or someone who knows their job well and how to get it up and running fast and have all your data intact? When I worked in the financial sector, being a pc tech required you didn't screw anything up, ever. It didn't matter if it was a server or a pc. And you can't rely people to only store stuff on the servers, they always have critical files on the local machine that you need to get for them.

 

[HumblePie]

This may not apply if you do all your own support for your computer at work, but how much do you value the support when the PC/Server you do the 3d sim on crashes? If it goes down, would you rather have a 12/hour employee that doesn't give a shit fixing it, or someone who knows their shit and how to get it up and running fast and have all your data intact? When I worked in the financial sector, being a pc tech required you didn't screw shit up, ever. It didn't matter if it was a server or a pc. And you can't rely people to only store stuff on the servers, they always have critical shit on the local machine that you need to get for them.

There is a difference between a PC tech and a Server Tech. Server techs and network admins do get paid more than $12/h. That is not the average. The average for them is about $40K a year if I remember right. Which is about $19/h. Unlike development, the field isn't really a "growth" field though so raises aren't nearly as high. Typical Server Tech or Admin tops out at $60K a year pay wise unless you start moving up to supervisory positions.

A PC tech is just that. Someone that only fixes home computers or computers for small businesses at most. This is your Geek Squad tech boy. It doesn't take much to do that job at all.

 

[SKORPI0]

Why, because it's been way overpriced over the years. $12/hour should be spot for someone with >3 years experience. :hmm:

 

[waggy]

ahh i miss the early 90's. where anyone with any knowledge was making good money. sniff..times were great then.

 

[Jeffg010]

I laugh at programmers. I come to find that of all the computer users that I support they are the worst. Most of them only know code and nothing more. The programmers that I encounter seem to never follow the rules and try and do their own thing. You would think that maybe if you up dated to the latest MS browser or what ever else and now your PC does not work. They also seem to never back up anything. You are working on a million dollar program right off your laptop and then you drop it when you went home and now your hard drive is dead. I don't feel bad for you.

 

[Elbryn]

ahh i miss the early 90's. where anyone with any knowledge was making good money. sniff..times were great then.

heh that was when IT still meant anything to do with computers. now IT has become a developed field with many many choices for a career. once can be a programmer and know nothing about how a computer works. or server admin, backup admin, storage admin, desktop services, helpdesk, email admin, linux admin, midrange, sql, etc..

 

[HumblePie]

I laugh at programmers. I come to find that of all the computer users that I support they are the worst. Most of them only know code and nothing more. The programmers that I encounter seem to never follow the rules and try and do their own thing. You would think that maybe if you up dated to the latest MS browser or what ever else and now your PC does not work. They also seem to never back up anything. You are working on a million dollar program right off your laptop and then you drop it when you went home and now your hard drive is dead. I don't feel bad for you.

Haha! Yah I know those types. They are code monkeys. A harder job than a PC tech, but not by much. So their corresponding pay isn't much more either. Most programmers also start out making about $30K a year and the average ones top out at $60K like Server Techs. It takes a bit more to move up from that knowledge wise.

 

[edro]

This job I get to be social, get to play with all the latest software and hardware, and it's constantly changing.

Plus you are always picked first in dodge ball.

 

[arcenite]

Find a company that is interested in quality employees. Oh, and if your idea of 'IT' is what you come across on the A+, that is your first problem

/thread

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

If you're not in the financial sector or an executive you only deserve enough to eat gruel. Be thankful they're willing to give you more.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

Over-saturation of employment seekers... Now if we killed off about half of those looking for similar positions, could drive the payrate back up... Maybe.

 

[rasczak]

The real question OP, is what do you consider yourself? If it's any type of admin (sys/network), then you shouldn't be looking for "PC tech" jobs.

 

[JMapleton]

Because there a billion teenagers, 20 something, and foreign computer literate people vying for those jobs.

 

[Mide]

OK, maybe being in tech support isn't always great lol, I'm home today, but just logged onto webaccess...

Coffee Catastrophe...LOL this made me chuckle.

 

[silverpig]

Having worked as a kid for landscapers installing sprinkler systems, $12 /hr is the one that should be complaining, that is tough work. $12/hr for a tech is about right. All depends on the job being performed and the persons knowledge. I have met pc techs that I wouldn't pay minimum wage.

It's a sweet job if it's a new yard and all sand. Unfortunately I got called in for the clay/roots/rocks jobs a lot. I spent more time using a pick and an axe than I did a shovel. I got about $18/hr back in 1999 for it as an 18 yr old. It was a pretty nice after work job.

It seems like fixing a PC is something anyone with an internet connection can do nowadays. Just type the problem into google and away you go.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Haha! Yah I know those types. They are code monkeys. A harder job than a PC tech, but not by much. So their corresponding pay isn't much more either. Most programmers also start out making about $30K a year and the average ones top out at $60K like Server Techs. It takes a bit more to move up from that knowledge wise.

You're on crack. I'm very new to the field and make much more than 30K, and wages here are way lower than USA. Programmers certainly DO NOT top out at 60K.

 

[Goosemaster]

It was inevitable. The fact that the market is over-saturated and that economies of scale have led to the commoditization of absolutely everything under the sun doesn't help your situation either.

It will also continue to creep up the ladder as well due to prevalence of the many types of virtualization that started with software isolation and portability, continued with the entire instance itself, and have culminated in pay-to-play platform delivery.

 

[classy]

Haha! Yah I know those types. They are code monkeys. A harder job than a PC tech, but not by much. So their corresponding pay isn't much more either. Most programmers also start out making about $30K a year and the average ones top out at $60K like Server Techs. It takes a bit more to move up from that knowledge wise.

WTH?
What Programmer have you ever met who makes 30K a year? You pulled that one deep deep out of your ass.

 

[Farmer]

You're on crack. I'm very new to the field and make much more than 30K, and wages here are way lower than USA. Programmers certainly DO NOT top out at 60K.

I know a few people who make $150,000+ developing for trading firms. They are fresh out of a master's program. I would say average fresh out of a good tech college is $60K, that is average. Oracle routinely gives $80K starting offers, if you're into Oracle.

So, $30K would definitely be at the far left of the bell curve.

 

[Turin39789]

if you're posting in this thread, just get used to the idea that you are equivelant to an auto factory worker and are overpaid. your time is coming.


go into banking.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

if you're posting in this thread, just get used to the idea that you are equivelant to an auto factory worker and are overpaid. your time is coming.


go into banking.

I did have an interview with financial-banking company last week. :hmm:

 

[angminas]

Coffee Catastrophe...LOL this made me chuckle.

Sounds like something from Ben & Jerry's.

I'd try it.

 

[Zebo]

Supply and demand. Every kid knows computer support these days. Then about 1/2 are socialize and out of them 1/2 employable. So that still leaves you with bunches of people that can do the work.