Is my DH earning an appropriate salary?

[MAGICX2]

Does he get any paid sick time or vacation time?

He doesn't have a set amount of accumulated time per say. In the 6+ years he has been working for this company he has called off sick once. That was because he was driving to a job site 750 miles away and was stopping to puke about every 15 min. They told him to turn around and go home. He drove it the next day. Once he went to an emergency room in Pueblo, CO with what he thought was appendicitis. He arrived at ER at 7pm discharged at 2am and was back on the job site by 8am. He is a work horse. BTW, we paid out of pocket for hospital visit because it was out-of-network for my insurance. He typically takes 2 weeks of vaca a year. I think one year he took 3 weeks.

Otherwise, his benefits are the salary, the car and maintenance, and the 4-5 percent deposited in his 401K.

So, his actual value of all of these is closer to $75-$80K a year, even without sick or vacation time. It doesn't sound like the schedule really affords him sick time.

Does he get any type of bonus during the year?

For the past 5 years he has gotten a bonus. This year we received none, with no warning. The boss said that while the company revenues were doing very well, the companies that they were servicing were about 3 months out on payment and they needed to conserve the cash flow.

I'd say at 75-80K, he's compensated fairly well. Yes, the travel is a lot, but he is paid for the travel and has his expenses paid as well.

Having health benefits would be nice; that's where I'd ask the bosses for job benefits.

I do have a question since he travels a lot and apparently is involved with some dangerous activity for work: what happens if he gets injured on the site or if he suffers a plane crash? Are you on your own for life insurance in those situations or are you only depending on government benefits should such a situation occur? I know that a credit card will pay about 200K should a crash occur and someone dies as part of buying the ticket, but that really isn't a lot of money long term.?

Yes, his work is very hazardous. His company carries a very large life insurance policy on him that is only valid if somethings happens to him while he is working, traveling for work, etc. That will go to us if anything happens to him. We carry a life insurance policy on him as well.

It seems the money is good, but the benefits aren't very good considering what he is putting into the company. I'm sure the brothers make twice as much and they probably also have the other benefits I've asked about.

What is your husband charged out to clients at? Is it a flat rate or a fee per hour?

The work is charged out as a flat rate for the actual service depending on what they need done. Then on top of that the company pays a per diem for the travel (whether by car or plane), fuel, hotel, food. Basically they charge the client for the amount of travel involved. I don't know if it is the full amount the company incurs or if it is a percentage. I do know that if he was getting paid by the hour for the work he actual does while on site (not including travel, time away from home, etc. Just working on site.) DH would average about $19 an hour.

 

[wdwfan16]

The prospect of my DH getting a BS are slim to none, let alone a MS. It took him longer than normal to get his AAS due to marriage, family, etc. However, it also took him longer because he had to start at the very basic math and work his way through. DH could do any math problem you gave him in regards to his job, but classroom math is a whole other story. I truely don't think he could get through the higher levels of math required for a BS in Civil Engineering. Which is a shame because, while I know that algebra, geometry, etc. is a daily part of that type of job, I also know that doing the math required for your job is entirely different story than doing math in a classroom. He can do the class work and home work no problem, but when it comes to the tests....
So, while we hate his absence from home, we will stick with the company we are with. They are a great company to work for and treat us really well. Maybe we will tackle the subject of a raise in salary when he hits his 7 year anniversary in June. The worst they can say is no.

How did he get a AAS in civil engineering without any Calculus? Around here an 2 year engineering degree has 4 semesters of calculus/differential equations/linear algebra.

 

[prncess674]

Back when I was a boss and people would tell me they were underpaid I always told them the same thing....

"I'm paying you what I can afford to pay you. If you think you are underpaid, I encourage you to find someone who will pay you more. I'll be very happy for you if you do, and will give you great references."

(None of them quit. Turns out none of them were ACTUALLY underpaid. Which I knew.)

I don't know your DH's industry at all, but the surest way to find out if you are underpaid is to see if someone else will pay you more. If they will, you were underpaid. If they won't - then you aren't. If you can't find anyone that is hiring to offer you a job and find out, consider yourself lucky to have the job you have.

agree 100%.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't know anyone who does that for a living, but it seems like $57,000 is a pretty good salary for someone with only an associate's degree. Of course, it seems like a fairly hazardous job, so maybe part of that is a kind of hazard pay.

 

[a1tinkfans]

OP; you used the term, he is a "free agent" did you mean HE is not employed by them but rather considered Self Employed (he pays his taxes etc) , that makes a HUGE difference.

 

[si-am]

I think that is an excellent salary considering he doesn't have a BA/BS.

