starting salary 1

[Triangled]

Hi,
I have a small structural practice in California near to one of the California state colleges. Business looks like it may pick up some and I'm considering seeking a freshly minted no experience BS engineering degreed person on board. I could use the help and I know for sure that working at our office would be a great entrance into the field for someone. Can you give me any guidance for typical starting compensation packages these days.

 

[FlashSet]

Why pay them? Just emphasize how you are helping them: Link

But more seriously, recent NYC starting salaries were around $60,000 - 67,000. Other (non big city) places were closer to the $50,000 to 56,000 range. Personally I would have thought the $50,000 was low, but the place offered a ~15% SEP salary match at the end of every year, which is much better than I am getting now! It really depends what area of CA you are in, I would recommend looking for the ASCE/ASME salary survey; it won't give you starting salaries, but it will give a you basis for your area based on others.

Also, you can't just look at base salary. Think of all of the other perks you will be offering. Will you pay for their asce membership? Will you pay for a PE review course? Will you be for graduate level course work? What about monthly professional group meetings? A cell phone?

 

[JedClampett]

Let's see, it's a one man shop. You want to hire someone who has no experience, basically never had a real job, fresh out of school. You're basically going to need to keep him/her busy and explain every step of everything you need done beyond the book learning he/she already has. It's an awesome task. Don't underestimate your lost productivity during that phase. And that's if you hire the right person.
Until you get a little additional manpower, you need to hire someone who can help you right away and you're not going to have to babysit. It will cost more, but you'll get help right away.

 

[JedClampett]

I'm sorry. I made a leap from small to one man shop. If you already have others on board, ignore my rant.

 

[IRstuff]

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Structural-Engineer-I-Salary-Details-Fullerton-CA.aspx

Median salary is ~62K in Fullerton, CA

TTFN
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[Triangled]

Thank you all!

 

[KENAT]

http://www.salary.com/

may be of use if you want to consider pay based on comparison to other employers rather than focus on your own economics and what the individual contributes to your organization.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[GregLocock]

"what the individual contributes to your organization"

Yes, that is the fair solution, trouble is newly minted graduates are a net liability for the first couple of years, they should be paying you.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[KENAT]

Hence: "your own economics and what the individual contributes to your organization"

Sadly the 13th amendment probably precludes your suggestion in the OP's location - unless they're on an H-1B visa or J-1 which sometimes encroach on indentured servitude territory.

I'd like to think I was a net liability for less than 2 years but former colleagues may disagree, and at least some of my useful work may not have been considered true 'Engineering' by some.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​