100k in <3 years - goal accomplished

A couple years ago I set a goal of making $100k in 3 years. Yesterday I officially accomplished this and bypassed it. Here is the progression for anyone interested.

Title: Helpdesk
Duration: 8 months
Salary: $20/hr
Certs: A+ Net+

Title: System Administrator
Duration: 1 year 9 months
Total comp: $90,000-96,000
Certs: RHCSA

Title: DevOps Engineer
Duration: Just promoted
Total comp: $130,000-147,000 (bottom range is no on call pay, top is with what I believe on call pay is)

Needless to say I've benefited from being in the right place at the right time, as well as living near a tech hub in Boston. When I purchased my A+ book to start my career change in July 2013, I could never imagine that I would increase my salary 4-5 fold.

I hope this shows people new to the field that you can move up quickly if you're looking for the opportunities.

My takeaways for what has worked:
1. Take opportunities that make you uncomfortable
2. Learn on your own time - cert related or not - no surprise for this forum
3. Be ready to ask for opportunities
4. Being likable goes a long way.
5. Learning to script/program makes you stand out.
6. Don't be the first one out of the office everyday, but also maintain work/life balance.
7. If you find a company that gives you opportunities to grow, then try your best to stay and grow in the organization. You never know when the next job req might pop up.
8. Look for new responsibilities to take on, don't wait for them to be shoveled onto you.

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Comments

Caiyenne

Well deserved promotions for sure. You busted your buns to get yourself there! Congrats!!!

dustervoice

Congrats, well done! I'm sure this story will inspire the rest of us.

Danielm7

Danielh22185 wrote: »

Very impressive! Sounds like you are working for a great company that looks out for their folks and gives them great opportunities to learn and grow. Also you busted your butt to do the same.

Congrats!

This part is so true! I've seen too many times, even in the company that I work for, where they take someone from help desk, promote them to a lower sysadmin and give them a 2K/year raise. Then they wonder why they left a year later for double their salary. Take care of your people and they'll be a lot more loyal.

the_Grinch

Man makes we wonder what I've done with my life! Almost seven years of full time experience and haven't cracked $70k. Congrats op!

yzT

actually, one of the things that I have learned from my current boss is that timing is everything in the workplace.

DAVIS NGUYEN

Congrats!

UnixGuy

Good job OP! I stayed in my first job for 7 yrs and had similar progress!

DevOps is hot, and your experience is priceless now. Wish I could bring myself to have interest in DevOps! Good job!

alias454

the_Grinch wrote: »

Man makes we wonder what I've done with my life! Almost seven years of full time experience and haven't cracked $70k. Congrats op!

Same here. I have been doing IT for over 15 years and just hit 80k. Great motivation to get off my ass and do something with my life

Granted, kids, ex-wives, and making dumb decisions along they way slow down the best laid plans.

coffeeluvr

Congratulations on your progress. Thank you for sharing your journey.

joneno

Congrats srj.

kohr-ah

What impresses me the most not only how well you have just kept at it but the fact that you found a company that actually promoted well within! (And Paid you what you are worth)

Hell 2 companies ago I had someone tell me "You want to only be a network engineer? Seems like a waste"
YEAH BUDDY LOOK AT ME NOW!

Congrats again!

anhtran35

Very impressive. Most impressive the company within promoted you and gave you higher pay. Usually have to job hop to get the pay.

billDFW

Maybe I missed it, did you stay at the same company or did you jump around to gain experience ?

Thank You

billDFW

- All of these jobs are at the same company, so it helps to know a lot of people for a few years. At the very least, they'll know that you're a good person (goes back to being likable).

Update: same company. Thanks

techfiend

Thanks for sharing srj. I'm going to use your experience as a financial challenge for myself. 16 months in and almost there and really expect to make 100k in my next position which probably won't be with my current employer unless things change drastically. I'd like to put in a year which means another 8 months until I stary the search.

Did you find the RHCSA to be a valuable asset in your promotion? I'm taking a long time to study for it, kind of concerned about the test but I hear there's a lot of help available like --help and man pages and somewhere it was mentioned internet access but then you could google everything.

zxbane

srj,

This is a great post that shows what can be accomplished when you are determined and driven. Not only did you put the time in to build the technical skills, take on responsibility and stand out among your peers but you also understand the importance of the soft-skills or "being likeable" as you called it. It sounds like you understand the big picture and with your motivation the sky is the limit really. You're the type of person/mindset I strive to be and wish I could surround myself with people who are similar.

Danielh22185

anhtran35 wrote: »

Very impressive. Most impressive the company within promoted you and gave you higher pay. Usually have to job hop to get the pay.

This is very true. There is no way I could make these salary leaps at my current company no matter how good I am. I would have to leave. Most companies don't allow for employees to make large salary leaps (most allow for around 20% increases at a time).

Like I mentioned, for his company to allow for him to do this they REALLY are looking out for him and treating him well. I wish the rest of the world would treat their best assets (their people) with this same level of appreciation.

YesOffense

Amazing stuff. I can't wait to work for one of these employers that recognize and grow their employees potential.

bpenn

You have every characteristic of someone who will succeed. Tackling any problem - no matter the magnitude - goes a long way. Showing initiative and acquiring more responsibilities was smart on your part! I would also like to stress how right you are about soft skills. Being likeable and socially prominent is an excellent trait to have.

Dakinggamer87

Congrats!!!

D1renegade

Congrats! I hope to be singing a similar tune in three years

manchild

When preparation meets opportunity... well done sir!

chmod

the_Grinch wrote: »

Man makes we wonder what I've done with my life! Almost seven years of full time experience and haven't cracked $70k. Congrats op!

Is not only about how long you have been in the industry is also about how much value you can add to an organization, how hard you work and can demonstrate it with results, how you interact with people(networking, interview, let other know how good you are while been humble) and a little bit of luck.

hurricane1091

This is a good story, congrats!

About the money thing some people mention, there's definitely places that just pay well and reward their own, and there is places that don't. I think I'm in the latter (for example, I doubt I get anything like additional pay or promotion after getting the CCNP/CCDP this year, or even next year but hopefully I will lol) but there's definitely places that do the kind of thing OP has gone through and it's completely plausible. I know stories first hand as well.

Kreken

Congratulations. Sounds a bit too good to be true though.

philz1982

srj wrote: »

A couple years ago I set a goal of making $100k in 3 years. Yesterday I officially accomplished this and bypassed it. Here is the progression for anyone interested.

So when you gonna hit 250k?

that's my goal right now.

storch

Honestly, every time I read these threads I'm envious on how much the US pays for IT professionals compared to Canada. There is no way your going to make that kind of money in Canada unless your really senior, work with a niche product or in a VP type role. I also see that everyone here with a CISSP is making 100k or more, again in Canada that's not the case unless you have 10 or more years of experience in IT security.

LeBroke

Damn, I'm making half that in DevOps and I was also making half what you were as a Linux Sysadmin!

Where are you located? DC/New York/California?

TheFORCE

LeBroke wrote: »

Damn, I'm making half that in DevOps and I was also making half what you were as a Linux Sysadmin!

Where are you located? DC/New York/California?

He is located in Boston.

TranceSoulBrother

storch wrote: »

Honestly, every time I read these threads I'm envious on how much the US pays for IT professionals compared to Canada. There is no way your going to make that kind of money in Canada unless your really senior, work with a niche product or in a VP type role. I also see that everyone here with a CISSP is making 100k or more, again in Canada that's not the case unless you have 10 or more years of experience in IT security.

That can also have a vicious negative effect insofar that things end up costing more. Look at healthcare in America compared to elsewhere!.