[ale] pay rates vs. experience

[Katherine Villyard]

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I recently saw a Windows admin position that wanted Active Directory,
Group Policy, WSUS, SQL Server, etc., that was offering $37-40K.
(Admittedly, it was an academic institution, but those are usually
offering $45-75K for similar skills.)

I'm thinking that the only takers they're going to get are:

1. Recent college grads.
2. Retirees.

I'd say desktop techs who want to move into system administration, but
that would be a pay cut for a lot of them.

I've similarly seen linux jobs (also academic) that top out at
$50-55K.  In fact, I interviewed for one of those because I thought it
might get me where I want to go, if you know what I mean.  (If you
don't, it would have gotten me solid experience with skills that would
serve me well in a future job hunt.)

Money's not everything, but let's not pretend we don't like groceries.  ;)


- -- 
Katherine

"Time wounds all heels."
- --Dorothy Parker


On 4/27/2012 8:04 AM, Lightner, Jeff wrote:
> On the most recent posting on the Ale jobs list I had to laugh when
> I saw a pay range of 65k-75k for everything THAT job entailed such
> as SAN administration, managing 5000 domains in BIND just to name a
> couple. Even funnier was that it was 6 months CTP – Really?  They
> can’t figure out whether someone is worthwhile in 3 months?   True
> you don’t really get fully up to speed in a new complex environment
> in less than 6 months but it should be obvious long before that
> whether you are CAPABLE of getting up to speed or not.
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>  *From:*ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Jim Kinney *Sent:* Thursday, April 26, 2012 10:44 PM *To:*
> Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts - Yes! We run Linux! *Subject:* [ale] pay
> rates vs. experience
> 
> 
> 
> One of the things I see as the admin for the list is the postings
> for the ale-jobs list before everyone else. I've never rejected a
> posting for having a crappy pay rate and never will.
> 
> BUT....
> 
> Given the state of things, economy, growth in demand for Linux
> skills, number of qualified admins in the field, etc., maybe it's
> time for a knock-down, drag out discussion on pay vs. experience.
> 
> The last time I saw a usix pay chart was probably 2005. At that
> time a RedHat EL admin wiiht a solid 5 years experience on the job
> was worth an average $80k/yr with decent benefitsw (company health
> insurance, retirement fund other than stock options, dental, etc).
> 
> Windows admins with 5 years were around $65k.
> 
> Solaris with 5 years got $90k. IRIX admins were looking for a new
> OS to use.
> 
> Oracle DBA with 5 years could grab $95k anywhere.
> 
> Any professional certification added 5-10k to the above. Thos
> numbers were nation-wide averages so no are specific cost of living
> differentials.
> 
> Atlanta is cheaper than LA or New York and has a large and growing
> IT presence and a similar demand for Linux skills.
> 
> Lately, I've seen startups pay more but the risk is higher. Lower
> risk jobs pay less but the check always clears the bank. I recently
> took a lower pay job than I'm accustomed to just for the lower risk
> of short-term with a large corp. I have "stuff to do" that
> scratches some of my geek itches but leaves many untouched.
> 
> Is the current economy eating admin pay grades? I didn't take my
> current position because i wanted the main job function. I took for
> purely "gotta eat and pay bills" reasons (sell out but not starving
> does cause me some sleepless nights - then I go get something to
> eat and forget about it).
> 
> -- -- James P. Kinney III
> 
> As long as the general population is passive, apathetic, diverted
> to consumerism or hatred of the vulnerable, then the powerful can
> do as they please, and those who survive will be left to
> contemplate the outcome. - /2011 Noam Chomsky
> 
> http://heretothereideas.blogspot.com//
> 


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