Member Salary Poll

[Newton]

What with all the talk in the news of rising unemployment figures and falling salaries I thought it may be interesting to do a salary/job review posting and I hope I've chosen the correct forum.

All polls are of course anonymous, and text responses aren't really necessary because this isn't about knowing that Tamara earns $200,000 a month as a Government advisor.

So poll away and let's see how the numbers shape up.

Newton

 

[Greg L]

Of course this assumes that you are working for someone else who is setting your salary at a reasonably constant level. Some of us have to kick our own butts out of bed in the morning to try to keep the roof over our heads (I averaged out the last few years for the poll).

Greg

 

[Mike Irwin]

Almost 5 years ago I jumped nearly 30 percent in salary by changing jobs from a financial institution to an employee-owned government contractor.

Best move I ever made, as the situation has gotten a lot better since then.

Now there's some uncertainty as our contract is coming to an end, and we're bidding on the follow on. If we get that, we're good for another 9 years, and that will give me the security I need to go back to school and gain skills that will be even more valuable to my employer.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I got a whopping 1% raise this year that partially compensates for the retirement pick-up that I'll be picking up. Oh well, better that than unemployment and besides, I can still live cheap. Guess that backpacker and starving college student mentality is never outgrown.

 

[Bruce H]

Weather has a lot to do with what I make. That said, my bills are paid and I have what toys seem necessary. Life is simple but good.

 

[Kcustom45]

I make less than 20,000, but I am going to school and living with my parents. And since I don't have many bills I can spend more money on my toys. I have to get a lot now because when I move out I don't think I will have much disposable income.

 

[veloce851]

I went from a nice mid 5figure income several years ago.
To less than 10K (really Mr IRS that's all I made ) as a computer consultant.
And now I'm hacking fish for $9 an hour.

I've never filed for unemployment or bankruptcy. (though I probably should have...damn that pride)

The economy has changed and it is tough.. but its still possible to survive.
Because somehow I've been able to manage to add all the firearms in my collection in the past year. And still have digital cable.
It's amazing what you can do when you really play with the numbers.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

don't get me started....

I was a contractor for a large, multinational computer manufacturer/software solutions provider (can you say HAL?) up until 4 months ago when the company downsized my contractor group. Laid off the experienced folks, moving the workload overseas. Over the previous 18 months the contractors experienced an 18% cut in pay while the 'real employees' received bonuses plus a 4% annual raise. The good news is that I'm the lead candidate for a new project that will be associated with a large security program and I'll once again be back working with the hardware I know more about than most in my field. Better pay, real benefits, bleeding edge technology. I love it. Hopefully the interview will be in mid-month. They call me every couple of days to stay on top of me. Not to count eggs, but I'm sitting on this nest until it sours.

more money= more toys.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[lee n. field]

Interesting. At the time I'm looking at it, it looks to be a fairly even distribution, not a bell curve.

FWIW, I make about half what the IT trade rags say someone with my certs and time in the field usually makes. Part of it is living where I do (2 hours boonieward from Chicago, and I ain't willingly getting any closer). Part of it is being in a small business (<10 people), not in a big business cube farm somewhere.

I've pretty much resigned myself to never having much of this world's wealth. Just glad to be alive.

Health insurance sure would be nice though.

 

[Monkeyleg]

The past six years have been a financial and emotional rollercoaster. I've gone from making close to six figures (which is a very good income in this state), to making roughly what a burger-flipper would make, to getting close to that six-figure income, and this year making probably what a manager of burger flippers might make.

Ah, the joys of being self-employed.

 

[blades67]

"Warning labels thwart the purpose of natural selection."

I work in the Nursing field because people don't believe the warning labels.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I used to work as a neurooncology nurse (RN/BSN) before I went back to computers. One of my goals in life is the overthrow of the HMO system.

One, among several reasons I decided to leave the field was because the beancounters thought they knew more about medicine and standards of practice than physicians and professional nurses. Dismissing a patient to go home 72 hours after intracranial surgery because their insurance company will not pay for 73 hours is not good practice.

I do moonlight some in the field PRN, but I choose my assignments.


Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Make less than $25k per year, but I'm good enough w/ my money to still survive in the Los Angeles suburbs and live tactically and still have a few hundred bucks to put away every month.

 

[Ala Dan]

Since my hometown has been renamed "Poverty, U.S.A.",
I think the title speaks for its-self?

Lot's of unemployment, no good jobs available, high cost
of living, taxes helping support welfare receipent's and
drug addict's are some of the reasons I list as causes
for why this town was renamed!

At least I'm not among that list~

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Destructo6]

I'm one of those stinking college students, at least for another few weeks.

Got a fed leo job all lined up, though. Could be a lot of fun, if things go right. Oh, and it would get me out of CA for good!

Skunk, you're my hero.

 

[Majic]

I'm one of them decently paid craftsman, with plenty of overtime, that hates to get those service calls. They keep interupting the card and computer games.

 

[OEF_VET]

I start my new job in about 1/2 an hour, so my income will increase a little. But, then again, with VA disability, Army retirement, and my GI Bill check, I'm doing fairly well. Heck, I make more money going to school than I will when I graduate. That's actually kind of screwed up, ain't it?

Frank

 

[Matt G]

I agree with Lee N Field-- it's surprising how flat the distribution is.

I would have liked to have seen a field for 7 figure incomes, just out of personal curiosity.

 

[Tim Currie]

Net 33,000 a year currently @ Walgreens. Soon to be 44,000 and then with some luck, and a whole lotta work, up to 52,000 plus BONUS when I get my own store.

I would have liked to have seen a field for 7 figure incomes, just out of personal curiosity

Ditto

 

[Norton]

One of the few good things about teaching in MD is that the salaries are relatively good, thanks to the local NEA affiliate. Though I steadfastly refuse to join due to the politics associated with that union, er I mean professional organisation, they still take 80% of the dues out for a "representation fee".

That 52,000 still goes pretty far along with side music gigs, teaching lessons, etc. I figure that salary is pretty good for a two hundred day contract (though my Saturdays and evenings that I work are totally uncompensated for beyond that contract.) I get tired of hearing these teachers moan and groan about their pay, yet they refuse to do anything with the other 165 days a year they don't have to be at school.:banghead:

 

[Kharn]

I'm currently a college student making $13.50/hr during the summer, so I voted 20-30, but next year (after graduation) it should be more like 40-50.

Kharn

 

[Dorrin79]

I make about 42K a year.

My wife earns about 35K (assuming she finds a teaching position for this next year)

we do alright.

 

[Newton]

Surprising what an even spread of salaries we have in our membership, I wasn't expecting that.

I don't like to see that approximately 1 in 10 of respondants are currently out of work, and I wanted to add at the start of this thread that if you are in that position please accept my very best wishes that things get better for you real soon, I really mean that.

Newton

 

[Soap]

Another full time college student here. I work one job only three months out of the year, and then another 30 hours/week while attending classes. So I'm in the 20-30K range. If you would annualize both jobs though I would be in a much higher bracket. Whenever I get out of school my income will surely go upward. I already have a few leads with great companies, not to mention a few other financial opportunities. Independently wealthy here I come! Life is good.

 

[themic]

cost of living, though, makes a big difference. i make what would be considered a great salary in most of the country, but can hardly survive in a 600 square foot apartment inside the beltway.