C++ developer salary query

Dagon

Quick question; I'm currently working as a C++ developer in a large organisation (not in Dublin!). I've been here 1 year. I'm mostly doing Win32 programming (C++ API programming), but my job also requires XML work, perl and a little unix. The job requires knowledge of Windows internals, and I'm pretty sure I've been hired to fill a senior position. Currently, I'm investigating the Windows Server 2008 OS changes and new SDK, as well as 64bit Windows stuff so that our new software is up to date includes coverage for many new Windows features.

Qualifications:
-MSc. in Computing, incorporating 2 years of commercial type work to deliver a product (partly research, mostly development) using Java with Eclipse.
-BSc. in Computing 2.1.
-I've also worked as a part-time lecturer while doing MSc. (teaching Java, perl, html, etc. to 2nd and 3rd year computing students)
-Have worked commercially for 5 months as part of my college placement (html, tcl)

My BSc. and MSc. are both from an Institute of Technology (HETAC).

Just out of curiosity, what do you think my salary should be, based on that?

AARRRGH

Is it your first job, so you've been working for 1 year in total?

Dagon

Well, it depends on whether or not you'd consider the MSc to be 2 years commercial work or not. On my CV, I am stating that it's 2 years commercial work - which it is (well, almost). I have a suspicion that employers don't look at it as such however...

I mean, for those two years we had deadlines, coding standards, meetings, weekly updates with the company, bi or tri-monthly visits to the company for review of the product, specification clarifications, implementation decisions, etc. We also use JUnit to fully unit test our code. It *was* two years commercial development work as far as I'm concerned (with the added tasks of fully documenting all work and writing a thesis). What do you think?

If you take that away then yes, only 1 year working commercially. But I would push for 3 years commercial work as a programmer because I worked hard during my MSc, and I'm not willing to be categorised as an academic type who hasn't gotten his hands dirty

Hellm0

Hard to say really. If you count the 2 years work experiance then you should be on 60k a year or so. Without I would say 30k.

Though I'm a C# dev so I really am no authority on C++ salaries.

AARRRGH

No, the MSc would not be counted as working.

It's your first job, so I would expect your salary to be around 28k.

I am a developer myself. You'll start earning very good money in 2 - 3 years, so I wouldn't be too worried about earning "low" wages as you learn how to develop properly (which I'm sure you'll agree is what you're currently doing.)

Hellm0

dublindude wrote:

You'll start earning very good money in 2 - 3 years, so I wouldn't be too worried about earning "low" wages as you learn how to develop properly (which I'm sure you'll agree is what you're currently doing.)

Also expect to have to debase yourself by working for smelly startup's that may treat you badly. I found this a harrowing experiance but well worth it as beleive me you get a more rounded experiance as a developer(larger companies are extremely standardised and wont give you the freedom to experiment as much as the smallfry).

Dagon

Thanks Dublin dude. yeah you're right there, it is a learning process. And you're pretty close on the salary scale although I'm getting a little more than that - so I guess it's not a bad deal

In the future though, I intend to add my 2 years of MSc to my total "commercial years working", would that be ok? How would employers see it?

Hellm0

Dagon wrote:

Thanks Dublin dude. yeah you're right there, it is a learning process. And you're pretty close on the salary scale although I'm getting a little more than that - so I guess it's not a bad deal

In the future though, I intend to add my 2 years of MSc to my total "commercial years working", would that be ok? How would employers see it?

Wheres my thanks, I was more accurate!:(

AARRRGH

Dagon wrote:

In the future though, I intend to add my 2 years of MSc to my total "commercial years working", would that be ok? How would employers see it?

There's no harm in doing so; the employer can decide if he/she agrees with you or not.

Personally I don't think the MSc is "proper" commercial experience, but again, no harm putting it on the CV as such.

Dagon

Hellm0 wrote:

Wheres my thanks, I was more accurate!:(

You were mate thanks very much for both of your advice.

I'm actually really enjoying my current work, and I find it interesting. Also really like the people I'm working with and it's a positive atmosphere for development - so those things are very important too. I can imagine that in this industry, if you were working with the wrong people or had the wrong type of managers, it could be hellish. You need people who understand the development process. Even when we are under pressure here, we just get on with it, put our heads down and do our best. Nobody is running around stressing or scaring the crap out of you...

AARRRGH

Dagon: if you're happy there, the people are nice, and the people are competent, think very hard before you leave!

I've worked in a few places and I've found it's about 50/50 between nice/horrible places...