Salary for unix/network admin 1

[ponetguy2]

Hello everyone, I'm about to start job hunting. I have 9 years experience in IT. five years with unix, 9 years with windows, and also 9 years with network administration. I'm certified with Solaris 8 and CCNA. I don't have a college degree, but I have some college. Five years out of the nine was from the financial industry (focus on electronic trading servers and workstations).

I'm currently earning $74,000/year. How much should I expect to get offered when I go out in to the market. Suggestions on minimum and maximum salary would truly be appreciated.

Carlo Reyes

Technology/Systems - Delivery
Networks and Infrastructure

Chicago Customer Technical Support

 

[kHz]

What is the salary range (e.g., $40,000 - $50,000) for the position if I may ask, and is it in Chicago, Northbrook, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, etc.?

The reason I ask is because 2 1/2 years ago when I was looking for another job, I saw an IBM SP2/PSSP Administrator in a western Chicago suburb. I emailed my resume and cover letter to which they immediately responded, inquiring my salary requirements. Normally I don't discuss salary at the beginning, but did a cost-of-living comparison between my current city and Chicago and showed to maintain my standard of living I would need about $100,000. So I replied with a range of $95,000 to $110,000 and never heard back from them.

IBM SP2/PSSP administration, even though it is on AIX, requires a lot more knowledge and the number of people who know PSSP is relatively small compared to the number who know Unix.

Just curious.

 

[ponetguy2]

hello kHz,

I'll be earning $75,000 annually and it is located in the financial district in Chicago at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

It really depends on the company. One of my best buddies who is a Unix Admin at Bank of America in Sears Tower is earning $130,000. However, he's been a unix admin for almost twenty years. I personally would consider my self as a junior unix admin and I really feel that $75,000 is fair. It's a lateral move for me, but I have more flexibility with the type of technologies I'll be getting my hands on.

Carlo Reyes

Technology/Systems - Delivery
Networks and Infrastructure

Chicago Customer Technical Support

 

[kHz]

Working for a financial firm at the Exchange probably offers a chance for a decent bonus, I would presume.

Learning more technologies and the experiences of a different company can lead to a better position (management if you desire) in the future because of the breadth of experience and knowldege that you have.

 

[ponetguy2]

I'm hoping you are right kHz.

Carlo Reyes

Technology/Systems - Delivery
Networks and Infrastructure

Chicago Customer Technical Support

 

[ponetguy2]

Cost of living in Chicago is expensive. I live in the north side of Chicago. Border line between Niles and Chicago.

Senior unix admins can usually ask for six figure income.



Carlo Reyes

Technology/Systems - Delivery
Networks and Infrastructure

Chicago Customer Technical Support

 

[Mag0007]

Congrats ponetguy2! and good luck. I just got into a VERY large env, and I wish I was in your footsteps. Large companies suck because there is just way too much b.s and office politics.

Small companies rock, although you won't get to play with cool equipment...but I'd take a small company anyday now!!!!

 

[ponetguy2]

thank you Mag0007. i work for a huge international company right now and i do agree with you. my only complaint with the new compnay i'll be working for is, i don't have anyone to learn from. i'll pretty much be flying solo on this one.

i've always worked with a team and this situation will totally be foreign to me. it will definetly be a great challenge for my self.

 

[BobRodes]

I've read with interest your ups and downs in finding a job, ponetguy. I've had some pretty interesting trials myself in the last while, and it's good to see that I'm not the only person who has encountered an idiot in an interview. The "genie" idiot (as in "I am the all wise and all powerful interview conductor, and I will grant you a wish if you answer my riddle, and if you do not you will die") is all too common, I fear.

Then there's the "competent professional" idiot. My best example of that is "I can see that you have experience working in a law firm, and I can see that you have experience developing websites, but I don't see that you have experience developing websites in a law firm, so I'm afraid I can't consider you." That was a headhunter, and probably not a well-paid one.

Congrats on your new job. Clearly, the people that interviewed you there were not idiots.

I used to live in north Chicago (Rogers Park), and work downtown, back in the 80s. It's a fun gig, except the part of getting back and forth (assuming you're not a nutcase 22-year-old on a dirt bike...one of my coworkers would whizz by me every morning as I had made it halfway down Lake Shore Drive, weaving in and out among the cars on the wet pavement).

Bob

 

[ponetguy2]

thank you Bob. it was a truly a gruelling and exhausting experience. unfortunately, it's all part of the business. i think employers or IT managers have high expectations. sometimes a little too high. since our job market has gone down, they can ask for unrealistic skills and they use that to their advantage. plus they know some people like you and me, are desparate for a job. which we can attribute to outsourcing of IT jobs abroad.

 

[Toshilap]

Congratulation ponetguy, it was marvelous thread.

I want to tell that once my interviewer held someone else's resume and interviewed me until I was very puzzled and I got up and looked over and I saw the name of very obvious opposite name gender (like Robert and Nataly)and I yelled 'It is not my resume' - he looked at me like I was a mentally challenged and asked 'What do you mean it is not your resume?'
How was I suppose to answer that? I am still LMAO remembering it.

 

[dennisbbb]

How about the "Do not speaker louder than me, for thy shall not last more than 5 minutes with me" or "Speak or you will leave my office now" mentality.

I wish there is an unbiased, standardized method of inteviewing for a job, as in taking the SAT test -whoever scores the highest, gets the job. Period.

 

[ponetguy2]

thank you toshilap. i am extremely happy that i finally found a new job. my boss is super cool and extremely smart. the only tough part is learning their infrastructure and changing they way i do things. however, thanx to

http://www.tek-tips.com,

my transition is alot easier. there is a wealth of knowledge in this site, plus people here are very helpful.

i sound like a commercial. hehehe