My average starting salary

[h=1][/h]I am a ccna, ccnp, ccna-wireless, ccnp-wireless, ccna-voice, ccnp-voice, mcitp ,cwna and ieee wcet certified. I also hold a Master's degree in Electrical engineering (Telecommunications). I have 6 months exp in the IT field, what would my average starting salary be if I got a job at Verizon wireless, at&t, T-mobile, etc..? Currently I live in Egypt and I wish I get a job in the US at one of the companies I listed.
Thanks
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networker050184

Exactly what prtech said! In the telecom world certifications are definitely not a waste of time, but you do have a bunch that are pretty unrelated to what you would be doing. I also agree that someone with six months experience isn't likely to get sponsored to come work in the states. Everyone I've seen, like prtech, was senior level with years of experience on top of their certifications and masters degrees.

Its a tough situation, but unless you know someone like your friend does you are more than likely going to have to start out at the bottom and prove yourself.

the_Grinch

I interviewed for and was offered a position in the NOC at Verizon Wireless in New Jersey. Base pay was $45k, about $10k for working third shift, and a performance bonus of about $10k. So $65k with just a BS, a couple of certifications, and 2 years of fulltime IT experience. Now if you are looking at a position with Google, Facebook, etc they aren't going to hammer you for experience given what you have and you'd probably be close to $100k. The trick would be to actually get an interview there, but my guess is in the Northeast or West Coast you're probably looking at $60 to $80k.

amcnow

As others have said, it depends on where you land your job. It also depends on whether you are doing consulting (i.e., places like Accenture and Sogeti USA), contracting (i.e., working for an employment agency such as TEKsystems), or direct hire. Consultants and direct hires are usually paid a little better than contractors.

We also have to factor in the economic times. It's still an employer's market in the US. With all of these factors, it is really tough to give you a ball park figure. With that said, $40k - $50k would be the entry level range in states with lower costs of living (such as the Midwest, minus Chicago, IL). Jobs on the east and west coasts (and Chicago) pay more. $60k - $80k is not unheard of when starting out. However, cost of living is higher in these areas.

drkat wrote: »

Wow, shows how easy these certs really are without actually doing the job. No offense to the OP, but if there was ever an argument against validity of NP level certifications this is it.

It's post like these that drive me up the wall.

Certifications are only meant to prove you possess a certain level of knowledge in a particular subject. Certifications were never meant to be a substitute for experience. This is why they are called certifications and not (let's say) qualifications.

4_lom

It all depends on where you live. But I would say a safe estimate is in between $40-60 USD.

NetworkVeteran

If you're trying to get into telecommunications engineering, then none of the certs matter. You could get a job with your masters, IF you lived in the US. Most of my experience is in telecommunications and we did bring in engineers on a working visa. But those engineers are at a senior level with at least 8 years of experience.

In telecom engineering, a CCNA will be an asset. I've hired in no-experience folks on work VISAs (who were already in the US on Education VISAs and able to interview in-person). There aren't that many strong grads (CS/EE degree + respected school + CCNA) in the USA.

FloOz

to me 40k seems like a huge low ball. i am making low 40s and all i have is a bs and my a+. Yes i know it depends on where you live and such, but still i would expect you to be making in the 60k-65k range if not more.

tprice5

YFZblu wrote: »

I think underpaying is rampant in IT, which is why we have so much turnover.

Absolutely.

WafflesAndRootbeer

Underpaying is SOP these days. Too many MSPs have popped up and replaced in-house IT staff to the point where salaries have become a joke and they are making people work multiple contracts at once being on-call all over the area 24/7. It's just ridiculous.

networker050184

They aren't making people work anything. Employment is a two way street. If you don't like the job then find a new one. I see people complaining about stuff like this, but that is the job they chose. No one to blame for a horrible working environment with low pay but themselves.

pumbaa_g

Sad truth guys, if you don't like the job there are thousands waiting in line to do it at a cheaper cost or better value add. In the end none of us are indispensable, we have become like a brick in the wall

This is not only due to outsourcing/unemployment its more of a cost/bottom line outlook.

networker050184

You have to set yourself apart and make yourself valuable to the company. Show them that you can do more than those others out there wanting your job. Incompetent employees have always been and always will be dispensable.

gadav478

drkat wrote: »

Wow, shows how easy these certs really are without actually doing the job. No offense to the OP, but if there was ever an argument against validity of NP level certifications this is it.

