Ask HN: Younger/less experienced person here. Should I ask for a raise?
I am a first year college student who has been programming since I was 11, and I am fairly skilled in web engineering with PHP, Python (Flask) and Ruby (on Rails) as well as web design with HTML/CSS/JS. I have been working for a year and a half for a startup company on the East Coast, doing all of the "work" except for a database API. That is to say, I have been writing the majority of the code and designing all the assets for a 2-3 KLOC app. Soon, I will be creating prototypes of an iOS app for the product.
Up until this point, my pay has been set at around $15 an hour. I know I am just a freshman with only a year of professional experience, but I am also aware that I have a lot of skill and contribute value on many fronts. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas about salaries for younger people who may not have been in the workforce very long. Thanks so much for your help.
2 comments
[ 4.6 ms ] story [ 19.1 ms ] threadSo while not an apples to apples comparison, I'd say at $15/hour you're low assuming no equity. That said, unless you need the money to survive, I would view the job as a springboard to your future goals.
So if you're learning a lot and enjoy what you're doing, I'd recommend sticking around. Maybe you can make a play for some equity? On the other hand, if you don't feel like your skills/resume are developing, consider looking for an upgrade (pay and personal development).
On the last point, I've been out of college for almost 10 years now and I still pick up quite a bit from my coworkers. It sounds like you're developing on an island which is both good and bad. You learn a lot, but you also miss out on the expertise of others. Something else to consider.