Underpaid and not sure what to do about it

Posted by BayAreaPyGuy on Sunday January 24, 2016 @07:55PM
from the self-post dept.

Review time is coming up at work, and I've found out I'm being paid at roughly the 30th percentile for someone with my experience (3 years, Python/Django backend) in the city I work in (SF). I've been with the company for about a year, and I would like to stay there, but certain external factors have caused money to become tighter than it was a few months ago.

I want to fix this situation, but I don't particularly want to change companies. I like going into work; enjoy my coworkers; and the company is in a good position to become cash-flow neutral very soon, so we're in a good place in spite of all the articles about the impending blood bath in the Valley. On the other hand, I've explicitly been told by my tech lead that the days of 10%+ raises are over, but I'm making around 16% less than the median.

Is this a hopeless situation?

( 7 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:Underpaid and not sure what to do about it by bobby_9x on Sunday January 24, 2016 @08:22PM (#10965022)

The median wage also depends on your experience and abilities. You may not be worth that much to the company.

If you think you deserve more, ask for a raise and if they say no, ask what needs to happen for you to get one.

Otherwise, find another job. This is how I got raises every few yeara, when I was an employee.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Underpaid and not sure what to do about it by BayAreaPyGuy on Sunday January 24, 2016 @08:38PM (#10965074)

I have asked.

This was the response:

>...the days of 10%+ raises are over....

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Underpaid and not sure what to do about it by bobby_9x on Monday January 25, 2016 @02:59PM (#10969530)

This is usually a bad sign. Your company will probably be out of business within 5 years. It might be time to look for another job.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Underpaid and not sure what to do about it by gonyea on Monday January 25, 2016 @02:01AM (#10965988)

Then the days of employee loyalty are over. Shop around and find a higher bidder.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Underpaid and not sure what to do about it by chrisbennet on Monday January 25, 2016 @06:38AM (#10966619)

It's hopeless. If they pay you poorly in the beginning they will almost never give you a raise to market when your skills advance. This is why it is important to negotiate aggressively when getting a new job.

The only time I got a 25% raise was when I negotiated it before I took the job. The deal was, raise me to market in 6 months or we decide it's not working out and we go our separate ways.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Underpaid and not sure what to do about it by stray on Sunday January 24, 2016 @09:48PM (#10965290)

Wait six months and get a new gig -- jumping ship after a year and a half is fine, and that's how to get paid more.

Smart monkey doesn't let go of one branch till another is firmly in hand.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Underpaid and not sure what to do about it by BayAreaPyGuy on Sunday January 24, 2016 @10:18PM (#10965370)

That's exactly (and unfortunately) what this monkey was thinking. :(

[ Parent | on HN ]