Question about entry level pay

[Mithrilhall]

I've been working at my current jog for about 4 years part-time (full-time in the summers) and I think they might be offering me a fulltime position soon.

I mainly work on the company’s Intranet and Internet site using ASP/JavaScript/CSS/HTML. I’m also starting to offer support for some of the applications that the other developers have made.

I don’t really consider myself entry-level but I think they might mention that when we sit down to negotiate my pay. I’ve checked out www.salary.com and they list an entry level programmer in my area (Western Massachusetts) making between $43,819 and $54,940.

I figured that there had to be some programmers in here and was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing what you started out at when you were entry-level. I really don’t have a clue what to ask for and I don’t want to short change myself but at the same time I don’t want to ask for a immensely high amount.

[Nocte]

Not a programmer, but this will be a really tough call with the lukewarm and cooling job market New England has right now. I've been looking and applying sporadically, and I'm getting the impression companies are just collecting resumes at this point. Many companies are advertising identical jobs for weeks at a time- including Monster.com based in Framingham.

You have an inside angle though, kudos. You in the Springfield area or further west than that?
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[EZ_Salyvan]

For an entry level programmer, 43k-54K is about right as far as I'm concerned.

Will they be transferring you into a programming position? From your current job description, sounds like you're doing more web development than programming. Might want to check out entry level web developer on salaray.com to get a better idea of what you might get offered.

Quote:I figured that there had to be some programmers in here and was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing what you started out at when you were entry-level.
I had co-oped at IBM for 3 years during school before I got hired on full time after graduation. During the co-op, which was full time during summers and about 20 hours a week during school, I would make about 35K for the year. My full time salary offer was 55K after graduation.

With today's job market being what it is, I suggest you take pretty much any offer they extend as long as its over 43K; especially since you're doing web development. People like to give the web boys less money most of the time since they don't consider it "real" programming.
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[EZ_Soulstealler]

Well, dont come to Oregon... I moved here in December and have sent my Resume to what feels like every buisness in 20 miles, even the temp offices. From all this i have had 1 interview and a 1day job from the temp agency.

[EZ_Ciba]

Networking my friend, networking. Sending resumes doesn't do $%^&. Call up a manager, make some friends at the companies.

[Mithrilhall]

Yes...I'm in the Springfield area. I'll check www.salary.com for the web developer (I didn't see it the first time).

I also started as an intern and work full-time during the summers. The pay right now isn't that good but I figured it was a great place to learn.

I appreciate all the feedback.

[EZ_Vilkata Tasavalt]

I wouldn't trust salary.com very much right now, though.
Especially when it comes to what it says about the new england area. Nobody I know is making anywhere near what it says we should be. Job market stinks right now

Vilk

[Yalum]

I started at 52k in South Florida. Almost on the dot for salary.com's current median income for Software Engineer 1, but that was 1999. Got a bunch of stock options too, which was fun for a few months, anyway. They're all very, very worthless now and will probably stay that way until they expire in 2010.

Don't expect programmer money as a web guy though, you're competing against students who'll work part-time for beer money and resume padding.

[EZ_Synrax]

Programmers and outsourcing is a problem. Take what you can get.