How much am i worth

ja5983

I just wanted to find out you guys opinions of my worth and is the highest level job you guys think i could get. I am not looking for a job at all right now, actually I think i have the best job in the world and would be VERY sad to leave it. I am just more curious of what I would be worth for fun and what kind of job I could get (not what salary.com thinks since their pay rates are rediculously unrealistic).

Heres my info:

New York metro area

Job I (age 1 - Pay $12.50/hr
IT Intern - 5months
Real estate company >500 employees, ~10 sites

-Provide support in exchange 5.5>2000 rollout
-Provide all end user support
-Implement backup system for aging Mac servers
-Support privately designed applications

Job II (age 18-20) Pay ~ $30,000/yr
IT Consultant (freelance)-18months

-Provide all support (all general help desk stuff and private party applications)for many small businesses with ~20 employees.
-Provide VPN and email setup for same businesses
-Provide support to ~300-400 home users (general help desk stuff)
-Provide wireless security/wired security consulting/implementation to roughly 10 businesses with ~50 employees
-Implement microsoft server infrastructure for SMBs
-Implement Cisco router/switch replacement rollout for CitiBank/Deutche Bank/Smith Barney corp in 4 locations
-Assist in failing hardware replacement program for World Bank
-Install symbol wired routers and Wireless APs for Wal-Mart Corp in 5+ locations after a wireless survey
-Provide Cisco wireless AP support to starbucks corp in 3 locations
-Install and test internet connectivity in Russel Stovers Retail locations
-Implement server replacement for Bealls corp in 5+ locations
(a few other things but thats about all i really want to put in without boring you guys)

Job III
IT Specialist/Security Officer $33,500/yr
State government (Child Protective Services) - 8months

Supervise support analysts
-provide all IT support under direction of director of IT
-support exchange 2000/2003 cluster
-provide exchange 2003 standard > enterprise upgrade
-provide all security support and implementation
-respond to all security incidents
-provide all documentation for IT processes and security processes
-implement server rollouts and repairs
-implement corporate WIFI
-implement corporate video conferencing between sites
-research and implement remote help desk and ticket queuing system
-research and implement document imaging system following HIPAA guidelines
-ensure compliance with HIPAA information security/retention requirements
-act as liason between other agencies in security related matters
-troubleshoot all network related issues between 5 sites spread out over 30+ miles
-secure desktops/end user systems using GP
-research any methods to further IT excellence
-Outline goals for all other IT employees given to me by IT director
-Report to VP of operations on status of IT department
(on and on)

Job IV (LAST ONE! I promise)
Senior Engineer - ~$40,000/yr
Nationwide PC repair company partnered with circuit city and General Electric, others - currently employed (not looking)

-Report directly to Engineering Director
-Supervise 30+ Tier I engineers providing support to home users and SMBs
-Research solutions to complex IT issues
-Research new repair/troubleshooting software and methodologies for techs
-Provide all documentation for technician procedures
-Update company knowledge base
-help update company information portal
-Implement methodoligies to keep call times down and increase satisfaction of customer
-Provide highest level support for issues that are beyond engineerings capabilities
-Report on status of engineers
-Train engineers on new methodologies/refresher training
-Recommend training
(and the list goes on here too)


Free stuff I have done:
-Provide a security conference to a local sherrif department on child safety and security
-Repair an exchange server/migrate to 2003 from 2000 for another local sherrif department
-Setup wifi bridge between buildings and provide system support to a very large church in my area
-Teach a high school basic computer class while i was in HS

Finally, my education is as follows

High school degree
-About 3/4 way done with AS in Network Engineering (degree expected december latest)
-already accepted to college for BS in Information Security
-CompTIA A+
-CompTIA Network+
-CompTIA Server+
-CompTIA Security+
-Cisco CCNA
-TruSecure TICSA
-MCP
-MCSA: Security
-MCSA: Messaging
-Studying VERY hard for ISC2 SSCP


Overall I have about 5 years of IT experience in different areas. What kind of job do you guys think is the highest i could resonably get (without having reallllly good luck) and what kind of pay?

12thlevelwarrior

Lead Tech/Junior Sys Admin ~ 45k (north carolina $$'s)

with degree ~ 55k

Just my two cents.

Olajuwon

Nobody knows how much you're worth. Only YOU know that. An employer will try to offer the least acceptable salary in most cases. Are they offering you what you're worth? I don't think so.

ja5983

ok, let me rephrase, what kind of job do you think i could get/what would a company offer in THIS world. to me im worth billions, but not to cisco for example lol.

Olajuwon

ja5983 wrote:

ok, let me rephrase, what kind of job do you think i could get/what would a company offer in THIS world. to me im worth billions, but not to cisco for example lol.

If you haad your MCSE to go with those certs, you might be able to land a Systems Admin/Engineer job making $60,000 in the Manahattan, NY Area. But again it's not easy to land such a job without the connections.

garv221

In your position, I would take no less than 50K.

ja5983

so so far you guys are saying around 45-50K and a jr systems administrator? Anyone else have any thoughts? keatron? jdmurray? webmaster?

