What are the highest paying IT careers?
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I have this problem. I am sitting right around $100k /year and barely breaking even because of where we live. Our location is restricted because of the schools we want our kids in.
Someday I’ll be able to say that.
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@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller I guess I was conflating the two. I didn't even think there was a difference.
It is a little bit of a grey area, in between the two, but they are very different animals. Headhunters only exist for senior positions. I don't think that mine even list jobs under $180K, for example. And most are over $200K. They work on long term relationships on both sides. Mine worked with me for seven years before going out and finding me a slot, for example. ANd they stay in contact, for forever.
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@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller I guess I was conflating the two. I didn't even think there was a difference.
It is a little bit of a grey area, in between the two, but they are very different animals. Headhunters only exist for senior positions. I don't think that mine even list jobs under $180K, for example. And most are over $200K. They work on long term relationships on both sides. Mine worked with me for seven years before going out and finding me a slot, for example. ANd they stay in contact, for forever.
Did you seek out and hire your headhunter, or is this a person who contacted you randomly (I'm thinking about the E-mails I get from time to time from people saying they have X position in which I might be interested) with whom you created a professional relationship over the course of seven years?
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@eddiejennings said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller I guess I was conflating the two. I didn't even think there was a difference.
It is a little bit of a grey area, in between the two, but they are very different animals. Headhunters only exist for senior positions. I don't think that mine even list jobs under $180K, for example. And most are over $200K. They work on long term relationships on both sides. Mine worked with me for seven years before going out and finding me a slot, for example. ANd they stay in contact, for forever.
Did you seek out and hire your headhunter, or is this a person who contacted you randomly (I'm thinking about the E-mails I get from time to time from people saying they have X position in which I might be interested) with whom you created a professional relationship over the course of seven years?
I don't honestly remmeber but likely I was referred to them.
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@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example,
It could just be me but I am thinking the jobs on Indeed are on the verge of fraudulent. There are so many in the tech fields that seem unrealistic. Again it could just be me and when I was looking, but there were many IT jobs that wanted at least 5 years experience in a networking, system admins, sql expert and so on with 5 years experience in each category.
Each job was different but it was some combination of skills that just seemed unrealistic such as jobs with 15 years experince in both Linux and Windows admins. When I would try to contact about these jobs to see if they would entertain a person with less experience I could never get in touch with anyone, ever. I'll never use Indeed again because I think many or most of those IT jobs are just fraudulent but maybe thats just my experience.
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@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
Texas is really the best market, I think. Very low cost of living, no state income tax, nearly everything is cheaper than other tax free or low tax states, high legal mobility, and more local job opportunities than in most US markets, especially low cost ones. If you can get remote work and do it from Texas or Florida, you are golden.
I love Texas, the idea. Texas, geographically, bums me out. I like rain and cooler weather. How is Tennessee, economically-speaking?
Have you spent time in Dallas? I'm a rain and cooler weather person myself and we get loads of rain in Dallas. And it is not all that hot. Not all that cool, but not all that hot. Don't equate all of Texas with the hell that is Houston.
I went there once, when I was in jr. high in January and it was snowing.
I live in St. Louis area, but have been to Tennessee in the summer, it is very similar to St. Louis hot and very humid. The last full week in September in St. Louis we had 93-degree heat. In July and August we can tip over 100 then you add in the awful humidity. TN is very similar. Honeymooned there in January and it was in the 60s during the day. Which is awesome. But by no means cold or even chilly. Dropped to the lower 40s at night but I never put a jacket on and was always still in shorts.
If you want cold and snow, Omaha is a good starting point. Then go to even more cold and more snow areas from there.
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@jmoore said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example,
It could just be me but I am thinking the jobs on Indeed are on the verge of fraudulent. There are so many in the tech fields that seem unrealistic. Again it could just be me and when I was looking, but there were many IT jobs that wanted at least 5 years experience in a networking, system admins, sql expert and so on with 5 years experience in each category.
Each job was different but it was some combination of skills that just seemed unrealistic such as jobs with 15 years experince in both Linux and Windows admins. When I would try to contact about these jobs to see if they would entertain a person with less experience I could never get in touch with anyone, ever. I'll never use Indeed again because I think many or most of those IT jobs are just fraudulent but maybe thats just my experience.
Remember that I said 85% of job listings anywhere are fake .... and that was back when people had to pay to post them!
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@scottalanmiller Yeah I'm sure your right. I was referring back a few years ago now from what i was thinking then. Yeah my opinion hasnt changed any lol. Now I know your right lol
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@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@jmoore said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example,
It could just be me but I am thinking the jobs on Indeed are on the verge of fraudulent. There are so many in the tech fields that seem unrealistic. Again it could just be me and when I was looking, but there were many IT jobs that wanted at least 5 years experience in a networking, system admins, sql expert and so on with 5 years experience in each category.
