Is a certain salary web site inaccurate?

[Plasmech]

There is a certain SALARY wed site, yes in fact it is a DOT COM (I won't mention which exactly one it is) that I am suspecting of being inaccurate on the high side. Have any fellow engineers checked out this particular salary web site and noticed the same thing? I feel that it's maybe as much as 20% or more higher than reality. Please discuss!

 

[IRstuff]

I think that's a biased sample. People who have good news rarely report it, while those with bad news are quick to report it.

Don't forget that the site's data is based on an AVERAGE of data from wherever they get it, but given the larger population in large cities, the numbers are skewed toward big city salaries. I haven't seen anything to suggest an gross errors.

TTFN

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[Plasmech]

Not really a biased sample. I don't want to go into details, but let's say I was not "upset" by what I saw on the web site in question. Rather, I found it hard to believe that the "going rate" according to them is in fact "the going rate". To me at least, it seems a bit high.

 

[IRstuff]

But, that's precisely my point.

Someone who's salary is a bit higher than the going rate isn't going to be complaining about it, are they? That's the biased sample. You're only hearing from people, like yourself, who fall below the mythical line in the salary ranking.

A truly unbiased experiment would be to collect the salary information from a truly random sampling, and, assuming one could get a clear correlation to the job categories, try to match the salary curves.

I'm not saying they're right, but it's essentially impossible to prove they're wrong.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[corus]

I was once told the reason was that the 'higher' average included engineering contractors who don't have the same benefits of someone fully employed, such as sick pay, holiday pay etc. Whether that's true or not I have no idea. The best way to guage your salary is to compare it with jobs that are currently advertised (ignoring the BS that says salaries of up to.. that nobody attains).

corus

 

[mechengdude]

On the flip side, I just checked the site for my zip code and job and the numbers are a little on the low side.

I used to check the site as well and think the numbers were inflated. That was two jobs ago. Now the numbers look low.

 

[Plasmech]

IR, you're assuming that I "fall *below* the mythical line", however as it turns out the opposite is true. The reason I was on the salary web site in the first place was to attempt to determine what someone working under me should be making. Just curious as to who you assumed I was "below the norm"...why assume at all?

My other post about the 7.5 years experience is about me.

Anyway, you're a good guy with great posts, and thanks again for helping me with that thermal problem!

 

[MadMango]

Plasmech, I have successfully used the data obtained from Salary.com to push for higher wages for people when I was in management. I was never successful in getting them to a salary close (50-75th percentile) to what the site listed, but by having numerous salaries broken out by region and in percentiles, I at least got to fight for more (4-8% raise) than the normal 3% annual raise that was mandated across the company.

You have to be careful on selecting the correct job description, not just the job title on that site.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[csd72]

Read the fine print, most of these sites use a limited number of data to get a national average and then multiply this national average by a regional index to get a local salary.

This does not take into account many specific local effects, and the fact that enginnering does not need to be done at the same location as the work.

For example, much of the structural engineering for new york city is done in connecticut/new jersey. This pushes salaries lower than they should be for NYC jobs as these companies have to compete.

 

[cksh]

Several years ago I had a discussion about the accuracy of these sights with one of our HR rep's. She said they rate extremely high. Of course she would have to say that so it would look as though the company was competitive.

Another thing to consider is the demand for that particular job. Back in the late 90's in Automotive lots of designers were making what I have trouble making now as a degreed engineer. Now the market is so saturated with experienced people due to layoffs that salaries have been pretty stagnant IMHO. Employers have their pick. The good paying jobs are still there though just harder to find.

I agree that you have to look at the job descriptions. I can rarely find my job title on those sites.

I would like to see how these sights figure out their numbers.

 

[KENAT]

I'll admit the numbers often look slightly high, and I'm pretty sure that's been alluded to in other posts but it can vary.

As IRstuff said, it's difficult to prove wrong, and there are so many variables that at best it's just a rough guide.

Picking the right title is important.

Plus look at the range in salaries, that can be an eye opener sometimes.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[IRstuff]

I didn't assume anything in particular about any single person, so there was no direct inference of any sort. I was simply speaking in generalities as to why there might be disgruntlement about the results.

As to your original subject, your best bet is to talk to HR. While they otherwise resemble Catbert, they also have routine meetings with other HR people and probably have an much better view of prevalent salaries in your particular location.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[Gymmeh]

I found one that after you enter your data, give profiles of people similar to you so you could look at their jobs description, location, salary, and benefits. This is good for verifying that the information is close.

I dont know if this is the site which you are talking about.

Although for my area alot of them are very high... I assume because of NYC been near by.

 

[sms]

I found it to be way low...

"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" Oddball, "Kelly's Heros" 1970

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[Plasmech]

Ha, Kelly's heroes. I'm pretty sure that's the movie where they shot the red practice paint round out of the Sherman tank at the Tiger....gotta love it.

 

[shacked]

Actually IR you did assume the he was underpaid, or as you put it:

"You're only hearing from people, like yourself, who fall below the mythical line in the salary ranking."

Then you go on in another post to explain that you didn't assume anything, but it is pretty obvious that you assumed he was underpaid by your comment.

I am not trying to be an a-hole, just pointing out inconsistencies.

 

[IRstuff]

Agreed, poorly written. I apologize for that.

My poorly stated point was simply that any one person will fall below or above the line; there is no such thing as the "average" engineer, whose salary exactly matches the survey numbers. As in this and the other related thread, some people report that they're above the numbers and others report that they're below the numbers. That's the way the statistics works.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[Plasmech]

I guess my "thing" with the salary web site is that if it is indeed inflated which, in my humble opinion it is, grossly in some cases, it's just going to make people who are paid below the "real" average or even at the "real" average bad about themselves and possibly lower their confidence. On the other hand, it is nice to have a super jacked-up salary web site on steroids to reference when talking salaries with the bosses at the end of each year

 

[KENAT]

I posted this on the other thread but maybe it's better here.

We're doing self appraisals at the mo' and I went on there as part of my deliberations on if I should ask for a job re-classification, I'm a apparantly a _ Engineer IV which I thought would make it easier. Anyway they didn't have my job title so I looked at similar. For 3 of them that were various types of Engineer IV I was below the 10% mark (not sure I was even on the chart for one of them;-)). However, I found a different description for a job that actually sounds more like my day to day task and I was roughly at the 50% mark.

So maybe if you find the right job description it's fairly accurate!

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[MadMango]

I would hope it won't lower people's confidence in their abilities (sounds a bit too New Age to me). If anything it should force people to take a second look at their situation and decide if they are stagnating or advancing in their particular position/employer/industry.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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