How much do the salaried professional positions make at Disney

[vin1215]

Hey guys I was just wondering, say if you got offered a position after a PI, how much do you think that salaried position would be (particulary in the marketing,merchandising or management areas). I have ready many posts on other sites that say Disney pay is horrible but I have yet to see numbers to back it up. Just curious . Thanks guys

 

[DisneyJersey]

Hey guys I was just wondering, say if you got offered a position after a PI, how much do you think that salaried position would be (particulary in the marketing,merchandising or management areas). I have ready many posts on other sites that say Disney pay is horrible but I have yet to see numbers to back it up. Just curious . Thanks guys

non mgmt PI's get anywhere from 9 to 12 dollars an hour.. other areas get a little more, mgmt interns get 600 a week before taxes

 

[DisneyElite4]

Very rarely would you ever be offered a salaried postion after completing a Professional Internships. The only acceptance to this if you are a Management Intern - obviously if you are hired directly into a Management role you would be salaried.

Most PIs in other backstage roles such as Marketing, Sales, Communication, etc. will not go directly into salaried roles. If you are lucky enough to get a job offer at all, it will most likely be an Office and Technical postion. In Disneyspeak this means hourly, but in a professional capacity. You would still be working backstage supporting Marketing, Sales, etc. in professional dress, but you would make an hourly wage. From there, you could move into a salaried position. (The titles of these roles wold be something like Marketing Coordinator, Communication Associate, Human Resources Assistant, Sales Assistant, etc. They are very competitive.)

But to answer your question, in those positions starting wages would be anywhere from $10.50-$14.00/ hour depending on experience and education. It's certainly not a lot, but it's definitely more than Front line CMs make and you are eligible for merit raises frequently. The starting salary for Management can be anywhere from 30k on up.

 

[vin1215]

Wow that is pretty low. So basically if you are offered a job after your PI, it is most likely going to be the same pay. I thought it would be a little higher.

 

[DisneyElite4]

Yes and No. If you were offered a position in your current department with very similar responsibilities, your pay would go up from anywhere to 30 cents to a dollar. But really, it all depends on the job title, education and experience of the person, etc. I personally don't know anyone who makes more than $14.00/hour in one of these roles when they first start out. (And that is the high end - most start at $11 or $12.) But I don't know everyone!

The pay is low because the jobs are awesome - lots of people want them, so they don't have to pay more. The perks are wonderful, so are the benefits, and you're working for a prominent Company doing something that relates to your education. That makes up for the low pay!

 

[vin1215]

Yes and No. If you were offered a position in your current department with very similar responsibilities, your pay would go up from anywhere to 30 cents to a dollar. But really, it all depends on the job title, education and experience of the person, etc. I personally don't know anyone who makes more than $14.00/hour in one of these roles when they first start out. (And that is the high end - most start at $11 or $12.) But I don't know everyone!

The pay is low because the jobs are awesome - lots of people want them, so they don't have to pay more. The perks are wonderful, so are the benefits, and you're working for a prominent Company doing something that relates to your education. That makes up for the low pay!

I wasnt referring to the intern pay as being low I was just referring to it as an intern with previous exact experience and also a college graduate to make more than 31k a year (14/hr 40hr weeks). I was thinking at least starting out at 42-45k..but it is an awesome job so i guess you cant have the best of both worlds.

 

[mickeyfan85]

I wasnt referring to the intern pay as being low I was just referring to it as an intern with previous exact experience and also a college graduate to make more than 31k a year (14/hr 40hr weeks). I was thinking at least starting out at 42-45k..but it is an awesome job so i guess you cant have the best of both worlds.

Now, I'm not 100% sure, but I think starting pay for a manager is closer to $36k. Which, after working for $7.43/hour, is amazing, haha.

 

[Berlioz70]

I wasnt referring to the intern pay as being low I was just referring to it as an intern with previous exact experience and also a college graduate to make more than 31k a year (14/hr 40hr weeks). I was thinking at least starting out at 42-45k..but it is an awesome job so i guess you cant have the best of both worlds.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say your a business or engineer major? Most starting jobs are in the 20-30k range - even with my masters in education I can only expect to make about 30-35k. My husband has a BA in finance/real estate and his starting was 45k - but that's a business guy for ya!

 

[Quiksilvr]

Yeesh. This is why I went to law school.

Still, I've heard Disney pays pretty low in their in-house legal department (from someone who worked there several years back), especially compared to the large law firms. I guess the relatively low pay continues until you get to the executive level.

 

[vin1215]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say your a business or engineer major? Most starting jobs are in the 20-30k range - even with my masters in education I can only expect to make about 30-35k. My husband has a BA in finance/real estate and his starting was 45k - but that's a business guy for ya!

Yes I am a business major (Marketing/Management). Do you think that the business major will have that much effect on a starting salary at disney?

