Who here is a full time tech?

[jman01pa]

Hey guys!

My first servey. As the title says. Who here is a full time computer tech or network admin?

I serve both positions for a national food distributor. How about you guys?

Just curious. I hope this hasnt been done too recently.

J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Gene C.]

I have been selfemployed for the last 11 yrs. with Gene's custom pc service.he he. alone with a few other things he has ect. and am now in the process of starting my studies now for a future as a Network Administrator or Analyst.

I want an understanding of all windows,nt's,novell,linux ect. well, this will explain it better with much less typeing http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum6/HTML/000874.html

I figure it will take me 2/3 years to be what I want to be. and you can carry it to the bank. I will be to. with the help from others and you all ect.

[akaBruno]

What do you mean? Technically speaking?
I like to go fishin occasionally.

[Mntsnow]

Well I quess I'm a full time tech http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

I own Mntsnow's Custom Computers and Support. It's turning into a full time job!

But my "regular" full time job is as a NOC tech. (In this position I'm a "jack of all trades"...Everything from Network admin, Backups, Processing, Support ect ect)

Mntsnow

[jman01pa]

Good Luck Gene. I think I will start schooling for my MCSE June 5th. I am excited. I dont need it for my job but I think they will pay for it.

Yea technically Bruno. But as they say "A bad day fishin is better than a good day workin".
Anyone argue that?

J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Amarok]

nope wont argue that one... I would have much rather gone fishing today then come to work.

I do full time tech support as well as run 2 small networks. Build and repair computers for friends and others on the side.

[Szech]

Just a part time here... got another job and I'm going to school.

[Anakhonda]

ME!

I'm a PC/Network/Telecom Technican for a large financial institution http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[SoopaStar]

Well, besides from being a CMIS major at SIUE, I also work for Veterinary Software Publishing, Inc where I build and support their computers and the ones we sell. I also built their webpage and do support for our clients for Windows, networking, hardware, our software, and anything else they throw at me. all for $9.50 an hour after being with the company for 5 years.
Mntsnow--you hiring? http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
I also work on campus at SIUE doing about the same thing for the Facilities Management department. Fun stuff. Then I come here and do what i can http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif
Paul

[jad1097]

SoopaStar With that kind of experiance you should be able to get much more even PT, I would think.

[SoopaStar]

Yeah, and I am being screwed hardcore. They hired this chick (well, she is 37...) and they pay her $12.50 an hour. She has no college experience and when it coems to computers, lets just say, my cell phone and ICQ exlplode on a daily basis when I an not in the office from her. Pisses me off. The only reason I don't ask is because its a really small company and I have been there 5.5 years. I appreciate the owner/president for giving me the opportunity when I knew very little. I have grown into the job. However, they don't know that I know the backdoor password into the software we use for our billing and I can read all the accounging info...so they don't know that I know I am way underpaid. It actually really pisses me off. I am quite happy with the webpages I have done, and know with my knowlege I could be making $15-19 an hour for part time work here in St. Louis.
The place is only 1.5 miles from my house, and they really work around my personal schedule and school schedule.
heh, you bit off more than you could chew when you commented on that. Its somethign that bugs me on a daily basis, but I know the company doesn't make big bucks right now...so I just deal with it. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif I will have a real job in less than a year.
Paul

[Red Rage]

I R Tech.

Mntsnow: If you don't mind me asking... Which NOC?

[GMAGDNA]

I just recently moved from a FT tech position (supervised both A/V and pc techs) to a sales position in computer hardware. I'm with a retail company at $15.50 an hour. Some of you need to get better compensation for your talents. I understand what you're saying about working for a small company but what would they do without you there? Apparently call you to ask how to do the work anyway.

[Mntsnow]

Red Rage, YGM.....and before anyone else asks http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif It's not a goverment NOC. Is just a International company's Network Operations Center. I work in the "cold" room

Mntsnow

[jad1097]

I understand your situation SS but still think you are as you yourself said way underpaid. Of course the flexible hours and being so close to home do count, I still think you could make much more. I don't know how much schooling you have left but I am sure you could make at least $12 hour, our 5th year apprentices make about $15 an hour, well 75% of $19.70 and our scale is on the low side being in the south.


Regardless of our differences in opinions you are definitely worth more than what you make. I am sure you are full of knowledge and if ya get a decent resume you could make much more than what ya make now. This is the reason I have yet to change careers. You can bet when I change to some type of computer related career I will try to organize a standard through some type of union.
I am currently studying for my A+.

