OS and Software > No, I Will Not Fix Your #@$!! Computer > Salary Research for Negotiation

reply to OHN

Re: Salary Research for Negotiation

I make about $10,000 less than the median based on my research.

Part of the reason for my negotiation relates to the recent promotion of another manager to a level higher than me although their responsibilities managerial wise are about the same but has none of the technical side.

Currently it is 80k, which appears to be a little below the median if I was only a call center manager. When comparing to a Help Desk Manager, the difference is huge.

I am assuming you are living in Los Angeles, CA?

What certifications do you have?
What is your level of education?
How long have you been in the industry?

These three questions also drive salary as well.
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My domain - Nightfall.net

No certifications. Highest level is high school. I have on the job training. I have been doing this specific function for 10 years (at this company. I have about 15+ years in tech) now (Banking 17+ years). Yes, I live in Los Angeles.

Again, keep in mind, I have a peer in my same area that does the same managerial functions as me (managing call center), minus the technical area and is of a higher level/pay. I can do what she can do, but she cannot do what I do. Ironically, it almost looks like having the technical expertise hurts me.

They dont have any degrees. Also, their focus is banking only while mine is banking and all the hats I wear technology wise. For the last 10 years I have been here, this person has been below me 5 years. It was not until recently they were promoted and to a level which is higher than mine. Their title is simply called Center Manager.

reply to OHN

This would make sense if his peer had a college degree and certs. According to the OP, his peer doesn't have those things. You are right though. I have seen many talented people who are not paid as much if you don't have the sheepskin or the certifications to backup your knowledge. I know a very talented network and support engineer who hasn't made over 50k in his career because he has no certs or degree and with 10 years of experience. These days, its just too easy to find someone with 10 years of experience with a degree and certs and pay them more.
--
My domain - Nightfall.net

reply to Nightfall
With all do respect, I have worked on many occasions with people that have these certificates and have come to found out it does not necessarily indicate they know what they are doing. I do however recognize it would not hurt me to get them. That may be something for me to shoot for in the future.

I agree with you. That is how it is in general. My point though is that if someone is afforded the opportunity and gains the real world experiance, that does account for something. In my case I am confident it is not related to the lack of certifications. It is more due to lack of understanding of my manager. I will make it one of my goals to obtain the certifications at least. Having them and real world experiance should make me an even stronger candidate.

In the real world things like hiring and salary increase decisions do not depend solely on "hard" attributes like qualifications and experience; there is also the "soft" traits such as likeability, personality, etc. Could be your management just likes her more than you. Could be she is more sociable, "shmoozing" with the uppers and thus getting noticed more, which leads to a more favorable impression, and so on.

As is often the case, your contributions on the tech side prevent problems from reaching upper management, if they are even noticed at all. Your work is thus under their radar. This is a potential pitfall in organizations that do not know how much a good tech saves them. They can't appreciate what they are not aware of.

reply to Wily_One

reply to OHN