Salary vs Work Performed

[Thunderwind]

Maybe I just do not appreciate my position, but you tell me if it seems worth it.

I am the sole Admin at a company 75+ users and one remote office of 10. I admin the peer to peer network, we have a custom program that I do most of the reports from, I program complicated importing formats for the D-base, I trouble shoot all software problems (Word, Excel, ect), I troubleshoot all hardware, I admin our email(offsite, isp maintained), backup all files and d-bases, and I take care of the phone system and i created an access dbase that does all the phone call reports.

Now, I feel that I do not get paid enough (doesn't everyone). But you tell me. I am getting 30k/year, no benefits except 1 week vaca. I do not have any Certs and no degree. Been doing this stuff only 2 years. I want to get my MCSE, but I can not afford it yet.

Also, I created a web site that is for tech support of this exclusive software that we use and would get charge for any questions asked. There are allot of people using this site and has helped me answer questions that we would have had to call and get charged for.

DO you think I get paid what I am worth?

Thanks

[itsmewhoelse]

NO! But get some certs to back up your experience ( and you've got a lot ) do A+ internet + CNA and maybe some MOUS stuff. You'll be able to almost double what your makin' in a year.

Good Luck!

itsmewhoelse

[WesFlash]

I agree. Get the company to help pay for some certs if possible. I make 30K/yr as a help desk analyst for a large company. Make up your resume and post it on some of the big sites to see what you can get. Also, look for some headhunters in your area as well. Heck, if you post on Monster, headhunter.net, even Flipdog will probably get the headhunters e-mailing you or even calling you. You may be able to bargain a better salary by showing good offers to your current employer that will make them want to raise it. Be careful though, there is an art to talking money for jobs.

[corelogik]

Id want more than 30k for all that. You may find it hard to come by without some certs though. Im checking into finally getting some of mine right now,. and if you study on your own,. they arent that expensive.

[condor]

no
but -

you have a problem:

you have 2 yrs experience no certs no degree.

in my book it means you cannot apply to be a sys admin (not even a junoior sys admin)

my advice - get some certs - you can start at a community college (A.S in comuputer information systems) take courses that are part of MCSE etc...

while you're doing that try to get at least one MCP and a CNA on your own (online
resources and tests)

start looking for a better job <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

this will give you better chance - a work place will see that you're studying and getting ahead - this might give them the push to offer you a better job.

in my book a sys admin (junior) should make at least 50K a year but he should also have a degree and some certs to backup any expereince (at least 2 years)

also it seeems to me that you know a lot of things - this is great but also works against you - you should be an expert in ONE field (support, communications,security,dbase..)

Just my take on things..

Good luck

[Higg]

I started similar to you 6 years ago... and I got less...
Try to get a CERT and/or another job just to make more experience and to find out what you want to do in the future - it's hard to get more money while staying in one company... a change is always a good chance to increase the budget (or find out what you're really worth!)

[Web Master]

Well if you had MCSE and that experience, you'd pull in at least $55K here in Tampa, if you had MCSE and a couple years experience.

[techleet]

30k is pretty bad.

I am in the same situation as you, except more experience. I have 7+ years deskop/programming/sysadmin exp. I am the sole admin of 75+ users, I admin exchange 5.5, all 10 or so NT servers, admin legato (solaris), admin our LAN, etc etc etc. I'm making 65K right now, but am due for a huge raise, most likely to 80K. But then, i'm in Silicon Valley. I suppose 80k would be equivalent to 65K or so in other parts of the US.

I have 11 certs, 5 years college, but my no degree and my certs are all from Brainbench.com <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> hahahaha -- I was bored one day at work and took the tests just to see what I knew!! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Certs:
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Administration – 11/17/2000
Master Windows 98 Power User - 8/14/2000
Master Windows 95 Power User - 8/14/2000
Master Computer PC Essentials User - 9/5/2000
TCP/IP Administrator - 8/14/2000
Network Technical Support - 11/2/2000
Computer Technician - 9/5/2000
Computer Fundamentals – 9/5/2000
Windows 98 Administrator - 8/14/2000
Windows 95 Administrator - 8/14/2000

College:
JCs, CompSci/Programming/Music majors