Comments on: $17 an hour? Seriously? http://mnteractive.com/archive/17-an-hour-seriously Minnesota's Interaction Design, Information Architecture, and User Experience Design Community Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:21:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mark Steel http://mnteractive.com/archive/17-an-hour-seriously/comment-page-1#comment-40990 Mark Steel Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:20:13 +0000 http://mnteractive.com/archive/17-an-hour-seriously/#comment-40990 The reality is that Midwest pay is notoriously low. For instance, a major automative finance corporation in Waterloo, Iowa (I won't mention the name, but we all know who it is) only pays around $15-$20/hr for IT staff. There aren't too many places in the midwest who take IT seriously, and with web convergence, too many Graphic Artists are being abused as Web Developers --- thus lumping them in with the IT guys. I've had my feet in both worlds. It seems that most companies want to push the "idea" that they're paying too much for IT, too much for Graphic Artists, too much for cleaning, etc. etc. At the same time, they have no problem outsourcing four or five jobs per week at $250/hr, yet they'll <em>always</em> scoff at paying an internal employee $50K. It really makes no good business sense but for one thing: with outsourcing, Management can abscond from responsibility if an outside contractor screws up a job. There's also the side issue that they can treat an outside contractor a lot worse than they can treat an employee --- not paying bills, cussing them out for missing a deadline, etc. etc. I don't think any amount of business school will get people around those hurdles. But, hey, I could be wrong... The reality is that Midwest pay is notoriously low. For instance, a major automative finance corporation in Waterloo, Iowa (I won’t mention the name, but we all know who it is) only pays around $15-$20/hr for IT staff. There aren’t too many places in the midwest who take IT seriously, and with web convergence, too many Graphic Artists are being abused as Web Developers — thus lumping them in with the IT guys.

I’ve had my feet in both worlds. It seems that most companies want to push the “idea” that they’re paying too much for IT, too much for Graphic Artists, too much for cleaning, etc. etc. At the same time, they have no problem outsourcing four or five jobs per week at $250/hr, yet they’ll always scoff at paying an internal employee $50K.

It really makes no good business sense but for one thing: with outsourcing, Management can abscond from responsibility if an outside contractor screws up a job. There’s also the side issue that they can treat an outside contractor a lot worse than they can treat an employee — not paying bills, cussing them out for missing a deadline, etc. etc.

I don’t think any amount of business school will get people around those hurdles. But, hey, I could be wrong…

]]> By: flann http://mnteractive.com/archive/17-an-hour-seriously/comment-page-1#comment-36051 flann Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:34:03 +0000 http://mnteractive.com/archive/17-an-hour-seriously/#comment-36051 Creatives who are trying to live off of their creativity can enhance their chances of success and growth by writing a simple business plan. The process of writing the plan will help them better identify their market, their competition, their expenses,and thus their appropriate fees/rates for their region. It may seem painful at first, but running a business is running a business, even if it's art-based. There are lots of books out there to help. Creatives who are trying to live off of their creativity can enhance their chances of success and growth by writing a simple business plan. The process of writing the plan will help them better identify their market, their competition, their expenses,and thus their appropriate fees/rates for their region. It may seem painful at first, but running a business is running a business, even if it’s art-based. There are lots of books out there to help.

]]> By: jonny http://mnteractive.com/archive/17-an-hour-seriously/comment-page-1#comment-36019 jonny Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:29:20 +0000 http://mnteractive.com/archive/17-an-hour-seriously/#comment-36019 Erin and I just moved to Omaha from Claifornia. I hear you on the money thing.... seems like there is none to be had down here hight now. Speaking of biz classes, I asked Erin how many classes were required at California College of the Arts (formerly know as CCaC), for graphic design degree. Oh, the answer... is none. Erin and I just moved to Omaha from Claifornia. I hear you on the money thing…. seems like there is none to be had down here hight now. Speaking of biz classes, I asked Erin how many classes were required at California College of the Arts (formerly know as CCaC), for graphic design degree. Oh, the answer… is none.

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