Salary Websites?

[Jackimalyn]

Hey everyone, Im working on getting up the courage to ask for a raise. Does anyone know any good salary stats web pages (for free) so I know how much I can ask for before getting cocky? Ive used www.bls.gov and www.salary.com looks great but costs $30 for every report. Anyone know any good free ones?

Thank all-

[daSnarf]

if you find any, Id be interested in knowing too =)

[Drorain]

payscale.com has a free option thats quite nice actually

[patkennedy78]

This one helped me get a raise a while back, from AIGA and Aquent.

http://www3.designersalaries.com/aigaaquent/Home.form

[Jackimalyn]

thanks drorain and pat- ill have to check those out...

[CamarotaDesign]

Jacki, I used the basic feature at salary.com. It's a little hard to find, but its pretty helpful, it can list the different salary levels for other designers in your area. Use this link:

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_newsearch.asp

[Jackimalyn]

thanks camarota! that was depressing though. Think its appropriate to ask for a 12K/year raise?

[mojoprime]

wow! let us know if that goes through!

...and if there are any openings! :)

[Ned]

salary.monster.com (http://salary.monster.com/)

or here in Canada,

salary.monster.ca (http://salary.monster.ca/)

[CamarotaDesign]

Dude, Jacki. You are getting shafted if you are making that much less than other people at your current experience level and position.

I used it to get a pretty fat raise at my job. My pay nearly doubled since I started working here 8 months ago.. even though I'm still making a little less than people at my level in this area.

You need to be honest and confident with yourself and them. Is the work you are doing helping your company and generating profits? Can you present them some material that shows this? Can you get support from a supervisor? I think if you answered yes to those, then you have some good leverage to work with. Basically, you need to let them know they are lucky to have you, and you are happy to work for them if they pay you what you are worth.

[Ned]

12K/a for one raise is quite hefty. Perhaps break that up? It's not unusual to ask for bi-annual or quarterly raises.

[Drorain]

I've been shafted so long here it doesn't even hurt anymore.

[CamarotaDesign]

I've been shafted so long here it doesn't even hurt anymore.

bahahaha, thats how It was starting to feel for me.

Funny thing was, when I was making less, I was living a lot less lavishly, and saving just as much money. Now all the extra money I make I spend, can't say I'm not enjoying it though :)

[Ned]

I've been shafted so long here it doesn't even hurt anymore.

How's that saying go?

"I don't mind getting pancaked up the arse, but use some vaseline first"?

[CamarotaDesign]

Yeah thats it Ned. Wait a minute.... what?!!! :eek:

[PrintDriver]

All those salary sites use averages. The number they show is an average and it doesn't take more than a couple of high-rollers to skew those numbers. Or you may be in an area where there is a saturation of seasoned workers in your category. You have to determine where you are in skillset and experience compared to others in your area before you go being depressed about not making 'average' salary. It's more about making a living than being average. Which also isn't easy in this industry..

[Jackimalyn]

actually PD all the sites I checked out had ranges, depending on experience, etc. My salary falls well below the median. i need to brush up on my negotiation skills though, apparently thats one of the main reasons women make less than men, they dont fight for higher than they are offered (which is exactly what I did when I was hired here)

[CamarotaDesign]

PD, Like what Jacki said, they had median and means. not just average. I even got to see about 10 employee profiles that talked about their duties, and the salary they made. It was pretty accurate for my area.