 

[vin1215]

Yeesh. This is why I went to law school.

Still, I've heard Disney pays pretty low in their in-house legal department (from someone who worked there several years back), especially compared to the large law firms. I guess the relatively low pay continues until you get to the executive level.

Yea I just got my LSAT score yesterday (not too good 152). I am considering law school but the main reason why I am considering it is because of money. I think business would be more fun especially since you do not have to go through law school but at the same time I think law school may be the safer choice. I have asked around and some people agree but then again I have an acquaintance who just graduated from UF law and cannot find a job so I am kind of lost. If you mind sharing your personal insight and experience please e-mail me at vbalsamo@fau.edu as I have many questions. Thanks

 

[CelebrationNM]

Yea I just got my LSAT score yesterday (not too good 152). I am considering law school but the main reason why I am considering it is because of money. I think business would be more fun especially since you do not have to go through law school but at the same time I think law school may be the safer choice.

There are exceptions to everything, but a mentor told me once that if you want to be a lawyer, go to law school. If you don't, then don't get a law degree because it's not a "catch all." I guess you need to decide what it is you want to do.

Anybody heard something similar?

 

[vin1215]

There are exceptions to everything, but a mentor told me once that if you want to be a lawyer, go to law school. If you don't, then don't get a law degree because it's not a "catch all." I guess you need to decide what it is you want to do.

Anybody heard something similar?

Yea I totally agree. The hardest part for me right is deciding what I want to do. I am interested in both, business a little more but if I will be stressed out and struggling to live ($$$) by getting into business then I think Law is the safer route. Then again there is always a chance I can get a Law degree and still be struggling so who knows. I guess I will just keep on trying to figure it out. I am actually leaning towards adding another major to my degree just so I can prolong the decision process and maybe get an internship because right now I can graduate in spring 09 but i think that is just too soon.

 

[Berlioz70]

Yes I am a business major (Marketing/Management). Do you think that the business major will have that much effect on a starting salary at disney?

To be honest - your degree doesn't have anything to do with your salary, it's the job you get. However, most business jobs generally pay higher because it is such a volatile job (especially now with the market the way it is). If you get some type of finance/accounting job at Disney your pay will probably be higher. But if you end up in management, HR, or something else unrelated you can expect that pay to go down.

While there are certain jobs at Disney (disneycareers.com) that request a specific type of Bachelors, in most cases it doesn't matter what your degree is in. They will say you need a Bachelors (in whatever) and 3-5 years experience in a certain type of field - it's the experience that will increase that paycheck.

 

[Quiksilvr]

Yea I just got my LSAT score yesterday (not too good 152). I am considering law school but the main reason why I am considering it is because of money. I think business would be more fun especially since you do not have to go through law school but at the same time I think law school may be the safer choice. I have asked around and some people agree but then again I have an acquaintance who just graduated from UF law and cannot find a job so I am kind of lost. If you mind sharing your personal insight and experience please e-mail me at vbalsamo@fau.edu as I have many questions. Thanks

Law school is not right for everyone. I agree wholeheartedly with the poster who said that you should go to law school if you want to be a lawyer but not to simply put off life for a few more years. Law school is very expensive, and in my opinion is only worth it if you know that being a lawyer is what you want. I went to a top-25 law school and got a job at a national top-10 law firm. I make a lot of money (I don't want to say too specifically but suffice it to say that I make well over $100,000 per year). But, I also work a lot of hours (I was in my office last night until 10:30 pm and will likely be here that late again tonight). There are far fewer of these high-paying high-hour law firm jobs than there are people gunning for them. I got lucky because I did very well in law school and interview well. There is also no guarantee that I will "make it" into partnership at my firm (partners at my firm average over $1 million a year in earnings). It is far more likely that I work here for a few more years and bail into an in-house position or to work for the feds or something like that.

One of my best friends from law school has never gotten a full time position since we graduated (and again, we went to a top 25 school). He's been shuffling around doing temp work at big firms for quite some time. You can make decent money at that (I think he makes like $40 an hour and can get overtime) but the work is mindnumbing and unfulfilling (you basically spend ten hours a day looking at litigation discovery documents). He also gets no benefits and only has a job for the length of his contract. It's stressful.

Anyway, I would be more than happy to answer your questions. It might be better if you send me private mesages over DIS rather than email as I prefer to maintain some level of anonymity. Thanks.

 

[Quiksilvr]

There are exceptions to everything, but a mentor told me once that if you want to be a lawyer, go to law school. If you don't, then don't get a law degree because it's not a "catch all." I guess you need to decide what it is you want to do.

Anybody heard something similar?

This is what I tell every person who asks me about law school. I've mentored several of my younger siblings' friends through the law school process and have really tried to get them to soul-search to decide whether being a lawyer (a real one, not one like on law and order) is really what they want in life. I regret going to law school at least once per day. Still, it can be a decent living and at the highest level can be fairly fulfilling.

