I started a new position in February and it has been just over six months. I would like to do a review and see about a compensation adjustment. According to Glassdoor and the Coroflot Salary Survey I am doing alright. According to my modest lifestyle and bank account after my expenses, I am not.
I am happy to be less vague on the numbers.
Does the survey results still feel accurate for US based designers? I am in Chicago, this position is w2, I do a small amount of freelance work in unrelated sectors, which has dried up fair bit with tariffs and BS. Thanks in advance
Not accurate at all, at least from my corporate seat. I have been out of consultancies for so long I have no idea. But marketing manager and marketing director are off by half.
I live in Avondale now, I work in Elgin. I do need to be onsite 5-days a week (more or less, some WFH flexibility but nothing regular) . Benefits are better and cheaper than I was getting with Obamacare. 401k is NOT matched (wtf?), we MIGHT get bonuses based on sales and production however not anything formal to be had on that. A co-worker at a similar level in the company said they have been saying that for years. I get $75k, 3-weeks of PTO, 4 personal days, and some federal holidays. On the plus side, it is very chill, and a well managed and positive environment. For freelance I typically bill out around $100/hr. My biggest/ most regular client was paying at $55 but I would like to move them up the scale since it has been a few years and they have not been providing the workload they once had.
One area you can check is the H1BData base salary info which is publicly accessible online. You can search by ID salaries for this year if you want up to date info, it will also show you by Company and Location, maybe you can use it to compare around your area or field of work? However, caveat is that the tool is sometimes vague, full of ads, and no guarantee the applications were filed to accurately reflect the years of experience of the new hire. So sometimes you might see a huge salary for basic ID position but it might actually be for a Senior, Principal, or Director level position because they may have filed it simply as “industrial designer”.
Hi - I’m assuming your position is “Industrial Designer” but please confirm. Also how much experience do you have, and what type (corporate, consultancy, freelance) and any other special skills.
I’m no expert, but that salary seems pretty average, maybe a bit on the low end, but totally dependent on your experience and job level. That said, your modest lifestyle and bank account really tell the story of what is needed to get ahead these days. I know Chicago is not cheap, but hopefully living out of town makes it a bit lower cost.
Your freelance rate is good, and if you can get steady work at that rate to supplement the salary then that is a positive.
All this said, the best way to bump up your salary is by moving jobs to a new company and making a jump in pay and responsibility when you do. Since you just started this role less than a year ago you should stay put for 2 years minimum. The 3 weeks of PTO is pretty good - make sure to use it all each year.
Also a chill, positive environment that is managed well can be worth quite a bit. Would you take a 20K bump in salary to work someplace that is stressful, toxic and mis-managed? If not, then how much would it take? 40K? Something to think about.
I have like 10-14 years of experience depending on how you want to cut it. I have a lot of very specialized experience and background knowledge of niche areas. I live in a NW Side neighborhood of Chicago. It wouldn’t save me significant money just time to live further out. I would have better accommodations, at the cost of social isolation platonically and romantically. My title is “industrial designer/ Engineer “ I do new product development, and a lot of customization for client projects. On my liquidity I’m really not getting ahead: no dates, no going out for coffee/beer/food, no spending on stuff I do not need……With student loan interest, I’m in the hole ~$120/mo. If I capitalize that interest I’m up $200. I’m not complaining, I felt you asked for a clearer picture.
Take this with a grain of salt, because I am not actively hiring in the Chicago area so I am not totally confident in my assumptions. But it seems that an industrial designer/engineer with 10+ years of experience and specialized knowledge in niche areas should be earning a LOT more than 75K. I suggest you start networking and talking to people in and out of your areas of expertise to see what is out there right now. Right now is a hard time to be looking for a job. But the best time to do this is when you are employed. Hopefully you can find something new, but do keep in mind the value of the workplace culture, stress levels and management. Good luck!
Our most recent posting was for a mid-to-senior, at least 6-7 years solid exp, $110-125k. Wannabee tech company overlords used to pay tech style money and RSUs but that’s over now. Seattle metro area, it’s expensive here.