Each job was different but it was some combination of skills that just seemed unrealistic such as jobs with 15 years experince in both Linux and Windows admins. When I would try to contact about these jobs to see if they would entertain a person with less experience I could never get in touch with anyone, ever. I'll never use Indeed again because I think many or most of those IT jobs are just fraudulent but maybe thats just my experience.
Remember that I said 85% of job listings anywhere are fake .... and that was back when people had to pay to post them!
Do you know of any good headhunters accepting new people? Some of us could really use good help.
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@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@jmoore said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example,
It could just be me but I am thinking the jobs on Indeed are on the verge of fraudulent. There are so many in the tech fields that seem unrealistic. Again it could just be me and when I was looking, but there were many IT jobs that wanted at least 5 years experience in a networking, system admins, sql expert and so on with 5 years experience in each category.
Each job was different but it was some combination of skills that just seemed unrealistic such as jobs with 15 years experince in both Linux and Windows admins. When I would try to contact about these jobs to see if they would entertain a person with less experience I could never get in touch with anyone, ever. I'll never use Indeed again because I think many or most of those IT jobs are just fraudulent but maybe thats just my experience.
Remember that I said 85% of job listings anywhere are fake .... and that was back when people had to pay to post them!
Do you know of any good headhunters accepting new people? Some of us could really use good help.
I don't know of any that accept people outside of Manhattan.
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@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@jmoore said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example,
It could just be me but I am thinking the jobs on Indeed are on the verge of fraudulent. There are so many in the tech fields that seem unrealistic. Again it could just be me and when I was looking, but there were many IT jobs that wanted at least 5 years experience in a networking, system admins, sql expert and so on with 5 years experience in each category.
Each job was different but it was some combination of skills that just seemed unrealistic such as jobs with 15 years experince in both Linux and Windows admins. When I would try to contact about these jobs to see if they would entertain a person with less experience I could never get in touch with anyone, ever. I'll never use Indeed again because I think many or most of those IT jobs are just fraudulent but maybe thats just my experience.
Remember that I said 85% of job listings anywhere are fake .... and that was back when people had to pay to post them!
Do you know of any good headhunters accepting new people? Some of us could really use good help.
I don't know of any that accept people outside of Manhattan.
So I'd have to move to Manhattan for a job? Or I'd have to already live in Manhattan? What are we always saying about locallity in IT?
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@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@jmoore said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example,
It could just be me but I am thinking the jobs on Indeed are on the verge of fraudulent. There are so many in the tech fields that seem unrealistic. Again it could just be me and when I was looking, but there were many IT jobs that wanted at least 5 years experience in a networking, system admins, sql expert and so on with 5 years experience in each category.
Each job was different but it was some combination of skills that just seemed unrealistic such as jobs with 15 years experince in both Linux and Windows admins. When I would try to contact about these jobs to see if they would entertain a person with less experience I could never get in touch with anyone, ever. I'll never use Indeed again because I think many or most of those IT jobs are just fraudulent but maybe thats just my experience.
Remember that I said 85% of job listings anywhere are fake .... and that was back when people had to pay to post them!
Do you know of any good headhunters accepting new people? Some of us could really use good help.
I don't know of any that accept people outside of Manhattan.
So I'd have to move to Manhattan for a job? Or I'd have to already live in Manhattan? What are we always saying about locallity in IT?
Be ready and able to move at the very least. I get away with not being local because I used to live there, used to work there, have moved to there for work twice before, and maintain a local house that I just don't happen to be in. So I have a local address to give, which helps a lot.
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If you'd like a local address, I have a house for sale, though!
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@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If you'd like a local address, I have a house for sale, though!
Yeah, and with no income I doubt I'd be able to buy a house, even a dirt cheap house.
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@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If you'd like a local address, I have a house for sale, though!
Yeah, and with no income I doubt I'd be able to buy a house, even a dirt cheap house.
Did you not get that other position?
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@stacksofplates said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If you'd like a local address, I have a house for sale, though!
Yeah, and with no income I doubt I'd be able to buy a house, even a dirt cheap house.
Did you not get that other position?
Still waiting to hear back on a couple. Won't know for sure for another week at least.
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@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@stacksofplates said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If you'd like a local address, I have a house for sale, though!
Yeah, and with no income I doubt I'd be able to buy a house, even a dirt cheap house.
Did you not get that other position?
Still waiting to hear back on a couple. Won't know for sure for another week at least.
Oh ok, good luck!
