I’m a bad commenter. Sometimes I don’t revisit places I’ve left comment droppings. Today I found this old comment from Seattle Simplicity, a favorite blogger of mine.

The story of the 40% raise is that I built up a lot of technical skill while working a humdrum job. It was high stress and burnout. At the end of 2 years, a promotion wasn’t forthcoming. I was about to make a lateral move within the firm, and was promised an unspecific raise. However, it was a small firm and they were going to ‘transition’ me. Usually those transitions take months, and I was having none of that. I was fed up and ready to walk, so I did. I found myself another firm that was willing to take the job skills I had and value them at current market rate. I definitely did ask them for an outrageous some of money during the interview process, however, it was the going rate.

Salary.com is a great place to figure out what your regional peers are making. The information comes directly from HR and payroll staff. It’s not self-reported/inflated. This is what people ACTUALLY make from the companies that pay them. However, benefits are not included. This is straight wage income.

Finding out that I was woefully underpaid by my last company was a really shocker. I could actually be making 60% more, but sometimes there are priceless opportunities that you cannot pass up. I took the 40% and tried not to be too greedy.

I can make another 20% easily by switching firms in a year and half. I love double digit raises! Anyone who sticks with a company that isn’t compensating them well should reconsider why they work for their firm. Go back and read Mapgirl, Inc.