[Nixona]

I'm a part time computer tech right now, Just over a year working. Not bad, since I'm 16. Youngest tech they've had. I work for the school district, 30 buildings, something like 6-7,000 computers, and there are like 7 of us, 2 network admin. They're just the ones that don't like the field work http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif I won't even tell you how much I make, we'll just leave it at They pay like I'm a teenager. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif I'd never get the kind of experience I get here working at Best Buy or something like that.

[ScaryBinary]

I'm not, but all my friends and relatives think I am! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/icons/icon10.gif

It's just an interest I have. I'm actually a programmer, but I'd like to learn more about the hardware side of things.

Scary http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/icons/icon11.gif Binary

[MadMatt]

Out here in the Bay Area, an A+ certified tech with 4 1/2 minutes of experience can get $22/hour or more doing contract work.

Of course, a decent one bedroom apartment in San Fran is $1400/month+.

*SIGH*

[catcow]

Yep!!! I'm a full time tech with AJS Computers.
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[RobRich]

I've been doing various technical/support work in my local area for a couple of years now. Being a full time student, I haven't had the time needed to develop a decent career, YET! Hopefully by this time next year, I will have my own business up and running. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Robert Richmond

[Red Rage]

*mental note.. must move to bay area and find a nice box to live in*

[RobRich]

LOL http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

No kidding, as computer jobs have pathetic salaries in my area. I know how SS feels. For a comparision, I made much more doing retail commission sales than I've ever made doing computer work.

I actually find it insulting that my area companies will advertise for network enigneers with experience, then want to pay them less than $10/hour. I would really like to do some helpdesk work locally, but on that salary I could about afford my car insurance (maybe?). To get a decent job, I will probably have to end up going to Atlanta.

Robert Richmond

[This message has been edited by RobRich (edited 05-25-2000).]

[PCnerd]

Well I am a full time tech for three month and then I will work part time. The company I work for pays $10 an hour if you have gone to school for one year. I was only in school for 4 or 5 month when they hired me and I got $9.00, not bad for a starter now, when I finished my first year of college they have raised my pay. And in just a few month of work I have so many stories to tell... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[hd581]

I don't get paid but whenever I go home for the holidays, I am the tech support for anyone who has a computer and knows me.

[Virtual Infinity]

I've been working as a PC engineer for the local PC store here in liverpool for the past 3 years. However I'm not full time because i'm in uni full time and secondly because the pay in this place is ****.

PS what's a good qualification to go for as I have all this PC knowledge but nothing down on paper. I was thinking of maybe Microsoft Certified Engineer Exams but one guy in work said he had to pay a few grand for his exams. Is he having me on?

[Pepto]

I'm a PC/LAN Analyst Technician at in the Phone Bank of a very large national bank. My responsibilities include troubleshooting computer hardware/software, networking stuff, rebuilding computers, and a little bit of programming (excuse me, 'software development' hehe). I'm still going to school right now for computer programming (and my employer is reimbursing 100% *grin*), but this is excellent experience, and I love my work http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
I've also been considering A+ certification this summer... is it worth it?

Pepto

[2canSAM]

SS and I thought I had it bad. I just got my A+ in Novemberand went to work for a consulting firm. Well they placed me on a help desk position that was supposed to be six months but because of financial trouble turned into one. That paid 13.00 per hour. After that they placed me with a company that provides on call support for a large bank and grocery store chain. I started with them in Feb and there are paying 26.00 per hour plus company car paid training and certs. 3 weeks vacation to start. I was really thinking I'll just stay long enough to get some experience and some certs and then move on. After seeing some of the rates in this post I think I'll stay a little longer. You really should be making quite a bit more though for what all you do. Check with some consulting firms in your area and see what kinda money your qualifications will get you. OBTW my compnay does have a few part-time techs but the still make 18.00-22.00 per hour. Good luck

[PerryBoy]

Network Admin full time here

I administer a network of around 50 comps ( 95/nt ) connected to a domain. I do everything from hooking a comp to the network from scratch down to teaching a user on how to setup a personal address book. We use NT, OS/2 Warp, and 4 flavors of UNIX. This lovebug gave me a hell of a week.

