Payrate and Programmer Qty

Hi all;

First off I'm interested in seeing just what other Programmers Make as a Wage, Per geographical area--I'll get to my wage once I see what others make--and how many programmers are in your organization, and also how many
Manufactures of PLCs do u handle, Install, Program, per organization. Thanks a lot, I'd love to hear your comments...

Our Company > In IOWA
Me > Software/Intranet, web Admin/Java/Oracle/Perl MySQL ASP PHP Visual Basic and VBA/IT - $12.25hr

1 PLC AB Only ("exclusive") Ladder PLC Programmer - $13.00 Hr

We Only do AB, Nothing else.

Arkansas, 3 at this location, AB and Square D, Ladder Logic, RSView, VFD's, Excel, Access, Graphics Design, $22.50 HR Salary, Outside consulting $50 and up. Branching into CNC and Robotics, also do design and installation.

Iowa also: Entirely A-B, 3 plants about 30 PLC's--$65k only one other programmer here

Worked in Colorado for a few years, 2 plants DeltaV and A-B, Only programmer there--$100k

I think you'll find a wide variation depending on responsibilities. In CO I was the Lead Engineer, in Iowa I'm just a Technician, but I'm close to home and home alot more (also no cell phone any more!)

Brian,

The ladder PLC programmer is also you, or another guy at your company? Your skillset would be incredibly valuable if you picked up on the PLC/HMI/SCADA end of things. From what I gather of analysts predictions and online discussions, the industry is heading to management data systems and higher end presentation and enterprise integration (reporting, working with SAP, Oracle, MSSQL Server, etc). Your background would be a great lead in to that. I'm not sure about Iowa, but in CA with both skillsets you'd be worth a lot more $$$ than you mention.

Nathan

Wages:
At my Location in Iowa, I am the IT/networking SCADA custom software person, plus intranet/internet software guy. So my wage is $13.00 an hour. SAD huh? and I am Allen Bradley certified, thru rsview/rslogix and mssql, how's that for a kicker? we have 1 other programmer/electrician
that doesn't even really know how to use a computer. he makes more than me. I think he is $14.50.

Brian, judging from years of your previous posts, you're not happy with what you're getting paid, and I can't blame you. If that's not the going rate where you live, have you talked to your counterparts at your company's competition to see if there are openings? If you work for a machine builder, try an integration company, and vice versa. Have you tried CareerBuilder.com?

Move on, move up. I am underpaid and make $27 an hour. Contract programmers on the low end make between $45-65 and on the upper end, we have paid $115/hr down from $145/hr from vendors. Understand that at $115+ the money is not all going to the programmer and at $45-65 there is insurance, bonding etc. But there are a ton of jobs in the mid 20's an hour out there and more every day as the US is unprepared for the loss of knowledge leaving with Baby Boomers.

IF (and that is a big IF), because there is a huge difference between a PLC programmer and a "Coder" or someone who can troubleshoot, or someone who knows how to use the computer by fault, then you are WAY under paid and should feel insulted. But that may be the prevailing wage for you, it is not here north of you in MN.

I will not go into all of the issues surrounding being a good programmer as that has been beat up here over and over.

Dave