CCIE salaries - What are you worth?

by Emmanuel Conde

January 15, 2008 —

Here's a verse to a song I heard recently that really touched me.

This is God's Dominion and this is peace on earth

This is what we're put here for and this is what we're worth

The other things that matter have slowly slipped away

She grows her roses

She grows her roses

She grows her roses all day

The song is about a woman that has grown old and has been growing roses in
NYC for years. Many folks recognize what she does as something that adds beauty
and texture to a world of concrete and noise. But for a brief moment, anyone
walking through her domain is filled with the beauty and fragrance of her roses.
She has a calling and a purpose and lives in contentment at her toil.

Your calling may not evoke song or poetry or stimulate the senses, but beauty
is in the eye of the beholder! While you pursue your certifications, the other
things that matter may be put on hold and you may feel they are slipping away,
but those who know you will realize you have a calling. Hang in there and enjoy
the journey!

It always seems that changes in my professional life come with the end of the
calendar year. Client meetings and business trips have kept me busy for years.
Vacations with my family evoke fond memories. As I reflect upon these travels,
I cannot help but ask the question evoked by the lyrics to that song, 'what
am I worth'? I feel that what I do is what I was put here for, but what am I
worth?

You will see a lot more salary surveys this year than in previous years. Many
institutions are interested in discovering the value of nearly every professional
IT certification. You may have heard the ads on the radio claiming what certain
certifications will earn. I don't cotton much to those ads or reports, so my
thinking on compensation might not be what you are used to hearing.

Entry level IT network or systems engineers with no professional experience
can expect to earn from minimum wage to $16 an hour in the U.S. If you have
no professional experience and hold certifications that compliment the role,
don't expect much more but it is worth a couple of dollars an hour in most cases.
After that, compensation ranges based on geography, cost of living, industry,
and years of experience. As a headhunter, I have come to learn that certifications
are not always rewarded by employers. But if the certification holder brings
in revenue or recognition for the employer because of the certification, then
the compensation is often higher.

CCIEs are my business, so let me dive into this question with their salaries
in mind. Here is a rundown of the annual salaries I have been quoted in American
dollars:

South America/Mexico from $30k - $70k

Canada from $65k - $110k

United States from $80k - $150k

United Kingdom from $90k to $190k

I will share as a I learn more

What are you worth? Whatever you can convince an employer to pay you.

Next, "I Quit". A how-to guide on resigning.

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