I am paid $12/hour , do you think I am under paid?
Asked by sum142121
I graduated with a degree in electrical and computer engineering .. Now i am working as a secretary . Do you think i am underpaid ? My employer is an electrician , he said I am gona be working as a secretary for one more week or so . After that i will be the one who will go into customers houses and tell them estimates . I am thinking I can put that down on my resume as being an " Electrical Estimator" .. What do you think ? Does anyone smell a scam from the part of my employer ? and also I am hoping an electrical estimator is paid well over what i am making right now ..

Best Answer:
youre a secretary? no youre not under-paid. climb the ladder.

sounds pretty underpaid. You need to go talk to your employer and nail down a date where you will get a bump in salary.
Answered by PY

You graduated with a degree in electrical/computer engineering and you're working for an electrician? Get a job as a programmer and work your way up to design. What are you thinking?
Answered by 006

I'd wait that week to see if they actually do start sending you into houses. BUT I think after you start doing that your pay should actually increase. I have heard electricians and such get paid well. Your pay sucks right now, but for a secretarial position it's probably about average. If you don't get an increase I would discuss it with them. If they don't have you start doing the house calls and increase your wage, I would look for a new job.
Answered by IAskUAnswer

I would say that you are out of your field. You should be doing Journeyman work if you are trying to become an electrician. I would look for other jobs as what you are in now is not for you.
Answered by Protege

yea, ur being underpaid,
Answered by Tosha B

Is there someone willing to do your job for $12? If so you are not underpaid. Only you and the market can determine if you are underpaid. You education does not have value unless it applies to the job at hand. If you estimate electrical jobs, I agree that "Electrical Estimator" is an appropriate title. Did you not come to terms with your employer as to how much you will be paid once you become the Electrical Estimator? If not then I would expect he is going to pay you $12 an hour. When you ask for more, he will likely say let's see how you do, especially because it sounds like you do not have much experience at this job. What I smell is a smart employer looking out for his business willing to give you a chance to work for $. What I am thinking I do not smell is an employee who has experience negotiating job terms and pay. Look out for yourself and find out all aspects of the job and pay. Also find out what you can expect for pay increases in the future and what it will take to achieve this. This way you can compare where you are currently to other opportunities that you may have in the future. Estimating is pretty easy and is not always high paying. Though you do have a great deal of responsibility - if you screw up, the boss could loose a lot. my 2c
Answered by yakrafter

I would say $12/hour is way too low for a degreed engineer. You should be making at lot more than that. You are being hosed. Look for another job and when you get a better one, leave that employer with the next days notice
Answered by Tyrus

Communication and specifics...you need both right now. Find out comparable salry info for your title and then go to your boss and pin him down to an exact date and salary... Also join the IBEW they'll ensure you're treated fairly.
Answered by thisisme

Your degree does not factor in here because you are not working in a field that it pertains to. So many people that have degrees that are in you position, they think that it is an automatic $100,000.00 year paycheck. A degree is a worthless piece of paper unless you plan on utilizing it. So either stay where you are making $12/hr and be happy with it since that is a reasonable wage for what you are doing, or you can go out and get a job in the field you studied for.
Answered by HoneyChild

Many employers particularly the smaller ones pay their secretaries crappy wages. Stay for two more weeks to see if your employer lives up to his word and moves you into your chosen field. If it does not happen look for employment elsewhere. Everyone deserves to be told the truth!
Answered by Alletery