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First junior software dev job, asked what I wanted for hourly pay, replied “I need at least $13/hour to survive.” (This is in US, 2007, I was almost done with Bachelor in CS, single mom with two little kids, was also in the army national guard at the time)

I grew up poor, and was very ignorant about salary negotiations. So of course they offered $13/hour. I accepted, thinking it must be fair, and was glad to be making more than minimum wage. Six months in, I’m doing the same work as their devs with 2-4 years experience, find out they are billing clients $100/hour for my work. Then, to top it off, the COO makes a joke in a meeting about how it’s not a big deal for their “technical assistant” to be doing lackey work because he’s only paid $13. Fuuuuuuuuck. That comment still makes my blood boil.

I had a nice manager at the time that explained how salary negotiations worked, but I still think it’s lame as hell. I ended up getting put on salary, $50k/year, after threatening to leave.

Comments
  • 17
    Fuck em. Thats criminal.
  • 7
    50k per year? Really? That's low as shit.
  • 11
    @kescherRant didn’t seem low after $13/hour. I found that out that was low several years later, unfortunately.

    I honesty think what kept me at that company so long was playing MTG at lunch with friends.
  • 3
    Are you a caravaner my lady,? In town coyotes ask 15 k USD for each "Pinball". (Sorry for acid perspective, 50 k USD, in the states, it made my solar filter to wet my shoes)
  • 1
    I have luck. My company pays me 12,50€/hour but i got an apartment on company costs in an town where at least a 3/4of my wage after taxes and other would go away for renting and commuting.
  • 3
    Soooo how do salary negotiations work then, when you have no idea of what the right salary should be?
    Asking for a friend
  • 1
    @endor my approach is first you make your research, then propose x1.5 or x2 times the market price, and if denied, work to lower it down with the company
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