Pay Poll over 20 years experience

[LarryH]

There have been a lot of questions on this line, thought it would be good feedback for everyone to see what the going rate is.

Do NOT include overtime, night differential, etc.  Adjust to day shifts, 40 hour work week to keep it on an even comparison.

Please keep to CONUS locations, don't want to skew the numbers by weird overseas locations outreagous pay.

[mdbuike]

I do hope you will eventually post all the results, as we cannot see them unless we participate, which of course, would scew the results.

Have a great weekend,

Mike

[Hoopty]

Mike,

There should be a link to 'view results' that will show the results without casting a vote.

[mdbuike]

This is what happens when you get to be 52 (well, come December), you can miss the little things   

Ah well, back to work tomorrow

Thanks,

Mike

[bAdbOb]

I work at a nuclear power plant in New England.   Pay, bennies, and work environment is excellent.   $72k/year straight time.   2 units on site with refueling every 18 months for each.   6 weeks overtime per outage. 

[LarryH]

I can see why people don't want the WG slots at military labs - pay is 20% too low.

[OlDave]

I've always thought the WG positions in the PMELs were about one grade level below comparability. I was even a member of the wage survey one year and let me tell you, the deck is certainly stacked against ever getting an upgrade either.

[mrrob007]

I'm running a cal lab for a utility, and I'm making north of $80k/year, not including fully paid medical and a Nuclear Pay Premium.

I have been telling any PMEL trained tech that will listen to DEMAND a higher salary, and don't except any less than $25/hr ANYWHERE. Our skills are in high demand, and it time we make employers recognize that and pay us what we are worth.....

[LarryH]

As far as DoD PMEL, I think only the 0-8 years experience should be classified as WG and possibly those that have ONLY trained in and performed phys/D work.  After 8 years, the GS pay scale should be applied as a true GS-0856 Electronics Tech.

I've researched the differences: WG is considered "old thought" - all you have to do is follow the directions of another.  GS is considered "new thought" - challenged with problem, they must be able to come up with a solution on their own.  With this in mind, more experienced techs are constantly called upon for "new thoughts" and especially QA where every problem is unique.

My pyramid of civil service ranks would be most techs would be WG10-12's depending on years of experience, a WL in charge of each section, a higher WL as a lead tech, GS for QAE / QA manager, and GS for lab and branch managers.


Just my 2 cents...

[flew-da-coup]

I'm running a cal lab for a utility, and I'm making north of $80k/year, not including fully paid medical and a Nuclear Pay Premium.

I have been telling any PMEL trained tech that will listen to DEMAND a higher salary, and don't except any less than $25/hr ANYWHERE. Our skills are in high demand, and it time we make employers recognize that and pay us what we are worth.....

I think $25.00 is TOO LOW!!! I have a brother who is a welder and he makes $31 per hour. How much more knowledge and skill does it take to do our job than welding? Looking at commercial calibration the pay is out of wack. Look at the biiling we do for a company verses the pay.

No. I personally believe that we @ 15 - 20 yrs and above should be averaging $37.50 per hour. 15 yrs. and below should be no less than $30.00 per hour ( Bar those who can only calibrate Micrometers and Calipers ). Now understand I am talking about a tech that can work from one side of the lab to the other (Phys. D. to Microwave). By 10 yrs a good tech should be able to calibrate across the spectrum and be worth $37.50 per hour.  I think those of you that have never left the DoD labs don't really understand the money that they are worth because they do not see the billing.

My 2 cents.

[HalAC]

I worked in a civilian electronics cal lab (E-Systems, then Raytheon) for about 19 years and was making about $16/hour.  Left there to work in a lab that did a lot of on-site stuff but still only made about $18/ hour.  This was in Florida.

Moved to Tennesse and now work in the PMEL at Arnold AFB.  My starting wage of $21 / hour is better than what I was making at Raytheon after 19 years.  :-(  I should my next raise early next year when I move from a level 3 tech to level 4.

[flew-da-coup]

I worked in a civilian electronics cal lab (E-Systems, then Raytheon) for about 19 years and was making about $16/hour.  Left there to work in a lab that did a lot of on-site stuff but still only made about $18/ hour.  This was in Florida.

Moved to Tennesse and now work in the PMEL at Arnold AFB.  My starting wage of $21 / hour is better than what I was making at Raytheon after 19 years.    I should my next raise early next year when I move from a level 3 tech to level 4.

Dude if you were only making that little in Florida you were letting yourself get ripped off. How long ago was this?  The average pay in Florida is about $24-27 an hour. $21 is still to low for a tech unless you only do Phys D,

[mrrob007]

And that is the problem there, PMEL trained tech are afraid to go and market their skills and demand more money. We've worked hard to gain this knowledge, it's time to make employers pay for it .

[flew-da-coup]

And that is the problem there, PMEL trained tech are afraid to go and market their skills and demand more money. We've worked hard to gain this knowledge, it's time to make employers pay for it .

I agree 100%

[HalAC]

I worked in a civilian electronics cal lab (E-Systems, then Raytheon) for about 19 years and was making about $16/hour.   Left there to work in a lab that did a lot of on-site stuff but still only made about $18/ hour.   This was in Florida. 

Moved to Tennessee and now work in the PMEL at Arnold AFB.   My starting wage of $21 / hour is better than what I was making at Raytheon after 19 years.   :-(  I should my next raise early next year when I move from a level 3 tech to level 4. 

Dude if you were only making that little in Florida you were letting yourself get ripped off.  How long ago was this?  The average pay in Florida is about $24-27 an hour.  $21 is still to low for a tech unless you only do Phys D,

Worked at Raytheon until I was laid off in 2003.  After that worked at PreciseCal Services until 2006 when I moved up to Tennessee to get away from the madding crowds in Fla.  I currently do pressure, torque, and mainly electronics.