I found the indeed.com salary search to be on the very low side both compared to what I have been paid and what I am looking at now. But it was nice to see them have the salary search so accessible. I normally check salary.com and find the good size companies fall in line with their numbers.

As others have stated many times people believe they are worth more than what is being offered. I believe that candidates should go into their job search with a clear idea of what they are willing to take as a salary. At least know what the lowest amount is you are willing to work for and the ideal salary you would like to make. If you are good at what you do, the money WILL follow if you have to take the lower salary.

I agree with Thom that it is much harder to negotiate when one is just starting out in a new career.

From what I have seen also, the increased number of career switchers and career changers is making it harder and harder to sort out some of the salary and compensation issues. So often we are seeing people with vastly different backgrounds, legitimately going after the same positions.

@DanielSweet – you make very good observations. I thought about it, did some looking, and yeah, jobs with a salary I felt were below what I wanted, I didn’t even look at. I’m not job hunting mind you, but I thought I would test your theory.

I think if you are just starting to build your career money is a hard thing to negotiate. Right now, I’d pay pretty much anything for a developer who can be consistent, produce quality work, and will stick around for a while.

OK, so that was a little off topic, but I think a more interesting question is how do employers come up with their salary scale? Is it based on their ability to be paid? Relative to other employees? Do they actually research the current market?

What does the word negotiable on a job listing mean to a potential employee? To me it means the company is fishing. They don’t really know what the position is worth.

Man I’ve asked a lot of questions. It’s the age old struggle though; the employer wants to pay as little as possible and the employee wants to make more than they probably should. At least in my opinion. Your views will vary I’m sure.

I’m not sure that salary is the most important..having been promoted, quit jobs, been fired, made lots of money, made little money, collected unemployment, I’ve learned the most valuable thing… The key to happiness is your boss and the people you work with. If your boss cares about you and the people you work with have good character (maybe not brilliant but you can trust them)….that is priceless.

btw..this article from DamnInteresting is one of the best ever..it’ll make you go wow..that makes sense.
http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=406

1) Every candidate will always assume that they’re worth the top salary. I’ve talked to entry-level guys who assume that they’re getting the top of the range.

2) The salary *really should* depend on experience. Even though a 4-year web developer can do the same job as a 10-year web developer, the 10-year guy will bring new / better / faster ways of doing things that makes him *worth* significantly more money.

3) The perfect candidate may want $10K more than the top of the “standard salary range” and, hence, not apply. Most companies will go above the top of the salary range if you really are the perfect candidate, so they don’t want to scare anyone off.

Experience listings should take the place of salary listings, but companies are so wildly different on salary ranges for the same experience, candidates never know what is really being offered until they “talk money” – which doesn’t happen until you’re 3 interviews in.

If I come up with the solution, I’ll ask all of you for venture capital….

Dan

When I see spreads like 80-120K, it tells me, personally, that the company hiring has no idea what the position is really worth. Why on earth would someone that would normally get 120K be looking at a job where the company is willing to hire someone at 80K? Again, the spread is too wide.

I also think including some type of salary is a good thing. I too would not want to waste my time looking at a job where the company is only willing to pay 40K when I am looking for 80K.

@Maureen funny you mention the money factor – I’ve fought with recruiters on this very subject. Tell me how much the company is willing to pay, up front, so I can determine if a move is worth it or not. Money is one factor, not the only factor, but usually the primary one. You can’t sell me on the cool office bennies or location, if I’m taking a 20K cut. It just won’t matter, too me, ever.

It’s not that unlike the real estate agents that list houses for sale in the home guides, but don’t list the the sales price. Of course, they argue that they do that to try and get you to call. But it often just ends up wasting their time and yours.

Makes you want to shout, “come on people, it’s all about the money!”