How much should i be Making$$

[Craig Seeman]

They’re trying to talk you DOWN from $35,000? We can’t judge talent from a description (actually we all value things differently anyway) but you certain have taken on a bit and have a comprehensive skill set.
We also can’t judge the cost of living in your market but they should accept your request for $35,000 IMHO and you should expect increases within the year as you gain more experience or you should consider looking elsewhere while you maintain this job.

[Mike Cohen]

Questions to ask yourself:

Will I be better off than working freelance?

If there are benefits, such as health care, dental etc – figure that into the equation.

Are there a lot of available jobs at the moment in your area?

I have heard that people starting out in life these days will hold something like 10 jobs in their lives, so assume that if this doesn’t work out off you will go to the wild blue yonder. But for the present, is it a decent job to start your career?

Depending upon how far down they want to talk you, negotiation is generally part of a job offer – however if you are just starting out, you don’t have much leverage. If they are offering say 30K, see if you can get 32.5.

As has been discussed countless times on this forum, $30K in Dallas vs $30K in LA vs $30K in Urbandale, Iowa are very different things.

What are you worth? Probably a lot more than that, but it will take time to get there.

Mike Cohen

[Grinner Hester]

I’d say you are about on. They’ll talk ya down to 30.
take it.

[Mark Suszko]

Careers. The stat is about how many complete careers, not just jobs, a recent graduate will hold in their lifetime. 10 jobs is nothing, changing between five or so different careers in a lifetime, that is scary stuff.

Back to the question. Do you already have a day rate? If not, look over the COW archives and compute yourself one. Compare for yourself and the bosses what amount of work x costs at day rate for you as a freelance, over what they are saving by paying you (the figure you want) full-time. Find stats to show what average rate of pay is in the area for the work you do.

Do not discount the added value of the benefits beyond just salary. These make a huge difference in places where the salary is capped, and if you are creative, can be worth thousands, tax-free. But be sure you get the bennies accurately agreed in writing. These can be things such as paying for you to go to NAB once a year, to pay your entry fees for video contests, to host your portfolio web site, or to buy training sessions and software regularly, to build your skills, (making you more valuable and marketable), it could be allowing you to use company gear for private projects on weekends, or a company car/company-paid bus passes or health club memberships, it could involve bonuses for overtime pay or some kind of profit sharing. Plus the insurance and retirement. Salary alone is only one factor. Use your imagination. I know of folks who have some or nearly all of these in their deals. Add them up and it may equal an additional ten grand in value a year, essentially off the books.

You are in a down economy with a lot of competition, and they know it. So there is only so far you can push. The two big rules of salary negotiation are, first guy to name an actual number, loses, and, you have to be willing to walk away if you don’t like the deal, and they have to believe you will/can. Otherwise, you will take whatever they give you. Your big advantage is incumbency, and the familiarity it brings. You are a proven, known commodity, and replacing you means training someone else, an unknown quantity, up to speed on all the little things. So during the negotiations, remind as often as practical how much you are already a part of the operation, how well you work with all the clients, etc. so that replacing you with someone cheaper puts them out of their comfort zone.

[Zach Dierks]

Here are a few of the things that I have done in the last 5 months.

https://www.youtube.com/user/zdd353

[Nick Griffin]

Gee, Zach. I’m using Firefox on a Mac and all I see below
“Here are a few of the things that I have done in the last 5 months.”

is blank space. I hope you’ve done more than this in the last 5 months.

Seriously, in your negotiation ask for things which they can expense and you don’t necessarily have to pay taxes on. Things like insurances (health and life) and automobiles. I also agree with asking for the ability to use their gear, but tread lightly so you’re not seen as potentially taking work away. The net cost ends up being less for them yet still beneficial to you.

[Randy Lee]

From the sounds of what you’re doing, $35,000 should be on the low end of what you’re worth. Of course, what you’re worth and what you’ll get are two completely different numbers, and those numbers make the difference between you trying to get everything you can out of them in terms of experience and reel so you can move on vs. you loving the job and wanting to stay there. Best of luck to you, and if you’re good you should get the $35,000 with raises sooner rather than later or some of the benefits mentioned above (Which I just bookmarked a link to for very soon when I’m asking for a raise).

You did mention a number first, but if they haven’t said no, chances are good they’re hoping to talk you down but they’ll go for it if you stick to it.

[Grinner Hester]

take any offer.

[Bill Davis]

Instructive reality #1. Go to an auction. Sit around for a while and you’ll discover that the value of anything is directly related to how many people want it. One person wants it – it’ll go cheap. Two people want it – the price will rise. Two people want it and DON’T want the other one to get it – the price will skyrocket.

Instructive reality #2. Your worth to this particular company that wants to hire you – is relative to their PERCEPTION of the value you bring to the company. If they got the idea somehow that adding you to their staff would bring in an extra 10 million bucks a year – they’d most likely happily pay you a million bucks a year to do so. Really.

However, few and far between are the 24 year olds who can bring in ANY extra money just by showing up each day. So they will understandably see you as a DRAIN on their capital. They have to pay you out of their profits simply in order to keep their clients happy – and because of that dynamic, they’re in a position to try to pay you as little as possible, since that enhances their chances of business success.

You can play this two ways. Take whatever they offer you – and find ways to increase their success – then ask them to share with you the fruits of that effort. That’s the traditional way of working up the corporate value ladder.

The other play is to work OUTSIDE their operation and build a reputation as someone who’s work has exceptional value. Then come back in a position where the DEMAND for your personal skills is greater than the SUPPLY of people with a similar skill set.

That’s about it when it comes to getting people to pay you money for work.

Pick and path and let us know how it goes.

[Tom D’angelo]

Zach,

It’s really hard to say what one is worth. As has been said every area is different. New York is different from Omaha, LA is different from Ontario. You really need to gage you’re current market along with cost of living etc. Also you got to take in effect the economy.

That being said, $35,000 sounds kind of low for your skill set especially if you’re in a major market(and working with good sized clients).

It’s hard to give solid advice in negotiations. To me it’s ultimately a game of chicken. If you stand pat on a number, they may walk away or they might ultimately cave. It’s the risk you take.

Listen you’re still young and seem to have gotten a good amount of experience and skills already. Just keep getting better everyday and NETWORK. Knowing your way around “the business” sometimes is more important than knowing your way around the Avid. Good luck!

Tommy D’Angelo
Editor
Punk Rock Kid
NYC by way of Westchester