When to ask about pay?

MagickalNarwhal

I suspect that I am being paid pretty well below market rate at my job I've been at for a bit less than a year. But, I don't know how much. I would leave my current job if I got an offer significantly higher elsewhere, but my current job has a ton of flexibility and a great environment, so it would have to be pretty significant. I've thought of interviewing elsewhere but I feel like that's a waste of time (for me and the new employer) if the pay range isn't even in the ball park. None of the ads I'm seeing list a range, and I've tried looking on some salary survey websites but the outcomes are so different that I don't think they are accurate.

I'm new to the for-profit world in this field - I did a similar job at a non-profit for about 5 year and took a pay cut to take this job (non-profit was imploding on itself). I have no other peers or professional contacts in this field.

So, at what point could I ask about salary range at a new job?

VOR

You need to let the interviewer bring it up.

But what makes you "suspect" you're underpaid? 

MagickalNarwhal

I'm making a lot less now (~20% plus I no longer have benefits) than I was at the non-profit I was at, and that agency typically paid well below market rates for wages compared to the for-profit world. 

The few ads that I have seen with pay info either list an hourly rate higher than mine plus a bonus and benefits, or an hourly rate twice mine. But, you know, craigslist...not the best comparison.

I'm a tax preparer by the way. Based on the numbers from last year, I cost my company about 25% of what I billed in payroll costs (including FICA, UI, workers comp etc). I have no benefits either.

When I was interviewing we asked upfront what salary people wanted because it was a waste of time if they wanted more than we would pay...I was hoping that I could avoid the interview process!

MagickalNarwhal

Oh yeah, and I'm about 10% below the BLS stats for an hourly wage. But I can't find a way to separate that data for years of experience or certifications.

momofcatan

I'm in a similar situation and I have been going to interviews, sorry I don't have a better suggestion. As we were talking in one interview the HR manager mentioned that they start at 3 weeks vacation, there is company matched retirement contributions, and quarterly bonuses. If we had discusses straight salary before deciding to interview I might not have known about these other befits which will definitely impact my decision.

Pips09

I don't think you need to wait for the interviewer to bring it up. Apply for the job, and when you are contacted for a phone screen or interview, then you can ask about the pay range. Or, conversely, they may ask you what your salary requirements are, and you can tell them what it will take for you to make a move. We make sure to ask about salary requirements at the first phone screen, just for the reason you stated. We don't want to move forward with someone who is out of our price range.

rubber_chicken

Have you checked Glassdoor for salaries at your company and others?

Beevol

You can always check glass door (https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm) to get a feel for salaries in your field in your city. 

I think that salary requirements are on the table at the first interview - no need to waste someone's time if what they would offer you is below what you're willing to take. That being said, if you are actually being paid 20% less than what you would be worth (according to current market data, and generally, I trust glassdoor's numbers) then you probably don't need to worry about being paid less than what you would take to leave you current job. Especially since benefits and fit mean a lot to you, the only way to find out about those is to interview. 

MagickalNarwhal

Well I did an interview and they did offer me significantly more money. But the fit didn't seem great to me so I turned it down. Can't help but feel a little guilty, that I may have wasted his time but I have good info to ask my current employer for a raise.

Paigeleeann25

Honestly when I've interviewed candidates and they've asked about pay in the initial interview, it was a big turn off. I would recommend waiting, in general, until you are in more serious talks about an offer.

redheaded14

Paigeleeann25 said:

Honestly when I've interviewed candidates and they've asked about pay in the initial interview, it was a big turn off. I would recommend waiting, in general, until you are in more serious talks about an offer.

I have a hard time understanding this viewpoint, and I see it all the time so it's not necessarily pointed at you. I think it's important to know up front if the pay range expectations are reasonable on both sides. Can we all please stop pretending like money is some taboo subject that we can't talk about?

Tl;dr - most people don't work out of the goodness of their heart, they do it to earn money to live. Why shouldn't they ask about the money upfront?

2chatter

We establish a range with a recruiting firm.  It's a turn off when people discuss salary as they have been informed of the range.  I think it is totally shady to tell a recruiter, yes, I will take that $20 range - high or low end - if offered and then come into an interview and tell us that they "expect to make" a higher figure or "have always made" a higher figure or "think market" is a higher figure.