Reclassification

[naggy.livejournal.com]

The State of Indiana has 6 total IT classifications currently: Jr Systems Analyst, Systems Analyst, Sr Systems Analyst, Programmer, Sr Programmer, and Systems Analyst Supervisor.

The Analyst jobs cover everything from helpdesk, network admins, desktop techs, server techs, dispatch, telecommunications techs, etc. Additionally, the requirements are 4/5/7 years of "data processing" (time based on level of the Analyst job).

Finally, someone got a clue, and realized that they needed more classifications, and perhaps even a career path chart for IT folks like they have for everyone else, due to lots of complaints that no one can ever get to another job around here.

Well, the first level general support helpdesk that sits next to me has been looking on HotJobs and believing their line of bullshit about salaries. Now, they're expecting $40,000/yr US for their positions, as opposed to the $32,000 they make now.

I keep telling them that out in the real world, first level techs would drool over $32K, much less $40K. Anyone here know of a first level helpdesk tech that makes $40K?

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I'm technically a first level tech, although our desk really does 1st-3rd level support. I'm at $38.7k, and some of my peers are at $42k.

of course most of the people here start at $25k, so there you have it.

(posted anonymously cause i don't like discussing money in an open forum.)

[jacobine.livejournal.com]

I don't.

Hell, I wish I made 40K a year -- and I'm the second-level, lead help-desk and back up our security group, handling all our new user creations/terminations/network access changes.

Granted, my company also pays somewhat low.

[thecrazyfinn.livejournal.com]

Yep. We pay $48-50k CDN for first level support. And Canadian Salaries normally translate directly to US dollars when the job goes south.

However, extensive Unix, general Interenet Technical knowledge (DNS, SMTP, POP3), Telco and Cisco knowledge is required for these positions

Of course, most of our people have 4-5 years of experience, and coupld pass a CCNP in their sleep. Our ex-employees usually end up as 2nd or 3rd level NOC guys when they leave.

[naggy.livejournal.com]

I probably should have noted that some of these folks:
* Don't understand why passwords have to change every month.
* Can't even help people through basic MS Office tasks.
* Get confused at anything more technical than a password reset or network unlock.

[akacat.livejournal.com]

By 'first' do you mean lowest, or highest? Our helpdesk people make anywhere from 25k to 40k. Mostly around the 35k range (because most of our people are at the sr level.)

[norelevance.livejournal.com]

yep. me.

[jacobine.livejournal.com]

I was wondering that when I posted my response -- I decided to go with the most basic explanation of help desk, very generalized stuff.

Although I suppose it also depends on where you live as well.

[oddball42.livejournal.com]

i have worked IT and lan tech even a jr sysadmin job and not made anywhere close to 40K/year

and i been doing this shite for a long assed time.

[thecrazyfinn.livejournal.com]

And also the customer base. I work for MCI Canada, formerly UUNET Canada. Our customers are ISPs and medium to large businesses. They don't put up with crappy support, and we don't want to lose a $50,000+ a month client. So we have GOOD support, clueful frontline techs with access and sub 10 second wait times.

[(Anonymous)]

I used to make $28K as a second level tech. Now I'd drool over any job that wasn't fucking retail.

[jacobine.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, depends on your customer. I'm internal corporate. They hired me with no experience, just a lot of technical expertise.

Of course, our wait times vary wildly, too, but there's only two of us for most of the day -- save for two hour brackets and the beginning and end of each day -- for around 2000 users. We're not busy and average under 40 calls a day (we must be doing something right) but it hops sometimes.

Given how tired I am of answering the phone /now/, I don't think I could handle a really busy call center.

[dogsolitude.livejournal.com]

Totally depends on where you live. In L.A., 40s is about right. But rent / housing is probably double here than what you pay, if not more.

[(Anonymous)]

Depends on geography, company, etc.

For example- International company, Florida facility.

Tier I techs start at 27-28k, and go up from there. I've been with the company for two years as of 7/1, currently serve as a Tier 2 and Team Lead, and earn more than $35k. (Yes, my salary went up more than 7k in less than two years.)

[hoffman-log.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Indiana without a sense of the IT industry...

Sounds like the exact reason I transferred out of Purdue...

_MaH

[kyndig.livejournal.com]

As others have said, it very much depends on the local economy and the type of 1st level help desk.

When I worked as 1st level help desk for an ISP, I was making $12 or so an hour at first. When I worked first level help desk for a security solutions firm, I made considerably more.

[terata.livejournal.com]

:) I know someone thats leaving HN for $40K in a first level tech job.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm technically first level helpdesk, and I'm at $35k; but our position requires 50% or more travel time nationwide to support specific sites at various on-site upgrades.

So I guess that's where the extra cash comes in, especially for "just" a first level helpdesk position. Or it's just the industry itself along with the manufacturer. Hard to say.

[norelevance.livejournal.com]

or do you mean someone who already did?

[infy.livejournal.com]

Same here. Ah, corporate America. And I don't live in California, either.

[infy.livejournal.com]

Me too. Er, well, closer to NYC anyway.