January 2, 2017 at 10:20 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Salary Range
January 3, 2017 at 3:48 am
I agree with all of that. As an IT Pro, I'm becoming increasingly interested in looking for ways in which I can demonstrate my value to the business in terms of sales, rather than simply as a cost. Too often, unless you work for a software firm, and even then, I find the business doesn't measure the value created by IT, and instead considers it an overhead. This leads to price pressure, and constrains our innovation. If we can show how we generate profitability, opportunity, competitive advantage through our expertise - we'll get better support from management and, I think we'll be able to offer more value.
January 3, 2017 at 4:29 am
I missed this survey so I didn't fill it in, but I seriously hope that Snr DBA in London reportedly on $17k a year is only working a couple of hours a week :-D.
It's really interesting; huge range. I suspect a few people didn't convert from their local currency into USD.
January 3, 2017 at 7:44 am
I agree with your comment about staying at a job even if you aren't the best programmer. I found over my career that being around people smarter than me, just made me smarter.
January 3, 2017 at 7:52 am
This struck a different tone than your usual writing about career development. There is something to be said for it. I think the majority of us are trying to find some balance between career excellence and other interests.
January 3, 2017 at 9:09 am
To be good at IT, you must have a genuine aptitude for it and interest in it. Otherwise, you won't continue to learn on your own, you won't bring creativity to the job and you eventually won't tolerate the stress, occasional off-hours troubleshooting, and etc. that the career requires.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
January 3, 2017 at 11:57 am
Great post Steve, 5 stars.
I found out a few weeks back that my department is moving to Phoenix AZ. I did not chose to transfer so I'll be back on the market in April. I have not started my search yet but I'm extremely encouraged by what I've read in articles like the one you referenced as well as what I've seen on the job boards.
Far too many people never learn how to increase their salary, whether by changing jobs, becoming more valuable, or even just asking for more money in a way that is likely to be successful.
You have to do what you love, then it's easy to allocate the time it takes learn new skills and become more valuable.
-- Itzik Ben-Gan 2001
January 4, 2017 at 3:09 am
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (1/2/2017)
...I think that working in technology strictly for money is a bad idea...
I agree. I also think that it applies to any (potential) long term career.
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (1/2/2017)
..."A bottom tier developer should probably stop being a developer." This is a place I'd disagree...
Recognising, either in oneself or in others, that someone is happy plodding along at a snails pace doing an OK job is fine for some of the team in some industries. As long as they do not expect more than a "bottom tier" package.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
January 4, 2017 at 10:18 am
I believe it's common in European countries to report salary as a monthly figure (rather than an annual figure like we like to use in the US), which may be how this person reported it.
(in response to the senior person reporting a 17k figure)
January 4, 2017 at 2:34 pm
There is one answer that struck me. The final line of that one says: "A bottom tier developer should probably stop being a developer." This is a place I'd disagree.
I would say "a bottom tier developer should be open to changing careers". As you say, being a developer might be what the person is best suited to, it might be what they are most interested in. But you have to consider all opportunities.
Before I retired from the U.S. Air Force, I got training as an Oracle Programmer (long story, not important for this). My first job was to monitor/supervise a vendor who was creating an Oracle database for the company that hired me. The company really wanted me as an Oracle DBA (they thought one could easily do the other). The eventually got rid of the vendor and went with a vendor who created a SQL Server database. I 'cross trained' to be the DBA even though I enjoyed programming better - it was a job. But I've never looked back - I've found I enjoy being a DBA and having been an Oracle programmer (with entry level skills) showed me that as a DBA I needed both skills. So I think people need to be aware of other careers and how their interests might carry over to a different career. But the bottom line is: can the career support you and do you enjoy it?
-SQLBill
January 4, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Just because someone enjoys doing something doesn't mean they are any good at it.
I enjoy singing in my car. When alone. I can't sing for toffee.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
January 6, 2017 at 11:24 am
Gary Varga (1/4/2017)
Just because someone enjoys doing something doesn't mean they are any good at it.I enjoy singing in my car. When alone. I can't sing for toffee.
However, not everyone needs to be a Pavarotti or a Adam Levine when singing. We can take competent singers and use them in backup or even local bands.
The same for developers. There are roles and work for people that are low level, semi-competent developers. If they like the work and they accept work and compensation that matches their skills, why not? We always have a spectrum or work, compensation, and talent. We can use most of it.
January 7, 2017 at 6:10 am
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (1/6/2017)
Gary Varga (1/4/2017)
Just because someone enjoys doing something doesn't mean they are any good at it.I enjoy singing in my car. When alone. I can't sing for toffee.
However, not everyone needs to be a Pavarotti or a Adam Levine when singing. We can take competent singers and use them in backup or even local bands.
The same for developers. There are roles and work for people that are low level, semi-competent developers. If they like the work and they accept work and compensation that matches their skills, why not? We always have a spectrum or work, compensation, and talent. We can use most of it.
I agree with you that there should be room for a range in abilities but some should just not do it professionally or semi-professionally.
You also totally underestimate how bad my attempts at singing truly are.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
January 7, 2017 at 7:22 am
Alan.B (1/3/2017)
Great post Steve, 5 stars.I found out a few weeks back that my department is moving to Phoenix AZ. I did not chose to transfer so I'll be back on the market in April. I have not started my search yet but I'm extremely encouraged by what I've read in articles like the one you referenced as well as what I've seen on the job boards.
Far too many people never learn how to increase their salary, whether by changing jobs, becoming more valuable, or even just asking for more money in a way that is likely to be successful.
You have to do what you love, then it's easy to allocate the time it takes learn new skills and become more valuable.
Alan... You live in Michigan, right? If you don't have my email address, send me one through this site. I've recently had some pretty good offers that I wasn't a good fit for but you might be. I could turn you on to the recruiters that contacted me.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
January 7, 2017 at 7:50 am
Gary Varga (1/7/2017)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (1/6/2017)
Gary Varga (1/4/2017)
Just because someone enjoys doing something doesn't mean they are any good at it.I enjoy singing in my car. When alone. I can't sing for toffee.
However, not everyone needs to be a Pavarotti or a Adam Levine when singing. We can take competent singers and use them in backup or even local bands.
The same for developers. There are roles and work for people that are low level, semi-competent developers. If they like the work and they accept work and compensation that matches their skills, why not? We always have a spectrum or work, compensation, and talent. We can use most of it.
I agree with you that there should be room for a range in abilities but some should just not do it professionally or semi-professionally.
You also totally underestimate how bad my attempts at singing truly are.
You took the words right out of my mouth. I agree that we were all newbies at one time and that, in the face of inadequate documentation, will ask for help on a forum, but most folks worth their salt have at least done a search on the internet before they ask a question. Certainly, they at least know what BOL is. It seems that a large portion of the community at large has managed to BS their way into high paying jobs and then ask things like how to build an index or do a backup or even get the current date and time. There seems to be no drive to become better at what they do (part of the 9-5 syndrome, I suppose). I really feel bad for the companies that have hired such individuals because they can't even sound good singing in the shower never mind having any semblance of being a competent singer.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
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