My husband has a BS in GIS (Geographic Information Science) and took some surveying courses in college. Now he sits in an office and makes maps (though occasionally he's out in the field collecting data), but he is only making $37k! (Five years experience).

He got laid off from his environmental consulting firm earlier in the year, so we're just lucky he was able to find something else quickly, even though it was a small pay cut. Luckily he does have great benefits (health, 401k, travel, end-of-year bonus), and I work so we're not relying totally on his salary alone.

 

[Disney845]

I do not have experience within the field your husband is in, but I do have experience with a small "family business." I do not think that it is rare that such a small business does not provide health insurance.

I believe that you have to seriously consider the cost savings that the company provided vehicle and upkeep offers you.

Also, consider the amount of money that your household is saving by his being on the road 2/3 of the year with the employer paying food/lodging/expenses.

If he was making the same $57k but did not travel then your household bills (electrical, food, etc) would no doubt be seriously increased.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Since he has a 2 year degree and 10 year experience your DH must be in about 32. He is making a big mistake not getting the BS and MS degrees. AA degrees are not even considered by most employers. Some want a minimum of a BS and many now want an MS. The degree may not help at this company but it will help with his next employer and there will be a next employer.

I disagree. Personally I am a firm believer of working for yourself and then the extra money spent on that degree would be wasted.

OP you said the equipment comes from Switzerland, how expensive is it?

With your husband experience, knowledge and background with this current company he might want to seriously consider going out on his own. I know it sounds scary but it has been the best thing my husband ever did and we have not regretted it one minute since he did it 20+ yrs ago.

 

[DISdreamin']

For the past 5 years he has gotten a bonus. This year we received none, with no warning.

Honestly, I always thought of bonuses as...well, bonuses! If they showed up, great! If not: . To expect the be warned about not receiving a bonus...in this economy, I think we should all be thankful to be employed, honestly!

Yes, his work is very hazardous. His company carries a very large life insurance policy on him that is only valid if somethings happens to him while he is working, traveling for work, etc. That will go to us if anything happens to him. We carry a life insurance policy on him as well.

The more I read, the more I think this company is really doing what they can in terms of benefits. I wouldn't think anything required them to carry this type of insurance policy, and it is certainly saving your family some money if they are carrying a sizeable policy! I do think that someone had a great suggestion about a flex-spending account, though - it saves you some ~25+% in taxes on the money you spend on eligible expenses, and seems like it might be a win-win from the company perspective if it is relatively simple and inexpensive to set up.

Lastly, I'll do a "me too" on the math comments. Honestly, I believe at the local community college that an engineering science A.S. required Calc I, II, III and Linear Algebra - and maybe Diff. Eq. although I don't remember offhand. I'd be surprised if there was much more math at the B.S. level, honestly! Perhaps lot of courses that rely on/use math heavily in the application of concepts, but likely not a whole lot more just-plain-math courses.

Additionally, if someone were to go out and start a company, wouldn't prospective clients want some kind of degree/certification? Usually you see peoples experience and degrees on technical web sites. Again, but just wondering.

 

[MAGICX2]

How did he get a AAS in civil engineering without any Calculus? Around here an 2 year engineering degree has 4 semesters of calculus/differential equations/linear algebra.

He did take some of those courses. Not extensive, but some. I believe all I said was that he had to start at the basic level and work his way through. It took him a little longer than two years because he had to start at the basic math course and then work his way thru the required math courses for the degree.

OP; you used the term, he is a "free agent" did you mean HE is not employed by them but rather considered Self Employed (he pays his taxes etc) , that makes a HUGE difference.

No he is not self employeed. I may have used that term incorrectly. I just meant that he is not under contract to remain with his current employer for X number of years. He could go to another job at any time or go out on his own.

 

[DawnM]

We have to view bonuses as bonues as well. DH has been getting (what I consider to be) good bonuses for 4 years. This year NOTHING! The company is cutting way back. No Christmas parties (they used to do two! One for families and one for adults only), no bonues, and no cost of living increases.

I also agree with you on the "it might not be that much more" to get a BA in terms of math. It is certainly something to look into.

Dawn

Honestly, I always thought of bonuses as...well, bonuses! If they showed up, great! If not: . To expect the be warned about not receiving a bonus...in this economy, I think we should all be thankful to be employed, honestly!


Lastly, I'll do a "me too" on the math comments. Honestly, I believe at the local community college that an engineering science A.S. required Calc I, II, III and Linear Algebra - and maybe Diff. Eq. although I don't remember offhand. I'd be surprised if there was much more math at the B.S. level, honestly! Perhaps lot of courses that rely on/use math heavily in the application of concepts, but likely not a whole lot more just-plain-math courses.

