What's norm for a Junior's salary
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- gramme0
^ And tell them you're going to freelance, so long as it doesn't affect your performance with them. If they balk, walk. I've learned that one the hard way. Spent three years working at a shop that didn't allow freelance. I was in desperate need of a job when they hired me, and I'm an honest guy, so I agreed to those terms... but quickly regretted it.
- Agree. Let them know openly that you do side work to supplement your low income.fyoucher1
- ukit0
Yeah, I mean if this is the only thing you can find, just keep working and I'm sure you'll get there. Just gotta not get complacent. You've got the first step out of the way, which is asking if you can find something better;)
On the other hand, what's with people defending that level of salary?
I mean sure, there are many professions that are probably far more challenging than your average design job, but the prestige and financial reward that comes from a lot of these career paths is more cultural than anything else.
- randommail0
fuck, that's low, even for Texas. Sorry.
But don't worry too much about the first salary. Focus on upward mobility potential.
- 5timuli0
AIGA surveys are always way off. I don't know where they get their figures - either dishonest employers or dishonest employees. I've never met anyone who earns anywhere near their figures (without working twice as long as other people).
- But having not read the first 24 posts I've no idea of what question's being asked.5timuli
- akrokdesign0
in this economy 25k might be same as 28-30k before.
- jamble0
You guys all seem to have landed on your feet when starting out! $38k for a junior job?! In the UK at the moment, that equates to about £30k and I've seen most senior jobs (4-5 yrs exp) being around that level with junior positions around £15-16k at the moment.
- no. the dollar is lower then the british pounds.akrokdesign
- $25k= 15,135.475 pounds.akrokdesign
- herzo0
WTF these salaries are insane!
- boobs0
Don't take a full-time position. Go straight into freelancing. You're going to need to learn how to do it some day, and the sooner you start, the better.
- ********0
Tell them that you don't consider what they're offering is a reasonable 'living wage'.
Everything in life is negotiable - you don't have to accept the first offer.
- Frosty_spl0
I made 27k in 04 right out of school at a tiny shop. You should be making around 30k+ if its a small shop, $35k if its a big agency.
- herzo0
That's it Frosty? I feel extremely fortunate then.
- pinkfloyd0
My friend / former coworker made 55k at Publicis with less than 2 years of experience.
- fooler20
stay contract and charge them 25-30 an hr. youll both be happier.
- Knuckleberry0
I made 28K when I first started... I had a wife and kid by that time as well.
Suck it up, take the job, get experience then bail when you can. I make about 70K now 6 years later at only my second "real" design job.
Wipe that chip off your shoulder and get to work. Sorry to be so harsh but it's true.
- NONEIS0
Not sure if any of you have checked the date on this post, but it's damn old – pretty sure this decision was made a while ago...
- This is true. Damn I should've checked. He is probably making 100K and owns a small island.Knuckleberry
- babaganush0
I don't know the US economy but
recession + designers with chip on shoulder thread = take that salary and have a job.
Forget contract as a junior - There are people way more faster and adept - either that or if the co. accepts you as contract then they know shit and you'll get bad habits that fuck you up when you want to step up.
Juniors who are money led either progress less or end up hating a decent paid job 3 years later...decide what you want to be doing in 5 years...if 5 k makes a difference now you can forget making big cash and remotely scratching any itches in a few years.
