Access/VBA Programmer Salary?

[DoubleD]

I've been working with Access and VBA for approximately four years. I also have experience in BI and Database design.
I live in WI and don't plan to leave the state. I've heard there is going to be an Access Programmer position opening at a small office near me for a very large company.
Anyone have suggestions on what the expected salary range will be?
I'm aware that generally Access Programmer is not the only thing you're expected to do when that's your role. I've done lots of automation with Access and Excel. I've also got process improvement experience and been on the support side of IT. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I've been out to

http://www.salary.com

and I'm assuming I would be considered a level 2-3 Midrange Programmer. Does that sound right?

Pain is stress leaving the body.

DoubleD

 

[Swi]

I agree with DoubleD. If IT was doing their job then this would never be an issue. Just make sure that if a novice does develop an app to make them comment, comment and comment some more. Commenting is key to a successful program and its inevitable changes. The problem is that most of these apps that are written internally by department employees are spaghetti code.

Swi

 

[Onyxpurr]

Enter Onyx...this is my main responsibility...standardize and document the Access databases.

Of course, it's a little more involved than that (build SQL table specs, stored procedures, Access front-ends, meet with customer, secure the databases, etc..), but I save the company time and money for projects needed now that would normally take more (time and money) in addition to creating apps specifically for their needs. Haven't had any problems with my dbs to date...well...except for...

I didn't realize what trouble these "rogue" programmers can be until the guy who replaced me for a psecific function and apparently felt more comfortable with Excel than Access left the company (no notice) and left my database parsed all over the place in other databases and excel spreadsheets. Last time that happens!!

 

[ESquared]

DoubleD, when it comes to salary negotiation, let me share a few things I learned last year at an excellent employment workshop:

- Always enter salary negotiation knowing exactly how much you must make to pay all your bills and live the way you need to live. If you do not know what your bottom number is, then you cannot negotiate. You MUST be able to say, "I cannot work for less than $X. If I accepted less I could not pay my bills and I'd be looking for another job soon."

- Do your utter darnedest to NOT be the one to name a number. Even if you are pressed fairly hard. This is a difficult one to do, but it is a good rule of thumb that the first person to say a number loses. Instead, you should be saying something more like, "I believe my experience and skills warrant a salary in the upper third for the range of salaries for this kind of position in this locale." For my current job, I followed this advice and was offered $10,000 a year more than I would have asked for.

- Pay attention to other kinds of compensation besides the salary number. I'm not just talking medical/dental/vision benefits, although those are important. Examples:

Company car. Continuing education subsidy. Telecommuting. Subscription to career-related periodicals. A cell phone. An earlier first review: "What is your normal review period? One year? Well, I will accept your offer of $X if we can agree that I will receive my first review and pay reevaluation in six months instead." Receiving medical benefits in cash instead of in policies: perhaps your spouse has full benefits for you already, or you have some membership which lets you get the medical coverage you want for less, so you can pocket the difference. You get the idea.

E²

-------------------------------------
It is better to have honor than a good reputation.
(Reputation is what other people think about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.)

 

[SQLSister]

A couple of other points. Vacation days are often negotiable, especially if they know they can't pay you as well as larger companies in the same area.

Whatever salary they offer, come back with a slightly higher figure. Companies never offer the highest they will go to on the first round.

Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[KellyK]

DoubleD,
I realize this post is old, but what's your status? I just came across this. I am a VBA/Access developer with about the same level as experience as you (in years anyway), living and working in Wisconsin. I make $45K before annual bonus. Hope that helps.

Kelly