[SDT]

Gotcha all beat... I have been in the business for 27 years!
I started out fixing hardware on IBM computers, everything from small air cooled mainframes to midrange to pc's. I mostly worked on midrange systems System 34, 36, & 38 and then AS400. That lasted for about 15 years then I went into onsite software support (installation configuration, networking etc). I spent several years converting 32 bit CISC AS/400s to 64 bit RISC AS/400's. (Thats right the AS/400 has been completely (applications and operating system) 64 bit for about 5 years. ...so much for Merced. The AS/400 architecture is 96 bit capable). That business went away after all of the systems got converted so I moved on to e-business and am currently installing & configuring applications that take post processing output , index the contents and archive it. Thats a lot of words to say that I can take your phone bill, bank statement, etc and present it to you over the web or on a thick client in a call center.
I have done a little bit of everything except phone support (which I have done very little of because I discovered early that one of my pleasures was to be "in front of the client".

If I had general advice for any one of you starting out it would be to find out if you prefer to be face to face with a customer or on the phone with a customer. I have seen many top notch technicians frustrated with their job because they didn't recognise which made them happier and allowed themselves to be moved into the wrong position.

[thxmanu]

I'm with Mntsnow. I'm a NOC tech. at an e-commerce startup. SS I can feel your pain! This might upset you, but I started at entry level, with no education (just HS) at $25/hour. Of course, I live in a box here in San Jose hehe. I guess it could be a van down by the river!

[psyklone]

add me to the list. i'm a full time pc tech/full time sysopt browser. *LOL* i've been doing it only for a few years now but i love it.

[Tex_Gex]

Count me in,

I've been in the field for 4 years now. No certs yet All my knowledge has been gained in the field. I am PC Tech for a large ski resort. I am one of 40 who support roughly 45 novell servers, 22 NT servers , 3 AS/400 servers and 5000 users..

Lets not forget Retail Point of sale systems, Food and beverage systems, Ski pass scanning software and too many more to mention but count me in..

Aloha

[Warthog]

Great! I'm looking forward to a promising career in the computer industry. Going to be a junior in hs next year. In college I'm going to major in Computer Science. My friends at school say, "You just sit around on a computer all the time". I tell them, "Just wait 'till our 10 year reunion". I'll (hopefully) have a good job and be well-off like some of you seem to be - and having fun at my job! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks for giving me a good outlook on the computer jobs out there. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[jman01pa]

Wow!

Looks like I got a good response. I agree some of us are underpaid. I took a positon making pennys for two years to gain the experience I have now. I stil make a small amount for the type of work but I have faith it will come around. I really enjoy the work I do. I was hired last August at a company that had 11 computers and now has over 150 not counting servers and printers. The unfortunate part is that the equipment is all Dell and IBM and it dont break. When it does Dell and IBM fix it. My biggest problem is someone forgetting there password or someone freaking out over scandisk after a bad shutdown. Hehe. Skip undo or save to disk?

J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[GlobalNameSpace]

If you can imagine, I am one of two escalation tech's for a major laptop manufacturer, We get about 200 units a day, about 40 of them are NTF (No Trouble Found) or real pains. Those are the ones I get to diagnosis and fix.
I work my *** off for $10.15 and hour, of course the laptop company doesn't own the depot nor the call center that sends us PD's (Problem Description's) like . . " needs repair " It's all outsourced and ecommerce and the customer's hate it.
Of course I live in Memphis and our Cost of Living is lower than elsewhere, apartments here are about 450-500 a month, a lot of companies are moving repair centers here because of Fed Ex. It's about 90F in this wherehouse right now. Ugg, I work at a sweat shop. . .
Ahhh, I just got an interview set up with a company that will pay me at least $4-5 more. And airconditioned and they do things like take employees to baseball games. yes!
I do wish I had some of those $20+ jobs but I will soon enough.

ps thanks to everyone posting their wages!
I've never felt bad about it but some people do.

<edit> Forgot to mention A+ certified made a 95 on software 88 on hardware. that was before I started checking out SysOpt . . now my favorite site <edit>

[This message has been edited by GlobalNameSpace (edited 05-26-2000).]

[jadison]

Right this second, I only work on mine,and friends and family's computers. People who live in my apt. complex, and family members who need help (they even call me for help sometimes).

Nixona: "I'd never get the kind of experience I get here working at Best Buy or something like that"

I beg to differ! Every day, new customers/old ones come in with various computers or hardware, with even more various problems. Hardly do I ever see the same computer/component twice in one day!

Working at a school, your familiar with the computers because you're working with the same ones every day.
At places like Best Buy, you always get a variety in what you're dealing with!

-jd-

I beg to differ