Am I being underpaid?

Question

I work for a small business (approx. 30 people). My title is Sales and Advertising Coordinator. I develop, create and place all the print ads for my company (I'm the only one with a Mac). I have been a graphic designer for about 4 years and at the current job 2 years. I make about 50K.

I'm happy here but life happens and I now need more money to support my ailing parents.

I need to know realistically, how much do people with similar jobs make in the advertising industry. I like my company and my company likes me but they just can't afford to offer me more money.

I live near Los Angeles.

Answer 1

http://www.salary.com/

You can compare salaries by title in your area. Report is free.

Now, you said the company can't afford to pay you more. The company's financial situation is key in determining what they can afford to pay employees. If you are gratly underpaid, then ask for more stock options, more vacation, flexible hours or something else you would enjoy.

Don't go in demanding a raise. First, you must highlight your importance to the company. Then you must prove you are underpaid versus what other companies are paying. Leave yourself a way to back out of the discussion such that you don't lose your job if you don't get what you want. Then, decide if you should move to another company or be patient where you are.

Answer 2

Did you check Salary.com? You can get a free report that may be useful in evaluating whether or not you are in the right ballpark.

A couple of ideas:
Contact a headhunter or two in your area that services your market. If they can find a better opportunity, they make money so their search should tell you really quickly whether or not you can do better.

Look to pick up some freelance work on the side. Places like http://www.craigslist.org are great resources for smaller gigs and there's a craigslist for most cities.

There are also freelance websites but so many of them aren't very useful. I found Elance to be so crowded that people were selling themselves at rediculously low rates!

You might also contact the web design and marketing companies near you. They may need a good freelancer upon occasion.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Try applying to a bigger firm that does not already have a person like you as a resource. For that size of firm, you are at the right level of pay, yet the issue is you want more money. You may need to find an employer that has more resources to pay you and at the same time needs your services too.

Answer 4

50k sounds about average for the area and a small company.what are your other benefits like health care and vision and do,they have401 benefits how much do they contribute,how much paid vacation do you get,paid sick days?and or other paid personal days.do you drive far do they offer any mileage pay or pay for toll roads,? helping your parents, is a Noble thing . if they have little income, i would claim 3 more deductions on your payroll taxes, keep all your receipts for taxes, that should increase your take home pay another 65$ to 75$ extra per week.

Answer 5

Unless you're in an urban area where cost of living is high, that seems fair. Especially at such a small company.

Answer 6

You could check out some websites like the other person said www.salary.com or I know Robert Half International puts out a guide that talks about salaries. Good luck

Answer 7

i think you're underpaid. i know graphic designers making 70-80k a year. depends on what you mean by "graphic designer" as well but from what you say you do you're about in the median pay range I think. you could be making more but also depends on where you live

Answer 8

That seems to be about right unless you live in a locality that has a higher cost of living.

Answer 9

our company is in need of your skills and believe me we will pay you much more than 50k. go to this site and fill out your info I wish you the best.
http//Darrell.visionsuccess.biz

Answer 10

ask for a raise. im sure they'll give you one after 4 years of working there, unless you just got one.