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@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
SMB is all the same two jobs.... generalist or generalist manager. All comes down to seniority, experience, market, etc.
This is where I am, currently. What do you think national average is?
No idea about national average, nor would it likely be meaningful in any way. Pay is so dependent on the job, job role, company, level, and location that an average would be kind of meaningless. Imagine asking "what's the average pay of a business person" or "how much can you expect to earn as a business owner?" An average in anything like those would be totally meaningless.
Hmm... Oh well. I hit 6 figures this year.
That doesn't seem like an easy thing to do in the the typical SMB as a regular generalist employee.
Actually SMB is one of the highest paying categories. But it is misleading. It's larger and very focused SMBs that might be small in people, but big in profits. They tend to behave like enterprises, even with relatively few people. Nearly all $300K+ jobs I know of are in the SMB range. Whereas the enterprise tends to dominate the $200K+ range.
These must be the F100 SMBs then, because I've never seen anything anywhere close to that in real life... not personally and not advertised.
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example, you will not fine that role and that pay, nowhere close. Maybe you do, because you know someone who knows someone.... but I'd never find an offer like that, even if I'm worth a billion dollar salary.
That's because high end roles aren't advertised
You work through headhunters. People who place people at that level, have them vetted, and such.Many of them are SaaS providers for niche industries. You can have 20 employees running a platform with 50K customers. Tech heavy jobs. As Scott mentioned if you lack the skills (and don’t run in the right networks) you’ll never find out about them.
I work in storage which while a relative large field, still feels small when you get to the 200K+ tier.
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@storageninja said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@wrx7m said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
SMB is all the same two jobs.... generalist or generalist manager. All comes down to seniority, experience, market, etc.
This is where I am, currently. What do you think national average is?
No idea about national average, nor would it likely be meaningful in any way. Pay is so dependent on the job, job role, company, level, and location that an average would be kind of meaningless. Imagine asking "what's the average pay of a business person" or "how much can you expect to earn as a business owner?" An average in anything like those would be totally meaningless.
Hmm... Oh well. I hit 6 figures this year.
That doesn't seem like an easy thing to do in the the typical SMB as a regular generalist employee.
Actually SMB is one of the highest paying categories. But it is misleading. It's larger and very focused SMBs that might be small in people, but big in profits. They tend to behave like enterprises, even with relatively few people. Nearly all $300K+ jobs I know of are in the SMB range. Whereas the enterprise tends to dominate the $200K+ range.
These must be the F100 SMBs then, because I've never seen anything anywhere close to that in real life... not personally and not advertised.
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example, you will not fine that role and that pay, nowhere close. Maybe you do, because you know someone who knows someone.... but I'd never find an offer like that, even if I'm worth a billion dollar salary.
That's because high end roles aren't advertised
You work through headhunters. People who place people at that level, have them vetted, and such.Many of them are SaaS providers for niche industries. You can have 20 employees running a platform with 50K customers. Tech heavy jobs. As Scott mentioned if you lack the skills (and don’t run in the right networks) you’ll never find out about them.
I work in storage which while a relative large field, still feels small when you get to the 200K+ tier.
I was at one that had millions of users and an ops team of five!
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@travisdh1 said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@scottalanmiller said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@jmoore said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
@tim_g said in What are the highest paying IT careers?:
If one were to search those types of jobs on indeed for example,
It could just be me but I am thinking the jobs on Indeed are on the verge of fraudulent. There are so many in the tech fields that seem unrealistic. Again it could just be me and when I was looking, but there were many IT jobs that wanted at least 5 years experience in a networking, system admins, sql expert and so on with 5 years experience in each category.
Each job was different but it was some combination of skills that just seemed unrealistic such as jobs with 15 years experince in both Linux and Windows admins. When I would try to contact about these jobs to see if they would entertain a person with less experience I could never get in touch with anyone, ever. I'll never use Indeed again because I think many or most of those IT jobs are just fraudulent but maybe thats just my experience.
Remember that I said 85% of job listings anywhere are fake .... and that was back when people had to pay to post them!
Do you know of any good headhunters accepting new people? Some of us could really use good help.
We don’t use headhunters at our company and everything is posted on our jobs site. (VMware.jobs)
I’ve posted my referral link before for gigs. Something like 2/3 of our hires come internal references.General advise is:
Get to know employees of the company you want to work for. I was referred by the chief technologist in the BU. That likely went a ways towards making sure I got a call back.
I wrote some blogs that he liked, and met him at a conference. Go to conferences.
We hire all over the place for Field SEs. We have to staff weird regions or accounts (Like Kansas City) all the time.
We hire for PSO all the time. Be willing to fly anywhere and travel 80% and you can get a job.