12thlevelwarrior

on a side note:

you're future in IT is bright if you keep your discipline up and stay focused, you'll hit a sweet job paying atleast 70-80 by the time you are 30

fyi, I think salary.com is on target, i am going for an interview tomorrow and the range we initially discussed is inline with salary.com median.

sprkymrk

Howdy ja5983:

You know you are just asking for critics by posting that stuff, don't you?
You are braver than I am!
Anyway, since you asked I will give you an honest opinion based on the above information as if I was reading a resume from you and I had some various openings in my company. Keep in mind, when a potential employer reads a resume, he has no idea how smart you really are, how nice of a guy you might be, how hard working, etc. The first assumption is that everyone exagerrates (notice I did not say "lies") about there experience and skills. So here is how I would read your resume:

ja5983 wrote:

Job I (age 18 ) - Pay $12.50/hr
IT Intern - 5months

This just tells me you had a little hands-on experience, probably with someone else telling you what to do and how to do it. Nothing wrong with that, but 5 months is not very long you probably didn't run into a very wide range of issues.

ja5983 wrote:

Job II (age 18-20) Pay ~ $30,000/yr
IT Consultant (freelance)-18months

Unfortunately, if I were a potential employer, I would read this as a year and a half of being largely unemployed, probably doing a little part time work for friends, relatives, and maybe a couple of real customers with minimal IT support needs. The main factor here is your age and education/experience level while performing "freeelance" work. I would require proof by way of actual service tickets/reciepts/bank account deposits to verify this experience. You would be surprised how many applicants put this "home business", "Consultant", and "Contract" work on their resumes. It usually means very little in the way of real world experience.

ja5983 wrote:

Job III
IT Specialist/Security Officer $33,500/yr
State government (Child Protective Services) - 8months

This is one where I would definately have to call former supervisor to get more details. This is a decent amount of experience for an entry level position.

ja5983 wrote:

Job IV (LAST ONE! I promise)
Senior Engineer - ~$40,000/yr
Nationwide PC repair company partnered with circuit city and General Electric, others - currently employed

You don't mention how long you have been employed here or if you started at a lower level and worked up to this position. Since the pay is only marginally higher than your last position I would guesstimate you have been here about 1.5-2.5 years. The description looks like you are a level 2 help desk guy for PC's. Again, this is good experience but since it looks like a job that handles issues on a computer-to-computer basis as opposed to network or system administration which can limit future possibilities. Still, you are looking like a top PC Tech with supervisory skills.

Your education is just marginal at this point, but you more than make up for it by your wide range of certifications. This tells me you are obviously good at passing tests (some of which are very tough) and also very motivated to excel. This would tell me that you would be a great candidate for a level 2 Help Desk job or a junior network administrator. In this area (Charleston, SC) you could expect somewhere around $40K to start, which appears to be where you are at now. The cost of living around here is reasonable, so that $40K is not bad. If you could get a job with a government cotractor you can add $5-10K to that amount.
Of course, loving the job you are at is priceless, isn't it?
Cheers!

Webmaster

ja5983 wrote:

so so far you guys are saying around 45-50K and a jr systems administrator? Anyone else have any thoughts? keatron? jdmurray? webmaster?

I'm not really up to date with US salaries, but considering what you could get in the EU, and comparing that to US rates, 45-50K sounds pretty realistic but is probably on the high end. I agree with chuchuchu you're definitely on a good track and although sprkymrk made some valid comments, I think your resume shows a good course of action.

ja5983

sprkymrk,

I actually appreciate your comments very much. That was kinda what I was looking for. Something in the arena of how a hiring manager would look. As for the frelance work, i actually do have documentation, work orders from those companies, tax return for my business etc. And the 2nd job, sure was a heck of a lot for an entry level position. I ended up doing EVERYTHING because the company didnt have an idea of what IT is and thought 1 person could run it all so 4-5 people was just TOO much, and though the IT director thought he was an IT genious...not so much...LOL.

sprkymrk

Glad I could help, but also even more impressed that you took my comments as constructive, and not critical. You will go far in the industry and excel in whatever position you find yourself - I would be willing to bet on it.

Non-Profit Techie

alot depends on where you are from. last year i made over 50k and i am a "pc technician" + they pay me for overtime. i fix the pcs and help keep the network running smooth for 19 schools and city hall's board of education. so, if you are in a state like connecticut and have a 4 year degree, you basically start at around 40k. I dont have a degree of any kind I have 5 years exp. tho.

however, i know that down south does not pay anything near that amount for a "pc technician". but it doesnt cost 1500 a month for a one bedroom apartment either! (thank god i finally bought a condo)

wish me luck tho guys, the network manager position opens up in a few months and im hoping for a big promotion

keenon

check salary.com for sure also i would look at job posts in the area and see what they are paying for the same skills. off of that you can get an idea amount you should be looking from an employer.. also it doesn't hurt to ask for more they can only say "no"

ja5983

believe it or not keenon, i was actually looking for just a kind of review like sprkymrk gave me. Im actually quite happy with my pay (for my area, i mean everyone wants more), and i wouldnt leave my job for the world. Heck i tellecommute and i love my boss and my co workers. what are the chances of having that?!

TechJunky

Wow, I would be looking for a pay raise with your qualifications. I currently am looking for a job at 40k with only a A+,N+,MCP. Tomorrow I will have my MCDST. Or perhaps I should lower my expectations and shoot for around 35k?

ja5983

depends where you live i guess. I currently work from home also, so that kind of helps as a pay increase right there as im saving ~$3000 in gas every year.

keatron

45 to 50 is pretty fair. And I agree with Johan, it's a little above the average. If you beef up your secuirty posture some (which it sounds like you're doing with SSCP), and sale the security experience you have you could probably squeeze out more. Most people structure their resumes so that degrees and certs are the highlight or at least they think it in their own minds. Also, it's wise to make every resume relevant to the company you're interviewing with. We are somewhat spoiled on trying to create a one size fits all resume and simply tweak the cover letter each time. For example, if you apply at a company who's ad says something like "security experience a plus" then you really need to make that part of your experience shine. Instead of giving equal amounts of space to all of your experience, you'd want to shorten some of the not so relevant experience and use more detail when outlining your security experience. If the ad says "exchange experience a plus" then obviously you do the same concerning your exchange experience. Always ask yourself these things. What are they looking for? How much of what they're looking for do I have? How do I structure this resume to show that I have it.