What to do about my unsatisfactory salary?

[pushkinswife]

Work really hard which might be tough becuase your morale might be low-do the best you can. Simultaneously keep looking for other jobs in your field, maybe with bigger companies that will pay more. Then when that good paying job calls you jet like the wind. Some call it flipping. Go to salary.com and find out what you should be making. Go to HR and tell them what you should be making. Don't be scared. You are worth it. Good luck.

[yo vanilla]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

With ten years experience, how is it possible that an intern is making more money than you?

That's the million dollar question, isn't it?

They aren't interns any more; you can call them freshly graduated new hires... but they were interns during my employment!!

The main problem was my salary when I first started two years ago - like I said it was rather low, but I took it due to being out of work, and the lack of a BA/BS made it difficult to get any kind of office job. When I was negotiating salary for my new position they held firm that the only thing that is taken into consideration is the percentage increase over current salary "and 11% is more than we normally offer". That's great, but it's 11% of squat and amounts to the same money I was looking at 5 years ago. AND less than what I know the (previous) interns are being offered (but you can't say that out loud to HR).

I suppose this thread is just to vent. I know everything I need to know, and I realize I've spun my wheels in the past making some of this my own fault. Come next January when my contract is up I'll find something more lucrative. Which is too bad 'cause they relly like me here.

Any other words of encouragement are appreciated.

[OCinvestor]

It's sad but true - companies will bring in new folks at higher pay then their loyal veteran employees. I have a friend who has worked at her fortune 50 employer for 16 years. During a restructure she had a new hire put under her who has less experience and responsibilty and that person is making $20k more then she is. Companies rarely value loyalty.

You've had a major upgrade in your skills & market value. You will probably do better selling those skills to a new employer. It's a shame you have to go through the hassle of moving and that your employer will lose a good employee, but you'll come out ahead in the long run.

[WhereTheSidewalkEnds]

I agree that loyalty doesn't pay....my husband worked for the same company for 16 years, worked his way up, but his raises were always so lame. I think he just got so caught up into the day to day at the job and how busy and stressful it was that he never took the time to find something else.
He finally did and is now wondering why he waited so long. He loves his new job, and the base salary is quite a bit more, benefits are unbelievable (they pay 100% of insurance for the whole family).
Sometimes in order to get the pay increase you need and to be appreciated for what you can do you need to get another job. I think it's rare that a company you already work for will bump you up to where you should be. They figure, they already have you.....