Salary Negotiation - Please Advise

That's maybe about half what you should be getting...

Depends on your experience and usability, though.

I know a lot of surveyors, and I don't know a single one making over $100,000.

> I know a lot of surveyors, and I don't know a single one making over $100,000.

Yes you do bud

That sounds like a good place to get yourself going. Don't sweat the dollars and cents today as much as gaining the skills to make those numbers inflate well over time. The guy offering the highest dollar may dump you three months from now.

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Not personally I don't.

We're in very different geographic regions, but that's not nearly enough for that kind of job here. Granted, it's pretty expensive to live up here, but I doubt that makes up the disparity. I took a job very similar to what you are describing a couple years back for $80,000 and that wasn't enough. Fortunately I'm doing a lot better now.

In my opinion that is a six figure position. Maybe not quite that much based on local wages, but it's gotta be close.

Is that significantly more than you make now? If you're used to being part of a survey group and are about to take it all on your own it's going to be significantly more work. Does he have tons of work where you're going to be working 60 hours a week or is it slower paced?

I'd judge the salary based on your own experience as an 'unlicensed' in the same market and your exposure in his firm (make sure he provides confirmation that you are covered under his E&O/ liability).

Where I would absolutely draw the line is, 'No Benefits'.

You are a professional.

If no bene's is not flexible for him, then you need to add about 12-15k on whatever salary figure is acceptable. Higher end if no paid vacation is included (and no bene's generally means no vacation).

:good:

I would say that's low...about 10k low to start out with...especially construction staking. I would counter with 75 and see what he says. Don't forget ownership percentage at a certain time frame as well as yearly raises and bonuses if you are the lead dog. It is really involved and will take time not currently being considered.

backchain took the words right off my fingertips..... No benefits? That's a pricy call, 12-15K sounds about right.

What about percentage of profit? Or how about the partner route, does that exist?

The no benefits would be the killer.

Q: What's the best kind of stake for a surveyor?

A: Equity stake.

All of this free advice is worth exactly what it costs you. We each have built in biases based on our own neighborhoods and our own levels of competition and the supply of competent employees. And, we love to set the bar high.

You are the only one that knows the situation. What are the odds he can get someone else rather easily to do exactly what he is offering to you? Is this the work you want to do and where you want to live? Do you know you can make substantially more without moving? Do you want to move? Do you have enough experience to handle the job properly? Are you certain of that? Who are you going to call when a situation comes up that makes you uncomfortable because you really don't have that particular experience on your resume? To what extent will you be able to tell your employer, "No", from time to time? Ignore those promoting big pay numbers based on their 30-40 years of climbing the corporate ladder, that's not where you are today. You probably don't live in a house that would sell today for $400,000 due to inflation since the time you purchased it for $35,000.

A big problem I see is that you a one-man show. You dig for bars, swing the machete, refill the ink in the printer, write business documents, care for all of the equipment, maintain the survey chariot and empty the wastebaskets. Most of those jobs are worth tremendously less than $58,000 but that is where you will spend much of your time.