So to try to start this thread back on track, is anyone else concerned about the relatively low wages of our industry?
Oh my, yes. It has been a topic of discussion for years. Although for the last year or so the pendulum has swung somewhat. At least here in the US it has.?ÿ ?ÿ
BTW - they have to pay the people who work at McD's more, because those people hate their jobs and dread going to work.?ÿ
1) Surveying is not an industry.
2) Surveying is not a trade.
3) I'm not telling you how much money I make.
4) I'm not telling you how much I pay my intern.
The first step is to define typical.
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Agreed, that was the intent of this thread.?ÿ
1) Surveying is not an industry.
2) Surveying is not a trade.
3) I'm not telling you how much money I make.
4) I'm not telling you how much I pay my intern.
Thank you for your contribution to the thread.
So to try to start this thread back on track, is anyone else concerned about the relatively low wages of our industry?
Oh my, yes. It has been a topic of discussion for years. Although for the last year or so the pendulum has swung somewhat. At least here in the US it has.?ÿ ?ÿ
BTW - they have to pay the people who work at McD's more, because those people hate their jobs and dread going to work.?ÿ
Valid point, ideally the market will decide the wages. In a perfect world as employee scarcity rises, wages will too until an equilibrium is found. This last summer when switching jobs I applied for 11 jobs and had 9 offers within a few days. Several without having an in person interview, a signal to me that we have found such scarcity.?ÿ
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I wish there was more transparency for wages I guess would be the reason I was hoping this thread would get traction. When I was choosing what to go to school for if I had known the real world pay for this industry it would have affected my decision. Both of my brothers love there jobs, have less education and work experience but make significantly more in there field.
I wish there was more transparency for wages
It is amazing how employers have brainwashed us into thinking that talking about wages is bad.
In California, 20 years experience, PLS for 4 years making $100,000 per year, full medical for me and my dependents. I could get a better salary at other firms but that would require a commute. Good luck, never settle and network, network, network.
@shea-gleadle?ÿ
Surveying is not an industry!
Surveying is not an industry
Yeah, it is.
And, it's a trade.
It's also a professional occupation.
Sign me up for the chainman job...
Sure. Sign yourself up... after a couple of months you'd be unhappy not being in charge.
you'd be unhappy not being in charge
Unless I had someone like @tim-v-pls in charge; that would be awesome!!
Good people are hard to find, so they're going up. I hired a drafter, recently, from a big Engineering firm. I'm paying him what they were paying; they offered him another $8.00 per hour to stay.
A little off subject, but the most difficult aspect of hiring a new employee while I was in business was trying to assess their capabilities with respect to their salary requirements. ie: can I invoice 2.5 - 3 times the requested dollars?
Interviewees have a tendency to elaborate on their qualifications whether true or ??almost true? (we all have done it at one time in our life) It??s a difficult situation which employers have most likely been through a time or two. But sometimes you will find a rose in the thorns. ?????ÿ
Sign me up for the chainman job...
Sure. Sign yourself up... after a couple of months you'd be unhappy not being in charge.
Who wants to be in charge? If you get paid more to have someone else take the risk and worry, what's the pull?
No matter how you look at it, you can't compare compensation across the board.?ÿ There are too many factors involved to make a general statement as to what an employee should be compensated.?ÿ Rates of pay vary drastically and are largely based on the local economy which varies from one place to another.?ÿ Cost of living is a huge driving factor.
I have practiced in NJ only for my entire career.?ÿ I started as a Rod Man in 1983 for $3.08/hr.?ÿ 39 years later I am more than happy with my compensation with has accelerated rapidly over the last 6 years when I started a Survey department for a very small Engineering firm.?ÿ Six years ago, I was the 11th employee.?ÿ Today we have over 70 employees.
The rate of pay also depends on your level of responsibility and your performance.?ÿ If you are not adding value to your employer, your employer is not going to increase your pay rate very much.
I live in one of the highest taxed states on the country.?ÿ I own a modest Cape Cod 3 BR, 1 1/2 bath house on a half acre in a rural town.?ÿ Because of school taxes I pay roughly $9K/year in property taxes with only about $200 going to the municipality.?ÿ I cringe this time of year, every year, when I get my income taxes done, no longer being married or having dependent children.
Me new, inexperienced hires start out at around $17/hr.?ÿ When they progress to being proficient running the equipment them move into the mid 20's/hr.?ÿ My Chief's average about $35/hr.?ÿ?ÿ
@dmyhill?ÿ
In my case, I hate being told what to do. I think that might be typical of surveyors.
I'd suggest using glassdoor or other similar websites where you can check the average salaries for various companies.
Here in UK they can vary a lot depending on the company, experience, location, industry, etc. etc.