Can't argue this one.

Legacy User

the_hutch wrote: »

That being said...with only 6 months work experience, I'd say $60-70k in the states. .

Sigh...if only that was true

NetworkVeteran

dmarcisco wrote: »

Sigh...if only that was true

It's true, given the context of the OP. He earned a master's degree in electrical engineering. It would also be true if he had zero months of experience.

xbuzz

drkat wrote: »

Wow, shows how easy these certs really are without actually doing the job. No offense to the OP, but if there was ever an argument against validity of NP level certifications this is it.

I fail to see the logic in your assumption. Just because 1 person does a couple of CCNP level certs without experience, they suddenly become "easy"? I doubt anyone who has actually done the exams legitimately would call any Cisco exam easy, particularly if they had no prior experience in the field.

The OP has a masters degree in Electrical Engineering, which certainly puts him at way above average intellect and aptitude for this kind of work, and such a person could easily knock out those certs without dumping, in the course of a summer during university.

To the OP. I hope you get the break that you need, and don't listen to these negative people. Some people will always try to bring down people they see who can be successful. Top athletes are always accused of doing drugs etc, people who get cisco certs fast will be called dumpers, it's all the same. The sad thing is alot of these people might be the recruiters you might be facing. Surround yourself with positive people and work to your goals, thats all you can do.

sratakhin

I'm not sure about how degrees are awarded in Egypt, but attending a university for 5 years in Russia can sometimes be considered as a Master's Degree. My girlfriend has MS in Marketing but she only studied for 5 years. It was probably more difficult than obtaining a Bachelor's degree in the U.S. though.

drkat

xbuzz wrote: »

I fail to see the logic in your assumption. Just because 1 person does a couple of CCNP level certs without experience, they suddenly become "easy"? I doubt anyone who has actually done the exams legitimately would call any Cisco exam easy, particularly if they had no prior experience in the field.

Ok I'l be the first to say the CCNA was not hard.. I wont call it EASY like I would the CCNA Voice, but it wasnt HARD - and I had experience

m3zilla

xbuzz wrote: »

I fail to see the logic in your assumption. Just because 1 person does a couple of CCNP level certs without experience, they suddenly become "easy"? I doubt anyone who has actually done the exams legitimately would call any Cisco exam easy, particularly if they had no prior experience in the field.

I think ICND1/2 were relatively easy when I took it...and that's with no experience. I wouldn't say any of the CCNP tests are hard either, especially TSHOOT.

The problem with Cisco, or any exam for that matter is that it only test you on the theories. As long as you have that down pat, you're good to go. Even in the simulation for Cisco, you're tested based on whether or not you remember the order in which you need to enter in commands. Only TSHOOT attempt to test your troubleshooting skill, and most of the "tickets" on that exam are pretty basic.

drkat

Amen....

okplaya

If you are a person with an above average comprehension level then you should be grateful and humble. Calling something "easy" will mostly pertain to you. I struggled my butt off with a basic anatomy and physiology course while my friend pretty much breezed through it. I tried to teach this same friend how to subnet and he couldn't do it to save his life.

My point is that each person will have a different level of understanding of different topics. If YOU understand a particular topic very well then it doesn't necessarily mean it's easy for everyone. This site is a great resource for people looking to obtain IT certifications. When a person has done so, shouldn't we praise them rather than criticize (assuming they didn't ****)? Maybe that would be too humble.

To the OP I really hope everything works out for you, and you could definitely make over 50K in the US in most regions as long as you don't settle and have confidence in your skills and abilities.

MeanDrunkR2D2

On thing to keep in mind if you are looking to relocate to the US, is that our economy is still recovering and it's a dog fight for any and all jobs. In order to get a Visa to work here, you also have to prove with your experience that you are more qualified than an American with your same level of education without the experience. And those Visas dont' come cheap for employers so they tend to be very selective, as well as not pay you as much as a similarly qualified American would make. There are always exceptions to the rule, but they are hard to come by.

