What is experience worth

[Souldar]

Long story short, I am big time lobbying for a raise other than the standard 3 percent or so a year I usually get. I have been in the sign industry for 30+ years. I have experience with design, sales, fabrication and installation of all sign types. I can run all machinery involved in production no matter what machinery/tool is required. Additionally, I have experience using lifts, bucket trucks and cranes. Plus interior/exterior graphic and lighted installations as well as vehicle graphics in my tool set. There is not much that I haven't done.
With this bit of information what would my estimated hourly worth be to you if you were hiring or promoting a current employee?

 

[Johnny Best]

Why don’t you start your own business as a sub contractor.

 

[Souldar]

Simple answers, lack of funds. Plus it is a smallish town and already saturated. I work for the college here that has a fully functioning sign operation with seven people on staff as well as a separate design department for large projects. They don't have a very good grasp on cost of living so I'm making some noise.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

I've done quite a bit of work in your area and it's not saturated. If you offer bucket installs you might have only one competitor.

If you have experience in all areas of a sign shop it doesn't mean you get paid more. If a lead designer gets $25/hr. why would they pay a guy that knows design, install and fab $35? Same with running a printer. Eventually you price yourself out of the top wage that position caps out at. If you can run all areas of the shop, get your worth by going out on your own. Quit your job and work somewhere else that allows you the flexibility to run your business as a side gig until it gets off the ground and becomes full time... that's what I did.

But to directly answer your question, if you have been with the college for a lengthy amount of time, work fast and have no problems with your superiors and are managing the 7 employees, you should be making enough raise a family and a little breathing room.

 

[Souldar]

I've done quite a bit of work in your area and it's not saturated. If you offer bucket installs you might have only one competitor.

If you have experience in all areas of a sign shop it doesn't mean you get paid more. If a lead designer gets $25/hr. why would they pay a guy that knows design, install and fab $35? Same with running a printer. Eventually you price yourself out of the top wage that position caps out at. If you can run all areas of the shop, get your worth by going out on your own. Quit your job and work somewhere else that allows you the flexibility to run your business as a side gig until it gets off the ground and becomes full time... that's what I did.

But to directly answer your question, if you have been with the college for a lengthy amount of time, work fast and have no problems with your superiors and are managing the 7 employees, you should be making enough raise a family and a little breathing room.

Ah, the structure here is not quite like private sector jobs. The shop is moving to a system where everyone is required to cross train on equipment. IE, engravers, routers, printer, cutters, installation and production will all be rolled into one job designation with simple designs coming into the mix soon for all non-project work. Since I already have experience in all of the areas and invariably will start training the newcomers with zero experience from ground up I need to assess my value for when they ask, which will be soon. I have a meeting coming up later this week to discuss all of this. I have to add that the benefits here are hard to beat but doesn't help much with the day to day expenses. Trying to put a dollar figure on what I should shoot for.
Also, starting my own shop would be fantastic if I had the capital or investors, which I don't.

 

[Geneva Olson]

have you plugged in your qualifications in the internet? you can get a range for your area and expertise on several sites.

 

[Souldar]

have you plugged in your qualifications in the internet? you can get a range for your area and expertise on several sites.

Good idea! Was starting here first since I respect most of the advice I have seen given.

 

[Gino]

I'm gonna ask my favorite question with requests like this.

If you honestly and I mean brutally honest...... ask yourself, how good are you really where would you judge yourself to be on a scale of 0 to 10 ?? Many people think very highly of themselves, but really have some difficulties answering this. It's only for your own self evaluation. You don't even hafta answer here in this thread. Just look closely at your accomplishments.

 

[Johnny Best]

I'm gonna ask my favorite question with requests like this.

If you honestly and I mean brutally honest...... ask yourself, how good are you really where would you judge yourself to be on a scale of 0 to 10 ?? Many people think very highly of themselves, but really have some difficulties answering this. It's only for your own self evaluation. You don't even hafta answer here in this thread. Just look closely at your accomplishments.

