SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

Explain how you got there? What types of positions you held?


I started off as a desktop support guy working in IT.

I changed jobs and took a senior desktop support / junior network admin job. Nice pay raise.

I changed jobs again and took a full blown network admin job. Nice pay raise.

I am still with that company (now six years)... but through some very fair raises within the company... I am now where I am at. My title got upgraded to Senior Network Engineer... as I am the top IT guy for my company (next to the director who runs the whole department).

240% increase approximately from where I started.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I changed went to graduate school and changed professions.

after my BA, I was a retail store manager.

after my Master's I got a job in HR

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

i have i am almost up to 12 dollars an hour. my other job i was making 7 dollars well i guess its not double but its the most i have ever made.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I started out teaching in Catholic school, so I was making barely enough to live on at first. Over the years, I got jobs that paid more, but ultimately I changed careers and now make more than double the salary as my first "real"job.

Message edited 9/7/2005 9:22:40 PM.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

Posted by suvenR

I changed went to graduate school and changed professions.

after my BA, I was a retail store manager.

after my Master's I got a job in HR

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I took a paycut to work where I work (which I love, so it's all gravy) but I just wanted to say...good for you Rich!

My best friend's husband (that I mentioned on LIW who's a Network Eng...but boring, unlike you ) started the same way...except he actually started as a security guard...worked up to IT while going to school...kept moving up and is now the head Network guy under the VP....except he stood with the same company for all these years and I don't think he's making nearly as much as he should be. He sets up all conferences globally, is in charge of ordering and troubleshooting all telecom equipment and has Marine Corp network satellite experince. I am always one for helping people earn what they're worth...but guys are stubborn sometimes. I wish I could help him or show him what he should be making!

So congrats on being "brave" and earning what you deserve!

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I started out working in an office doing data entry I believe my salary was $21,000 then I switched jobs for more $$ and worked as a receptionist/data entry. Then I got fed up with office work went back to school to become a registered nurse.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I'm just over double (102% increase). Started Jan 01 as a Marketing Assistant and kept working my way up, getting promoted. I'm now the Manager of Corporate and Government Sales at my company (same place).

Switching companies for the higher salary is on my agenda for next year.

Message edited 9/7/2005 9:49:25 PM.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

Changing companies definitely pushed me higher, but demanding more $$ pays off...

I started out in entry level positions in financial services companies (making $28K, 9 years ago). At my second job, I put together a propsal outlining why I should get paid more (at my year review) and it paid off with a $10K raise. I then doubled my salary in 3 years (1997-2000) by changing companies (got big raises/performance increases).

in 1996, I started out making $28K
next job 1997, I started at $30K and left in 1999 making $45
next job 1999, I started at $52K and left in 2002 at 78K

Now I've abandoned financial services and have a real estate appraisal business.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I went from a small personal injury lawfirm to a more established commercial litigation firm.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I more than tripled mine

I started as a caseworker for St. John's Home for Boys and made only 18,000 a year!

Now I am a high school dean with two master's so I make the max I can until I reach 20 years.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I started out as a Teaching assistant, making not even enough to live on. Finally, I got off my tush and found a special ed job through a private company, making much more in one year than I made in three years total at my last job. I guess I had hoped that starting as a TA I'd hopefully work my way up into a full teaching position, but that didn't happen and I am kind of glad it didn't because I found an even better job that is a thousand times more fulfilling. I remember posting way back when I lost the old job, how upset and everyone posted things happen for a reason, and that was so true, losing the old job was a blessing in disguise!!

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

My first job was an executive assistant working for the Chairman of an Investment Bank back in 91 making $22,000.

From there I moved on to a public relations/internal communications manager at another investment bank...

Then I moved on to a smaller investment bank heading up their conference planning/executive dining center.

Then that company merged with a large banking conglomerate and i kept that same position for a year then moved over to Business Continuity and Crisis Management right after 9/11 and that is where I am today as a VP.

From my first job to my current i have increased over 500% but that is over the course of 14 years.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

My first job was as an accountant for a small handbag/luggage company. I was paid hourly but it came out to about $17K a year...crap!

Anyway, I decided true accounting wasn't for me, and I moved to the finance side. I became a financial analyst in the banking industry, which was better but still boring.

Then I moved to advertising, as a Sr. Financial Analyst. I loved the industry, but the agency was small and not a lot of room for growth.

I left there for Cablevision, so I could be on LI while I went to school for my Masters. But then I went back to the city to another advertising agency. I started as the finance manager, and am now VP, Directory of Client Finance. Overall, I've gone up about 635% over 10 years...it's definitely the job hopping that helps boost the salary.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I started as a staff accountant, moved to the systems group in support, moved back to the accounting group in a systems support function, and now I'm back in the systems group again. All the same company, but four different positions, in four years, each with a raise.

Message edited 9/8/2005 9:32:27 AM.

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

I've only been working for about a little over 3 yrs, 2 jobs total, my salary now is double where I started.

I work for an investiment bank on Wall street, I should be pay more for my position, but I am not so I am looking to switch company

Re: SPINOFF: For those who have doubled their salary since their first job (or more)

well...let's see. I started off as a Sales Assistant to Brokers for Smith Barney and hated it. Switched to HR and was an HR Assistant, then HR Coordinator and now HR Associate. My salary is now double what it was when I had my first job and that was 5 years ago. I think it should be more but I am glad I am employed at all!