Is my DH earning an appropriate salary?

[MAGICX2]

Not sure where to post this, but figured the Budget Board was as good a place as any.
My DH is a aggregate surveyor. He uses laser surveying equipment to layout and measure the cubic tonage of stock piles of gravel, marble, concrete, coal, steel ore, etc. These piles range from the small side of 50,000 cubic tons to upwards of 1,500,000 cubic tons *(roughly the size of an office building). DH has an associates degree in Civil Engineering and Surveying. He has been employed with this company for 6 yeas and his last raise was in 2006. He travels all over the country. He is away from home an average of 275 days a year. In 2009 he has logged over 175,000 miles on the road, plus the flying trips. He can be gone for three to four weeks at a time. He does NOT receive medical, dental, vision, or life insurance. We do receive a small contribution to a 401k account (less than 6%). He drives a company vehicle that we do not pay maintenance, fuel or insurance on. All expenses during travel are paid for with a company cc. The company has 4 employees; Owner (works in the field very little), VP (owners brother) works alot, my DH and one other field worker. His annual salary is $57,000.
I feel he is extremely underpaid, but since we have nothing to compare to, we are not sure. This is strictly a question as to whether or not my husband is earning a salary that is line with others who have a job of similar requirements, travel, skill, etc. It is a very specialized job and we can not find any references on the net anywhere to a salary range for the type of work he does. Thanks in advance for any info/help.

 

[Justsyd2]

This may help:

"The average salary for all experience levels of surveying and mapping scientists is nearly $63,000 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s comparable to a civil engineer’s salary, which is a little more than $61,000 a year.

These numbers show the average salary level of an experienced professional. Surveyor’s salaries will vary depending on the level you strive for. You can be a business owner or work as a technician on a crew. It's really up to the individual. As a CEO of a surveying firm, you can make twice the average shown here.

Entry-level salaries vary across the country but average about $44,000 for a surveyor with a four-year degree. Of course, starting salaries could be higher or lower depending on the candidate’s experience and other factors. Surveying technicians, who generally have two-year degrees, have an average starting salary of about $25,000. Surveying technicians assist land surveyors by operating survey instruments and collecting information in the field and by performing computations and computer-aided drafting in offices."

 

[cbmstephanie]

With that much time spent away from home I think he's underpaid. Usually people are compensated because they have to spend that time away from home. If he was an 8 to 5 guy that didn't travel, that salary might be in line, but he spends alot of time away from his family and deserves to be compensated for it.

 

[kydisneyfans]

It also depends on where you live. Getting paid about 6-8% below the national average in Ohio is about right.

 

[JoyG]

That seems pretty low not to get any health benefits.

 

[LisaRN97]

It does sound a bit low for all the work and traveling he seems to do. One thing to add to his salary is the benefits of having a company vehicle. The average cost of that is around $10,000 (includes car payment, insurance, gas, maintenance) - I only say this because I work for a company that supplies me with a car and they always remind me of the expenses of the vehicle.

 

[msmayor]

That seems pretty low not to get any health benefits.

Not for a four-person company. Businesses that small usually can't afford to offer those benefits.

 

[DawnM]

I think that is probably about right according to the link. Also, could he earn more if he gets a BA? An AA can only get you so far.

Dawn

 

[RangerPooh]

I think that is probably about right according to the link. Also, could he earn more if he gets a BA? An AA can only get you so far.

That's what I was wondering. I know that when I only had an A.S. (in natural resources) my pay scale was topped out at a lower level, with a B.S. pay scale increased as did the number of jobs available to me.

 

[threecrazykids]

I think that is probably about right according to the link. Also, could he earn more if he gets a BA? An AA can only get you so far.

Dawn

Although I really don't want to get on my soapbox about this I really think having or not having a degree is what gets you in the door of a company...from there on out your experience with the company (ex. different positions you've held), work ethic, ability to learn quickly etc. should be what determines if you are eligible for a raise or promotion. In MANY companies once you're in...the degree is irrelevant...it's all based on you as a worker at that point.

