134
Salary or Salary plus benefits?
I am in the final stages for a position. The salary range was decent. Now down to the contact negotiations and the actual salary is $15,000 less than mentioned. Although Glassdoor gives an average salary of $75,000, the actual salary they are offering is $60,000 and the rest is 'balanced' by the generous benefits. The benefits are no more generous than other places, and I am frustrated. Is this common? I was going to take a substantial pay cut for this newly created position (DREAM job), but this seems ridiculous. Any thoughts?
Kathryn McDanielSeeking to connect mission with constituents.
134
09/09/20 at 2:10PM UTC
Thank you for all your great advice. The governing board decided not to move forward with the position and rescinded the offer. Apparently, there is something bigger and better out there waiting for me!
Kelly GollobinHelping people be their professional best
67
09/04/20 at 3:34PM UTC
Hi Kathryn
Government positions can be highly regulated per union rules or state or local regulations. They might be limited by your education, experience, etc., Think of steps per x years.
As a career counselor, I encourage people to move up with salary when they negotiate a new position. However, if it truly is a dream job that might outweigh the lower pay. Perhaps you could request a review/pay bump after 6 months? What can you move into next from this position and how valuable is that?
User deleted comment on 09/04/20 at 1:13PM UTC
Paulla FetzekTeacher, Lighting Expert, & Office Professional
3.11k
09/04/20 at 1:03PM UTC
Excellent suggestions already posted. I would offer up this: Take a look at the position on other sites like salary.com, indeed.com, even LinkedIn.
You should get a feel for salary not only as a national average, but also more locally.
I wish you all the best. Good pay and a dream job sounds wonderful!
Anonymous
09/04/20 at 12:58PM UTC
It depends on who mentioned the 75,000 salary? The employer said it? or you saw it on FGB? If the employer led you through the interview process letting you misunderstand the salary, then run, don’t walk, out the door and away from this employer. My experience is if an employer sees you accept poor and deceitful behavior from them upfront...it sets the tone for their expectations in the future. What you see as your dream job is likely not that at all. But if the misunderstanding was yours, then negotiate the best result for yourself and make a decision as recommended by others on this site.
Debra SesholtzMarketing strategist driving results
854
09/04/20 at 12:31PM UTC
Everything is negotiable. Agree with other comment that if there was a salary range posted by the company, I would ask why that has changed. Ask if there is any flexibility in that amount. If they won’t budge on salary, are there other benefits you can negotiate that would help balance the reduced salary, such as more time off? What about timed salary increases once you prove yourself or meet specific goals? If it’s your dream job, you need to decide if a salary cut is worth it to you.
Pharberknockn07Curriculum & Training Development in Kansas City
213
09/03/20 at 7:46PM UTC
Where was the salary mentioned? If it’s in the job posting from the company and it’s lower, definitely speak up. If it wasn’t, try digging on other salary finder sites and see if it’s comparable, then negotiate with a better offer and reasons and go from there. If the benefits aren’t better than average, ask for better as another negotiation angle/ middle ground to work on.
If it’s truly a dream job and perfect for now but they can’t waiver on the offer package, decide if you can take the financial hit. If not, let them know that that’s the deal breaker for you.
Anonymous
09/03/20 at 3:25PM UTC
I think on Glassdoor it’s just an estimate , so you can’t really go by that, it’s happened to me a few time to ,it sucks ,
Jessica Marie Davis
15
09/03/20 at 2:10PM UTC
Can you counter? It’s worth a conversation.
Alba María RoldánStriving to make a difference one step at a time
15
09/07/20 at 2:09AM UTC
She should definitely counter. Rule of thumb I've always been told, is that the first offer is always the low bar from which they start. Men usually counter-offer. She should do the same.
Kathryn McDanielSeeking to connect mission with constituents.
134
09/02/20 at 2:33PM UTC
This is a government position in a rural area. I used to work in non-profit, which tends to be lower. And I looked at Glassdoor for several local communities to get an average. Glassdoor asks the area, industry, and position.