 

[CelebrationNM]

One thing to add to the discussion on starting salaries: I've never met anybody that went to work for Walt Disney for the money. I think more important than the starting salary are the advancement opportunities available within the company, or at other companies, after spending time at Walt Disney. Not to say it's easy, but the opportunities are certainly there.

The previous poster may have a comment on this, but experience has taught me the importance of loving my job. It sounds cliche, but really: an eight-hour shift passed ever-so-slowly when I was doing front-line, front-desk. My current job has me scheduling my own hours and gives me over 60% discretionary time. I still interact with equally as many guests and coworkers, and I put in longer workdays than I ever have, but I don't mind. Instead of wondering when my shift will end I wonder where the day has gone because my task list grows with exciting projects I never have enough time to finish. More responsibility, more work, more time, more mentally taxing for sure...but I love it.

I feel that if you're good at your job and a high salary and a promotion are what you desire, the money and promotions will someday follow if you work for them. If you aim for the highest starting salary, you may or may not have success long-term...and you'll be miserable in the process. All jobs have perks and anti-parks, but you spend most of your life at work, so be sure you're doing that you like.

Sorry for the lecture...and good luck!

 

[graygables]

One thing to add to the discussion on starting salaries: I've never met anybody that went to work for Walt Disney for the money. I think more important than the starting salary are the advancement opportunities available within the company, or at other companies, after spending time at Walt Disney. Not to say it's easy, but the opportunities are certainly there.

The previous poster may have a comment on this, but experience has taught me the importance of loving my job. It sounds cliche, but really: an eight-hour shift passed ever-so-slowly when I was doing front-line, front-desk. My current job has me scheduling my own hours and gives me over 60% discretionary time. I still interact with equally as many guests and coworkers, and I put in longer workdays than I ever have, but I don't mind. Instead of wondering when my shift will end I wonder where the day has gone because my task list grows with exciting projects I never have enough time to finish. More responsibility, more work, more time, more mentally taxing for sure...but I love it.

I feel that if you're good at your job and a high salary and a promotion are what you desire, the money and promotions will someday follow if you work for them. If you aim for the highest starting salary, you may or may not have success long-term...and you'll be miserable in the process. All jobs have perks and anti-parks, but you spend most of your life at work, so be sure you're doing that you like.

Sorry for the lecture...and good luck!

Well said andI whole-heartedly agree. My older 2 DDs started in the CP and are now both full-time at WDW in hourly roles. They are blissfully happy making a pittance They (and I) understand that there is MUCH more to life than a paycheck.

 

[Quiksilvr]

One thing to add to the discussion on starting salaries: I've never met anybody that went to work for Walt Disney for the money. I think more important than the starting salary are the advancement opportunities available within the company, or at other companies, after spending time at Walt Disney. Not to say it's easy, but the opportunities are certainly there.

The previous poster may have a comment on this, but experience has taught me the importance of loving my job. It sounds cliche, but really: an eight-hour shift passed ever-so-slowly when I was doing front-line, front-desk. My current job has me scheduling my own hours and gives me over 60% discretionary time. I still interact with equally as many guests and coworkers, and I put in longer workdays than I ever have, but I don't mind. Instead of wondering when my shift will end I wonder where the day has gone because my task list grows with exciting projects I never have enough time to finish. More responsibility, more work, more time, more mentally taxing for sure...but I love it.

I feel that if you're good at your job and a high salary and a promotion are what you desire, the money and promotions will someday follow if you work for them. If you aim for the highest starting salary, you may or may not have success long-term...and you'll be miserable in the process. All jobs have perks and anti-parks, but you spend most of your life at work, so be sure you're doing that you like.

Sorry for the lecture...and good luck!

I agree 100%. I went to law school for the money. Got the money. But, I don't really love being a lawyer. I tell myself that tons of people out there hate their jobs and that if I'm going to dislike my job anyway I might as well get paid for it. That's not to say that I don't get some level of fulfillment from my job, but sometimes I'd rather have a job I really enjoyed and that didn't require me to work 60+ hours a week. I think I would like my job a lot more if I didn't have to put in the hours.

Pursue something you enjoy even if the potential ceiling on earnings isn't exactly what you want. Don't try to delude yourself into thinking "I'll make a bunch of money and do what I love later." That almost never works. You're so miserable making the money that you forget everything else.

 

[crimsontide27]

Most management roles in the business / marketing fields start out in the very low 30s. Management interns bring in $615 a week for 55 hr weeks on a normal basis.

Upon going full time "statused", they recieved an extra $35 per week. Most entry level management positions are not salaried on a monthly basis, but on a weekly basis. $650 a week before taxes is what my friends bring home, and that spans several different management fields across 3 different parks / resorts.