 

[Hannathy]

Although I really don't want to get on my soapbox about this I really think having or not having a degree is what gets you in the door of a company...from there on out your experience with the company (ex. different positions you've held), work ethic, ability to learn quickly etc. should be what determines if you are eligible for a raise or promotion. In MANY companies once you're in...the degree is irrelevant...it's all based on you as a worker at that point.

Not true! Especially in certain fields and engineering being one of them, heck even at Disney. I know someone who worked for Disney in Convention planning and was told he could go no higher without his 4 yr degree plain and simple.

There are often liability issues for the company that if there are problems and they have to go to court they need to be able to say a degreeed engineer signed off and now more than ever they want a "professional engineer" a certified title.

Then of course there is the current economy and the age old question-is there anywhere he can go and earn more? are there jobs floating around out there? $57,000 in this economy WITHOUT a degree sounds pretty good!
I personally know a civil engineer degreed and has passed the EIT (first part of being certified) Graduated high honors and is working at
Starbucks! There aren't many jobs around right now so before I complained I would look around.

I think right now $57,000 for an associate degree is a good salary.

 

[Tink-aholic]

In addition, 6% contributed to the 401K is not small. My DH works for Coca Cola and they are extremely generous to match contributions up to 5%.

That contribution is significant and you should count it as part of his benefits.

 

[jagafen]

That seems pretty low not to get any health benefits.

But with only 4 people in the company, the owner probably isn't required to provide it. I'd be more concerned with the lack of a raise since 2006...I know times are tough, but a yearly cost of living increase (it's not really a "raise") isn't unreasonable....I typically get 3-4% per year....at least it's something.

 

[maggieusa]

If I were you right now be happy he has a job when the economy improves then things should change.

 

[ceecee]

That seems pretty low not to get any health benefits.

Why no health benefits??? I think legally if he works over 20 hrs he should be offered insurance. We have our employees sign a waiver if they don't want it so as not to be fined later, we are in Ohio as well. I think the salary is also good for this area with an associate degree and a 6% match is GOOD.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

To be honest, I would not be bringing up any salary issues right now. The sad fact is, there are probably a few dozen men who are qualified to do the same job as your DH willing to do it for less. Any salary "averages" that you can find posted right now are not going to be right. It is a new world, and a new economy.

I know it would be hard with traveling so much, but if your DH can find the time to finish his degree, he will be much more marketable once the economy turns around. Good luck to him.

 

[PurpleSurfer]

I like to use a site called salary.com to get an idea of what a job position is worth.

As far as benefits go a $200 per month premium single male policy bought privately turns into a $700 policy for the same exact policy when bought by an employer through group health insurance in a company with less than 50 employees.

My bare basic understanding of the 401k match is that for the employer to set up a company retirement and match his own contributions he must also match that of his employees equally.

HTH

 

[camlace]

Does he have 6 years experience or 6 years with that particular company. If he only has 6 years experience and only an associates degree. Then I say the salary is about right for your area.

 

[wdwfan16]

Considering that he only has an associates degree a salary of $53K seems fair. He is not a civil engineer. To be well paid he needs to go back to college and get his BS and MS degrees.

 

[SandrA9810]

6% is better than Disney even, they only match 4%... but of course the price of health insurance can't be beat.
From down here in Florida 50K-60K income is middle class. I know there's some people with a lot more money than that, but the money has usually come from out of state. Not based on a company and work done here.

After 10 years with the company, I think he should start raising a few questions on his salary, and it could be hard for him to, since it's so tight knit. My aunt was a controller of a small company, right underneath the owner and son. She kept everything flowing, it wasn't until she was leaving the company, and the owner wanted her to stay, did she demand a salary increase to go with the work performed. That was after 20 years with them.

And with just a father and son duo like that, I don't think him getting a BA degree is going to change anything. It might help him if he plans on switching companies later down the line. A company that's looking for a top qualified person, but the owner is still just going to hire some one else with an AA that can get the job done.