IT salary in DC area

HAaltyalt

alt since my job search is not yet public knowledge.

There's a good possibility I'm being offered a job near DC. The job requires a very broad knowledge in a number of areas, but is explicitly listed as a System Admin/Programmer in a specialized scientific field. I have a BS -- in a non-IT field -- but I've been doing the same/similar job in this exact field for 9 years.

The salary range I've been given I feel is low for my experience and qualifications given the position description and location, but they are open to expanding the range. Since I'm coming from an area with very different costs of living, I'm not sure what an appropriate range would be for the area for a system admin or programmer with 5-10 years experience, and I don't know how much I can trust sources like salary.com.

Is there anyone here working IT in the DC area who could offer a bit of guidance on an appropriate range?

Tavataar

Where around DC? Would you be trying to live in the city? In the suburbs?

Sysadmin vs Programmer/Software Engineer are going to generally have different salary ranges. I would expect an experienced sysadmin to probably get something around 80-100k and an experienced programmer/software engineer to get 90-120k depending on the field. If you have clearances those numbers can go up.

Rderdall

My CCNA course showed me this website, which is a very reputable HR source. The Techology 2013 Salary Guide should give you the information you're looking for.

Darkewolfe

Salaries in the area are coming down with some speed due to sequestration. Anyone who has a salary expectation that was set more than 9 months ago is sometimes rather surprised, especially if you're looking into contracting.

HAaltyalt

The job is outside the city proper, but inside the beltway. I'd likely be looking to live in the suburbs.

And thanks for that link @Rderdall, that at least verifies that the ranges I was looking up on salary.com aren't completely wrong.

Edit: And it's not a government job, so while I'm sure sequestration will affect things across the board (at least by bringing down the average), I think it should have less of an effect on this position specifically, though that could be completely off-base on my part.

Aioua

HAaltyalt wrote: »

The job is outside the city proper, but inside the beltway. I'd likely be looking to live in the suburbs.

And thanks for that link @Rderdall, that at least verifies that the ranges I was looking up on salary.com aren't completely wrong.

Edit: And it's not a government job, so while I'm sure sequestration will affect things across the board (at least by bringing down the average), I think it should have less of an effect on this position specifically, though that could be completely off-base on my part.

Don't most science fields that aren't like, boner pills, lean pretty heavy on government grants?
So, depending on the company's work you might still be getting directly effected.

Malgaras

Tavataar wrote: »

Where around DC? Would you be trying to live in the city? In the suburbs?

Sysadmin vs Programmer/Software Engineer are going to generally have different salary ranges. I would expect an experienced sysadmin to probably get something around 80-100k and an experienced programmer/software engineer to get 90-120k depending on the field. If you have clearances those numbers can go up.

I'm a programmer in MD and these numbers seem reasonable from my anecdotal experience.

ThunderSaid

Yeah, for 5 years experience, I'd say that the 80-100k range is more likely than the 90-120k range right now, but those numbers are about right. Of course, "System Admin/Programmer" covers a wide range of potential skillsets and duties. I've seen positions with that description (or something very similar) that paid as low as 50k and as high as 175k in the DC area. Without more detail about the specific position it's hard to say what the salary should be.

In case it helps you estimate the DC area cost of living: You can expect your rent to be at least $1200/month (potentially $1500 in certain areas). Gas runs about $3.65/gallon for the 87 octane stuff, about $3.95 per gallon for the 93 octane stuff (More within DC itself). A beer will cost you around $7 in a restaurant.

HAaltyalt

Thanks for the responses everyone. I've responded with a range based on this and some other info now. Given how different it is from their initial offer, I fully expect to have it rejected outright, but I'm not in a position that I need to find a new job so no loss if they can't meet it.