Been in the field for 10 yrs, been in large server environments (500+), and smaller ones (50+), and have moved from the "jack of all master of none" server admin job to more specialized roles like Exchange, Citrix, and Backups...
I gave up on the MS cert path about 5 years ago b/c it never ends and doesn't make a lot of difference since our field is so hands on experience...most book or cert work is forgotten anyways shortly after the test is passed...all it really shows is that you have the gumption to get through a test. Also, the test questions are getting longer...and it seems to be more about how many questions you can get done in the shortest period of time rather than what you know, which I think is BS to be honest. 70k, + good benefits and guaranteed annual bonus... A few observations: 1. Generally speaking, if you are working in the public sector or for a non-profit, forget a good salary. If you want higher pay, get good experience and then move on...preferably to the private sector. 2. Learn to market yourself well...as you get into your career, I find people care a lot more about your experience, and what you've dealt with than your credentials (though having both is the most ideal) 3. The best way to get raises is to move around a lot--again, this is just my experience. You get in a place and find that your salary is going nowhere, and you want to move up, then it's time to move on. 4. Let's be real, most of us aren't going to break the 6 digit barrier w/out an advanced degree and some "connections". 5. Your pay is also going to have a lot to do with where you live and the state of the economy in your location. If you are stuck in the mid-45's or 50s, maybe it's b/c that's all they pay for a server tech where you live. I happen to live in Dallas, where the pay scale is high. I noticed another guy post that got paid 115k, but he lives in California, and the cost of living is considerably higher (not that he is undeserving or unqualified--from the sounds of it, he's more qualified than most of us:))...so, where you live makes a big difference. -----Original Message----- From: John Hornbuckle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 10:12 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: IT Salary Survey By the way... You may not be much safer at the state level than you were at the district level. Here in Florida, the state has been known to let go big groups of employees in one whack. John -----Original Message----- From: Joe Heaton [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 11:02 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: IT Salary Survey Hope your job is more secure than out here in California at the moment John. Up until a few months ago, I worked for a school district here in Sacramento. There were 4 of us in the IT department, although one was half-time bus driver, so really 3 1/2, including the Supervisor. I left there in October, and now work for the state. I just spoke with that supervisor about a week or so ago and this is what he told me: 1) They are not going to replace me. (Down to 2 1/2 people) 2) The half-time bus driver is now a full-time bus driver. (Down to 2 people) 3) The administration is talking about lay-offs, which would include the guy that does the database administration (Down to 1 person, who is the Supervisor) 4) The administration is also talking about the supervisor having to take a pay cut, and go back into the union. He told them that was fine, as long as his phone doesn't ring anymore. His boss told him she doesn't want her phone to ring, and he told her that he wasn't going to take a pay cut and stay in a supervisory position... (even though he wouldn't have anyone to supervise anyway...) All this because Arnie cut $500 million out of the education budget now, in emergency cuts. He's also talking about taking an additional $15 Billion out of the education budget for next year. Not sure how he expects to do that and still have schools at all. Sad state of affairs here in California... Just glad I got out of the school district in the nick of time. Joe Heaton -----Original Message----- From: John Hornbuckle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 1:14 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: IT Salary Survey > Forgot that list. > > What is everyone here making? :) > > Include degree, Cert too. > > -Z.V. BS in English (although no degree is required for this position--I got the degree after I got the job). Only certs are CompTIA A+, Net+, and I-Net+. Salary is a bit under $50k per year, undoubtedly making me one of the lowest-paid list members. On the plus side... Copious vacation and sick leave, two paid weeks off at Christmas, holidays and weekends off, a 7-minute commute home, free toys (including a cell phone and very nice laptop), participation in the state retirement system (not many jobs offer pensions like this), laid back atmosphere, and an employer who will never go out of business. John Hornbuckle MIS Department Taylor County School District 318 North Clark Street Perry, FL 32347 www.taylor.k12.fl.us ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