At least on here you won't get the nasty discussions like you see on dice's forums about h1B visa's and the hatred that some people hold towards them.

drkat

I'll be the first one to praise someone for passing an exam. I dont believe in low wages for tech workers and I dont believe in having a certification if you dont have any experience - but hey... that's just how it is.. I honestly dont even promote certs but if you have an opportunity to get them on someone else's dime go for it

Ahriakin

You can't transpose experience vs. certs between vastly different positions and business types. It's not just about how much you value either but also risk. To take a much earlier example using Desktop positions the risk of getting it wrong by betting on inherent 'talent' vs. experience there is relatively small. However make that same bet in a Telco for the level of work someone with the OPs education level would normally be expected to handle and you could be risking contracts worth millions of dollars. I work for one and I can tell you that with that experience and education level you'd be offered a mid level position at best on probation, with high hopes based on what would appear to be a lot of passion and love for the tech. Now once you proved yourself promotion would be a lot smoother and faster with the certs and masters behind you, but starting off there would be a definite experience hurdle to overcome. If you were up against a single CCNP with 2-3 years experience, no masters or anything else, they would win....less risk....

NetworkVeteran

MeanDrunkR2D2 wrote: »

On thing to keep in mind if you are looking to relocate to the US, is that our economy is still recovering and it's a dog fight for any and all jobs.

To my eyes, it's a dog fight for the good candidates, as usual.

MeanDrunkR2D2 wrote: »

In order to get a Visa to work here, you also have to prove with your experience that you are more qualified than an American with your same level of education without the experience.

In any particular year, the pool of strong networking grads--from a good CS/EE program, with a good GPA, and with some demonstration of networking aptitude--is small. And the pool of tech companies who want to hire them is large! This is one reason you see so many companies where the majority of entry-level candidates are on VISAs. It's a global economy these days.

kurosaki00

wow 6 months of IT and all those certs?
With your experience... Id say a solid 40-50k
mostly because of your certs

But with a MS and all those certs, you should try having offsite small consultant jobs, give class in a college or something
and you can pocket some more income

With those certs, once you get a solid 2yrs+ of experience in specifics tasks
your salary will sky rocket
so just go easy and well, get your job, get experience, do some work by the side
and keep climbing

DarthVader

abdul 17717 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
From what you guys are saying i guess my Master's degree wasn't worth it? i mean don't you think its a bit low for my qualifications(I'm not showing off or something I just need to know would it be worth it to move to the US)?
And on the CWNP website it says that the salary of the CWNA certified was around $90k in 2009.

Would it be worth it to move from Egypt to the US? hmmmm, let me think a few minutes........so hard to decide......
How much are you pulling in currently in Egypt??

jibbajabba

abdul 17717 wrote: »

i guess my Master's degree wasn't worth it?

if communication is what you want, why so many IT related certifications? Don't get me wrong, the list is impressive (although brain **** always pop into my mind when such a massive list is being aquired for the sKe of putting them on the cv, especially with next to know experience, no offence).

But I have also a degree in Electronics and if I'd stay in the area, the last thing I would do is a massive amount of unrelated IT cents for the sake of having them on the cv (although I guess wireless certs are somewhat related, no?). A chef wouldn't get a whole bunch of engineering certs on his cv either (ok, poor analogy).

Shouldn't you rather expand on the knowledge of the field you prefer ?

WafflesAndRootbeer

You could certainly make better money with your degree than you could with your IT certs and lack of experience. Because you lack experience, you would not last long on the job as expectations are high in networking and there is no room for training wheels these days as companies demand employees that aren't learning how things work.

Waqas_techie

Dear Abdul, good that you have worked hard and you are ambitious. Just dont get negative and disappointed. Keep working hard and you will suceed, InshaAllah.

GAngel

6 figures before overtime in oil & gas in half a dozen countries including parts of the mid west. If you're looking for a city job then 35-50 range for no experience.