How much do you earn?

  • Hi all,

    hm, this is a really indiscrete question, but while following the thread http://www.sqlservercentral.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12816&FORUM_ID=15&CAT_ID=4&Forum_Title=Job+Postings&Topic_Title=DBA+in+PHX , especially the last post talking about that low salary numbers, I am asking myself how much does/should an average dba earn? It would be especially interesting to hear something from european posters.

    ...and I know that we are all much more worth than that what we earn

    Cheers,

    Frank

    --
    Frank Kalis
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
    My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

  • I will say less than $60,000 but am looking to fix that. But for my area I am on the 25% portion of the pay scale. I have seen jobs for as much as $130,000 but most want you to know about 40 languages (programming) and be able to walk on water all at a moments request.

  • hmmm, When I was in the US at the time of the doom, I was on $85k a year.

    As it was my first time working there, I as not sure if that was good or not. Considering living expenses (San Jose and New York) I did not think it was brilliant. Comfortable yes, but again, I was single and drank most of my money away 🙂

    In South Africa, about R250 000.00 is a decent starting salray for a DBA. I have seen listings for upto R300-400 thoushand a year. If only I could talk my way into a job like that.....

    Cheers,

    Crispin

    Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

  • Hi Antares,

    quote:


    I will say less than $60,000 but am looking to fix that. But for my area I am on the 25% portion of the pay scale.


    top or bottom percentile?

    quote:


    I have seen jobs for as much as $130,000 but most want you to know about 40 languages (programming) and be able to walk on water all at a moments request.


    when I see your resume on this site, you come close to this.

    Cheers,

    Frank

    --
    Frank Kalis
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
    My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

  • Hi Crappy,

    quote:


    hmmm, When I was in the US at the time of the doom, I was on $85k a year.


    no joking?!?.

    I wish I would make 85k € a year. Even 60k € would be slightly better than now.

    quote:


    In South Africa, about R250 000.00 is a decent starting salray for a DBA.


    give me an idea what this is in$.

    Cheers,

    Frank

    --
    Frank Kalis
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
    My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

  • quote:


    doom,


    sould have been Boom 🙂

    Frank, Driectly converted it's about R7.50 to a $

    In real terms, it's about 2.5-3 to 1.

    A beer in a bar would cost you about R5-6.

    When I was in the US, a beer was about 2-3 if I remember correctly. (Beer people, NOT BUD!)

    Cheers,

    Crispin

    Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

  • quote:


    quote:


    I will say less than $60,000 but am looking to fix that. But for my area I am on the 25% portion of the pay scale.


    top or bottom percentile?


    Sorry, 25% is the bottom side but the scal only goes to about $80,000 roughly and of course this was the info provided by my employeer.

    quote:


    quote:


    I have seen jobs for as much as $130,000 but most want you to know about 40 languages (programming) and be able to walk on water all at a moments request.


    when I see your resume on this site, you come close to this.


    I may know quite a bit but I still haven't figured out the best way to present myself. And I am looking to partner with some local guys and start up my own company more than anything. And the thing that has held me back is my bennifits package (it was the best, but things are changing) where I am at.

  • quote:


    I may know quite a bit but I still haven't figured out the best way to present myself. And I am looking to partner with some local guys and start up my own company more than anything. And the thing that has held me back is my bennifits package (it was the best, but things are changing) where I am at.


    I know what it's like having your own company from my father-in-law. He's owns a small engineering bureau and has specialized on custom-made software. There are times when he has far more money than he can spent, and there are different times. Personally I don't like these ups and downs. Too much risk if you have a family to feed.

    Cheers,

    Frank

    --
    Frank Kalis
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
    My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

  • quote:


    quote:


    I may know quite a bit but I still haven't figured out the best way to present myself. And I am looking to partner with some local guys and start up my own company more than anything. And the thing that has held me back is my bennifits package (it was the best, but things are changing) where I am at.


    I know what it's like having your own company from my father-in-law. He's owns a small engineering bureau and has specialized on custom-made software. There are times when he has far more money than he can spent, and there are different times. Personally I don't like these ups and downs. Too much risk if you have a family to feed.


    Which makes it harder with a new one on the way. But I plan to do as a side thing until it is safe to move off completely. Still looking for a side job for now just for the extra cash.

  • quote:


    Which makes it harder with a new one on the way. But I plan to do as a side thing until it is safe to move off completely. Still looking for a side job for now just for the extra cash.


    Say good bye to your spare time!

    Might be a bit idealistic to think you try apart from your main job, and if things doing well, you move over to your own business.

    I don't want to discourage you and I strongly think that americans have a totally different (and much more optimistic, positive) attitude towards starting their own business.

    Cheers,

    Frank

    --
    Frank Kalis
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
    My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

  • We get tax breaks when the business fails, so why not?

    Seriously, it's sometimes easier to be on your own rather than having a staffing company take 60% of the wage.

    Patrick

    Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue

  • Hi Patrick,

    quote:


    We get tax breaks when the business fails, so why not?

    Seriously, it's sometimes easier to be on your own rather than having a staffing company take 60% of the wage.


    I'm not arguing not to start one's own business, but the consequences when you fail are different here in Germany than in America.

    However, what if 60% is high enough?

    Cheers,

    Frank

    --
    Frank Kalis
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP
    Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
    My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

  • jaja, don't worry guys, here in Argentina I earn 8k only. And it is considered a very good salary. Things are not goin right here, but we do what we can.

    Igualmente es un hermoso pais!.

  • Salary is a funny component. Everyone wants to know, no one (usually) wants to say what they make. Not that I care too much about people knowing my salary, but if someone I worked with knew it, there might be bad feelings.

    That being said, in Denver, over the last four years, I have been as low as US$75,000 and as high as US$110,000. I'm in between now, but I was offered a job at US$65,000 last year. From what I've seen, the rates are all over the board. I'd guess a semi-experienced DBA, 2-3 years, could make from US$40,000 to US$80,000. There wouldn't be too many 80s out there. An expert/advanced DBA should be able to make US$60,000, but could go up to over US$100,000, not sure how high. Of course the jobs could be all different, some 9-5, some 24x7 on call, no overtime, etc.

    I know that everyone wants to make what they can, but keep in mind that there are lots of intangibles on the job. The people you work with (most important to me), the hours and stress level, the amount of fire fighting, the type of work, and the opportunites for advancement, the security of the job. Not that you should work for less than you're worth, but consider the whole package, not just the salary.

    That being said, one peice of advice. If you don't ask for it, you won't get it. Ask for more than you think you can get and see what happens. Don't be outrageous, but don't be timid.

    Steve Jones

    sjones@sqlservercentral.com

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/columnists/sjones

    http://www.dkranch.net

  • As Steve said, there are lots of intangibles. In the Washington D.C. area a security clearance can add $10K to $20K t your salary depending on which level you hold.

    Sometimes it's just knowing one other software/language that the client really needs. I've seen many job descriptions for SQL Server DBA where they also want something else with it. One company wanted someone who had experience with a specific accounting/finance program.

    -SQLBill

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