And, it looks like you only take advice that suits you. Not a good sign going in for a raise.

 

[Souldar]

Why don’t you start your own business as a sub contractor.

Simple answers, lack of funds. Plus it is a smallish town and already saturated. I work for the college here that has a fully functioning sign operation with seven people on staff as well as a separate design department for large projects. They don't have a very good grasp on cost of living so I'm making some noise.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

It's hard to give you real numbers because most people here aren't from Charlottesville VA. Wages vary all over the US and people in different countries. For some reason I get posts on my Facebook feed about door dash workers. Their earners vary wildly based on their location. They might make a minimum of $30 an hour up in PNW, or barely $10 an hour in Mississippi. In rural areas of TX down near the border, I'd say $40k. In Dallas, that might be $80k. Doesn't mean much not knowing your local cost of living.

 

[Souldar]

It's hard to give you real numbers because most people here aren't from Charlottesville VA. Wages vary all over the US and people in different countries. For some reason I get posts on my Facebook feed about door dash workers. Their earners vary wildly based on their location. They might make a minimum of $30 an hour up in PNW, or barely $10 an hour in Mississippi. In rural areas of TX down near the border, I'd say $40k. In Dallas, that might be $80k. Doesn't mean much not knowing your local cost of living.

Cost of living out here is pretty high. Most people that work for the University including managers commute in from another county. Those who do live in town have a two income family. I'm not one of that group. I think I have a better handle on how to investigate thanks to Geneva.

 

[GAC05]

"What is experience worth"
I think it depends on how it is packaged:
"The internet is abuzz after OnlyFans model Sophie Rain disclosed her jaw-dropping earnings of $47 million over the span of 12 months. "

 

[Stacey K]

IMO, it's not your experience that's so valuable, it's being on time, not calling in sick, being willing to learn, willing to teach.

Maybe they are cross training everyone so people call in sick, there's someone to take their place. Everyone becomes a number, no #1's anymore.

One of my areas largest employers has gone away from hiring college educated people or people who have experience in the field. Who are they hiring instead? High school farm kids who like to tinker with tractors. Adults who have no work experience but build engines in their garages for fun. This is no joke. The office is also doing this. They are training from within those that have a passion for similar areas of hiring. And some jobs start at $28 and earn raises quickly.

It leads me to say, don't limit yourself to working in a sign shop. Your experience is valuable to other industries also. It might be your experience in the sign industry that holds you back from staying in the sign industry. Check out other "similar" industry jobs, you might be surprised of your overall worth.

 

[Johnny Best]

Souldar, did you vote for Trump, he will MAGA real soon so you should be good in about 6 months.
If you voted for Harris, then you need to go to the beach and do some screaming for that raise.

 

[Boudica]

Doesn't matter who you voted for. Didn't someone say the election was decided before we voted? Ya got six years to learn how to speak Russian. If we even have that long.

 

[Johnny Best]

Doesn't matter who you voted for. Didn't someone say the election was decided before we voted? Ya got six years to learn how to speak Russian. If we even have that long.

Russian! Now you will tell us to hide under our desks with our arms over the head. Where in the f**k do you get these ideas from? ( Sorry for ending a sentence with a preposition. )

 

[Boudica]

We have been under a phycological war with Russia through Internet dis-information for almost 20 years. They're winning, and the "election" just made it worse. It was bought by the first buddy elect, who is in Putin's pocket. And there are countless ways POTUS elect is in putins power.
Oh, and it was a trump loving member on this forum who said the voting booths were rigged and the election was already decided. I guess the rigging worked better this time?

 

[ProSignTN]

I had no idea nude turtle riding was a thing, but then avatars aren't really my thing either. I do follow the news of the world though.

 

[ProSignTN]

Back to the original post. Experience brings wisdom. By the very fact you are asking this question, it begs to ask, are you wise?