IT Salaries

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 14:21

I am currently working in an IT Support job and have been here for 4 months. I'm on 16.5k for 37.5hours. I'm never swamped with calls but work reasonably hard, stuff like active directory, group policy, general problems with Office, setting up new PCs, updates and helping boss with other things like server problems/citrix/exchange/blackberry etc.

I have a degree (2:1) business computing and 2 years experience in IT. So far I have learned loads and an aweful lot from my boss and there's only me and my boss in the IT dept.

16.5k is easily enough for me to live on but what is making me ask is that my housemate has just walked into a job as a supply analyst for big supermarket on 20k and is asking for a payrise to be in line with other people working in his field (21k) (hes been there 2 weeks)

He has no experience in the field, has a business degree (2:2) and previous general office admin experience.

Am I underpaid or is this usual for my field of work/experience?
When is the right time to ask for a rise or should I keep quiet and carry on with 1 to 1 learning?

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 14:40

Mr Jack said:
Honestly, if you're learning and not hating the job, just stick at it. It's your first job, it's there to get you experience not make you rich. Worry about in 18 months time when you've got some half decent experience under your belt.

Not hating it at all, i actually enjoy it. Sure its not all great but that goes for everything. Its good that ive been given domain admin rights and can use things here like an old server as my test environment (within reason)

Its not my first job, i have had a years placement in IT support and one year in a software development team

Jez - Yes, its pretty gash to think that people in supermarkets are on about the same pay as me and binmen are (were) on more than me!

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 14:43

Edleake said:
And being a graduate makes what difference exactly?

Shows you can learn, shows you can stick at something, shows you havent lived at home and worked in a crappy job for years.

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 15:01

Jez said:
That kind of figure is not my experience of support at all (I have 5.5 years of it now starting right at the basics, so i should know). But then i am basing my experiences on generally city based large companies.

Are you just telling me that the salary figure is in line with your experience or that the figure is low for the things i'm doing? (I work in a big city for a medium sized company, just over 100 employees)

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 15:03

msm722 said:
I don't know how I managed to fluke my job, I dropped out of Uni and got a job which after a year I'm now earning 35k.

What do you do?

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 15:08

andyd said:
Have you had a look around on IT Jobs boards for salaries what what experance each role requires? IT is such a broad subject though, what areas are you looking to specialise in?

I'm not sure really, at the moment i'm mainly setting things in active directory/group policy and creating a couple of ADM templates. But i also support users in Office, Citrix, dabble in BES, exchange and other other server stuff. Oh and manage the IT asset register and printer stock.

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 15:10

randal24 said:
Same as you OP, I started my first job in desktop support at £16.5K a year for a standard working week 9-5. Sadly that was 10 years ago, and I didn't have your qualifications.

Now you've got some experience, I'd start sniffing about for something better paid and a step up. Logically for me that would be some kind of server admin with an AD tie in.

What do you now, 10 years on, if you dont mind me asking? I've only been here 4 months!

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 15:12

NickK said:
Remember this first job is only your first job in your career. Set your sights high and never stop pushing yourself to excel.

I have 2 years experience in IT.

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 15:35

andyd said:
Can you define server stuff please? Thats quite a broad range, what are your strong points from those you have listed?

Not much 'server stuff' really. I have recently setup an old DC with 2003 and will be looking at putting Exchange on it when my boss has a bit more time. I monitor the Citrix server to make sure they are not overloading and remote into the DCs and BES.

I spend most of my time in AD and Group Policy working out how to set certain things to make tasks easier/cheaper for our company. Such as new Office templates

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 15:51

mglover070588 said:
Can't really decide if you are well paid or not without knowing the IT qualifications behind you

BTEC national in computing - 3 distinctions, 5 merits - Doncaster college
Business computing 4 year sandwich (2:1) - Leeds met
Think ive got a basic photoshop certificate too that i did at college!

edit - i also use backup exec a bit to restore and monitor jobs and close files and help sort out shares on the file server

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 16:28

andyd said:
I wouldnt get too hung up on paid in the first few years of your career mate. Its more experance that earns the pennies.

Yeh this is what i though. I'm happy on what im on now but all mates keep saying stuff like "for what your doing it sounds like you should be on more than me"

Personally i'm just happy to be getting 1 on 1 tutoring in a great business. I posted because i wondered about other rates of pay and generally what they do/have done to get where they are and career progression

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 16:33

mglover070588 said:
The sandwich year is good. Have you had 2 years experience since graduating or are you counting the 2 years since graduation?

1 year in placement
1 year working after grad
(1 year travelling)

...now...

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 16:51

andyd said:
To start with IT isnt a huge salary, it slowly builds up over time in most cases. Are most of your mates in manual labour jobs just wondering?

A mix. Site engineer on 35k that started on 12k, Recruitment services, Teachers, Sports (physiotherapist) HR....

Guest2 · 9 Oct 2009 at 16:54

Mr^B said:
Why did you accept a job as a support monkey when you have a degree which isn't really suited to the job?

Because 16.5k is ok money and it certainly better than my previous 'job' (dole for 3 months)

It is, IT is suited to computing.

Mr^B said:
What do you want to end up doing?

Managing IT or supporting on higher levels, maybe supporting more server problems

Mr^B said:
No, you're not underpaid for what you are doing - yes, you are underpaid for what you *should* be doing.

What should I be doing?