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Staff, Rate of pay?
Hi I have just been made head of my companies Graphic Design Department. There is 4 people including me working there. I have been A Sign Maker / Graphic Designer for 12 years. Could someone let me know what I would expect my weekly / annual wage to be? I am not to sure
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5 Replies
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to be honest mate, only your own boss can tell you what he is willing to pay, it is upto you to accept this, negotiate something else, or go elsewhere…
there are many things that should be taken into account when it comes to wages. the length of time in the trade gives a good indication on how much knowledge and ability you "should have" but thats about it.asking on here is also not going to give you a good indication. reason for that is the same reasons we cannot have a standard pricing rate for signage. i.e. your job in the city of glasgow would pay far less than that in the city of london.
there is also your ability to do your job, in comparison to someone with the same job and time under their belt as you. by that i mean, i have two guys doing the same job, they are the same age and have worked with us the same time. we pay one more than the other. why? because hes better, never off work, knows how to run various machines. fit signs, never grumbles at overtime etc the other guy plods along week to week… without a care in the world… so should i pay him the same?endless discussion to be honest… 😕 if you think you are worth more then discuss it with your boss. but remember, there is a flip side to it for him too…
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As Rob said – you’re going to be paid what your boss THINKS you’re worth…and what you accept. There’s no point in saying "I’m worth £x amount more" if you have no more duties, or skills than you did before being made head of the department, and most employers want their workers to take on more for the same pay! That’s just business! If you feel you are worth more, and won’t jeopardise your new position (if you want it) – pick a figure and discuss it with them.
From their point of view – if making you dept head isn’t making THEM more money (due to your skills)… "money’s got to come from somewhere". Was there a previous dept. head?
There is no set wage in the signage industry – varies from location to location & company to company. Some might be on little more than minimum wage – others on a good whack as an employee depending on your ‘worth’ and revenue you generate / have a direct influence over.
I’ll wear the ‘manager’, ‘designer’, ‘signmaker’, ‘purchaser’, ‘head’ and ‘estimater’ hats in my department within a larger company – means ‘jack’ when it comes down to what I get paid. 😀
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Good advice here.
All comes down to what you are worth to the company.
From experience, if you want too much money, plenty of guys behind you that would have similar experience that will probably do the job for less money.
Being a head of only 4 employees would make you supervisor status here, which would only be a % above what the others get, but you get the privilege of being the one to get his butt kicked when things go wrong.
Discuss it with your boss, as has been said, if you think you are worth more, tell him, if he does not want to pay it, move on.
The more skills you have, that others in the company don’t have, is what will give you the edge in negotiations.
Sorry, can’t be much help apart from that.
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Pretty much the same advice as has already been given.
From an employer’s perspective, I have a fair idea of what every individual in my company is worth to me, and try to pay them accordingly. If I have a good person it is not in my interests to underpay them because, if I do, they will just move on and I’ll lose them.
On the other hand, if they do find another employer that is prepared to pay them more, then fair play. I would be sorry to lose them but it is financial suicide to pay people more than they are worth. The only way to get a pay rise here is to increase your output and make yourself more valuable.
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Thanks for that everyone. It just gives me a starting point. All the best to you’s.
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