Im way underpaid at my job, what can i do?

Question

I work in technical support for a telecommunications company in Pennsylvania. Apparently I am well underpaid. Apparently the national average is 40,000.

I'm making 10 an hour.

What should I do to make more money? Is there a way to get more? 10 an hour for a level 1 or 2 tech is not alot at all. kind of sucks :(

im 19, highschool diploma, some college.

Answer 1

That $40K is usually for people with a degree and at least 25 years old, not a 19 year old. Be glad you are making $10 /hour. I know many 19 year olds that are making just above min wage, and thats in PA!

Answer 2

The biggest thing here is research and information. You need to arm yourself with as much of both as you can. You state the "national average", but you better be able to tell your employer your local average and industry average as well. Even company size, your past experience, your education level, performance, location, and your number of years on the job will affect your salary.

I would recommend building a solid business case on your own behalf that shows that in your case, given all of the above factors and considerations, you are indeed underpaid. Make sure you get the correct numbers, and be honest enough with yourself to admit that you are wrong, if you find out that you are indeed being paid equitably.

Answer 3

Well, you accepted the job at that location at those hours at that pay. You got yourself into to this! You should have done your research BEFORE you accepted the job, not after. You need to be more mature than you are, by agreeing to something then moaning about it and looking for greener pastures. Part of you being mature is you having a discussion with the Father. You need to tell the father that he didn't tell you that the 13year old is special needs and that this makes your job more difficult. Also tell him that the cost of gas rising is making it more difficult for you. Suggest that he pay you $375 a week instead of $350. This is a modest increase which he will probably accept and should make you feel better. Be careful to be mature and responsible and not to create ill will in this discussion.

Answer 4

You need to take control of your own career. Are you a top performer? How do you help the company make money or reduce costs?

Once you become an asset to a company, and prove your worth, you will get promoted and get pay raises.

I, too, worked in the telecom industry (for a number of years). I started out making just $12 an hour, but within 5 years was making in excess of $70K per year, not including my bonus. 3 years later, I was making 6 figures.

I learned ways to work smarter, not harder (develop a great relationship with your boss, and manage up, find and DOCUMENT how you increased profits or reduced costs; report accomplishments and challenges you overcome to your boss weekly, etc.).

My suggestion: Use the opportunity to learn as much as you can, and become an asset to the company you work for. Telecom jobs, in general, pay very well. If you don't get promoted at the company you work for, use your knowledge and expertise to provide value somewhere else.

Don't dwell on the fact that you're not making what you want to - turn your vision into figuring out what it's going to take to get you where you want to be.

I'm committed to helping people find meaning and value in their careers...because life is too short for an unfulfilling career!

Check out my career website - you'll find additional stragegies on how to advance and succeed in your career:

http://www.career-development-help.com/strategies-for-job-success.html

Best wishes! I know if you stay focused, and positive, you will start getting paid what you deserve.

Answer 5

Finish school. The 40K average affected by the thouands of people makng $1,000,000+ on wall street. I bet you there are more people making $1,000,000+ on my floor (I work for a wall st investment bank) than making $1,000,000+ on the Yankees. Granted, you (and I), are not going to be one of these people, but I see first hand everyday how a good education, gets you a good job (not guarenteed), and makes you a good salary.

You are never going to break the $40K unless you have some kind of talent that employers want.

So find something you LIKE, you are good at, and go to school for it (doesn't have to be college)

Answer 6

How long have you been with the company? If you've just started, give it some times. Without a college degree you'll just have to be patient and work your way up. Otherwise, go back to school. You're still very young and it will pay off in the long run.

Answer 7

Go to your HR manager and show them some proof of what people in positions similar to yours are being paid IN YOUR AREA. You have to be more specific than the national average or they will just blow you off.

By the way, there's nothing wrong with shooting for the moon but I have a bachelor's, post grad certs, and 7+ years of experience in my field and still make less than $40,000.

Answer 8

Your income will depend on not only college but also on the actual years of same job experience. If you are 19, you might not have too much practical experience. But in any case, try to get another employer, sometimes competition pays more.

Answer 9

Count your blessings that you have a job honey. I just read about 143 people that checked into a homeless shelter last night to avoid the frigid temperatures. Not everyone is as lucky as you seem to be. You are 19 and you are making almost twice as much as people in their 40's working in the fast food industry. Suck it up, you are low man on the totem pole yet.

Answer 10

If you are 19 and do not have a college degree, $10 sounds pretty high. The people who make $40,000/year have degrees and plenty of experience.

Sorry.