Additionally, if someone were to go out and start a company, wouldn't prospective clients want some kind of degree/certification? Usually you see peoples experience and degrees on technical web sites. Again, but just wondering.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Additionally, if someone were to go out and start a company, wouldn't prospective clients want some kind of degree/certification? Usually you see peoples experience and degrees on technical web sites. Again, but just wondering.

Do you? I honestly can not ever remember hiring or not hiring anyone based on a degree.

I base it more on experience, ability and referrals.

My DH was a gunsmith before switching to antique restorations he has worked on guns valued over $100,000 and has done antique restorations for museums none of his clients have ever asked for a degree.

 

[wdwfan16]

Do you? I honestly can not ever remember hiring or not hiring anyone based on a degree.

I base it more on experience, ability and referrals.

My DH was a gunsmith before switching to antique restorations he has worked on guns valued over $100,000 and has done antique restorations for museums none of his clients have ever asked for a degree.

These are very different than Civil Engineer. Companies want a PE to sign-off the job. I am sure either the owner or the brother is a PE. The OP's DH needs to complete his BS to even try for the PE license.

 

[crisi]

Do you? I honestly can not ever remember hiring or not hiring anyone based on a degree.

I base it more on experience, ability and referrals.

My DH was a gunsmith before switching to antique restorations he has worked on guns valued over $100,000 and has done antique restorations for museums none of his clients have ever asked for a degree.

In good markets you don't need a degree, and for a lot of jobs you don't need a degree. For other markets and other jobs, you absolutely need a degree.

Google will not hire anyone without a degree (and has a heavy preference for people who hold graduate degrees).

For some careers, a degree is required certification in order to do things. For instance, you cannot get a CPA without a degree, and you cannot audit a public firm without a CPA. You can't (obviously) be a doctor without an MD or a lawyer without a JD (in most states, there might be a few states left that you can pass the bar without having finished lawschool - I think California is one). Teachers licenses are usually not granted without a degree, specifically in education.

I don't know about the OP's husband's profession, but regardless of whether it 'requires' a degree, its a down market for most jobs right now and he's looking to increase his salary (i.e. he isn't competing for entry level jobs). If he is competing with people with B.S. or M.S. degrees, he is going to have a harder time.

 

[DawnM]

This is where it totally depends on what you want to do. For your DH's line of work, nope, no degree necessary.

Dawn

Do you? I honestly can not ever remember hiring or not hiring anyone based on a degree.

I base it more on experience, ability and referrals.

My DH was a gunsmith before switching to antique restorations he has worked on guns valued over $100,000 and has done antique restorations for museums none of his clients have ever asked for a degree.

 

[LauralF22]

Just curious... does your DH get to keep his frequent flier miles & hotel points? You can also get an AMEX card that pays you for accumulated points (instead of turning them in for tickets / mdse). If the company lets you keep the points, then that is extra 'money' that you can use for family time/vacations, stuff.

I don't know anything about the salary level, but from what I'm reading, it sounds about right for your location.

I have mixed feelings about the degree debate. I think your DH would do better if he had one, but not with his current company. I work in IT, and we had one employee who was not degreed, but more experienced and smarter than most of the other people in our group. He couldn't get promoted above a certain level because he didn't have a bachelor's degree. He has since left the company and found a better job and is working towards his Associates.

Good luck...

 

[DISdreamin']

Do you? I honestly can not ever remember hiring or not hiring anyone based on a degree.

This totally depends on your field, obviously! For the positions I have recently helped make hiring decisions for, a Masters was required, Ph.D. strongly preferred.

In many skill-based occupations where there is no formal certification, references and experience would certainly be the most important. However, there are also positions where there is state/federal certification either formally or practically required, and for those a degree may be a pre-requisite.

So obviously it isn't one size fits all.

ETA: Please keep in mind my original response was in reference to engineering, a field where I am quite aware of there being the types of certification mentioned in my post.

 

[DISdreamin']

You can't (obviously) be a doctor without an MD

Not to nit-pick, but you can also be a DO and practice medicine and be board-certified, I believe.

But your points in your post are VERY well taken - it really does depend very much on the field and the position.

 

[DawnM]

A DO still needs 4 years of undergrad and 4 years of medical school.

Not to nit-pick, but you can also be a DO and practice medicine and be board-certified, I believe.

But your points in your post are VERY well taken - it really does depend very much on the field and the position.

 

[Kay1]

This totally depends on your field, obviously! For the positions I have recently helped make hiring decisions for, a Masters was required, Ph.D. strongly preferred.

.

My husband's job, too. I'd like him to get a Ph.D. but he's working so hard at his job plus doing so much consulting work, he's swamped already.

And when I worked, my positions required specific degrees.