CompuServe Messages

I hate to say it, Bill, but the "magic formula" we discussed many moons ago applies to designers, too, which puts this category in the $25-30K range. Your friend should be a bit worth more, however, due to his technical skills, and I'll be the first to comment that agencies are ABSOLUTELY NOTORIOUS for undercompensating technical ability. What we (as in my wife, Robyn, and I) are finding depressing is that with her 17 years of experience in design and print spec'ing, the only difference that "knowing the Macintosh" now makes is whether you can get a job at all. She doesn't yet have the computer skills (soon to be formally trained, tho – no choice, and no time), and is locked out of job after job because computer skills are prerequisite. And having those skills doesn't mean an increase in pay – in fact, there has been such an emphasis on "knowing the Macintosh" over design skills or experience that total design novices are landing jobs simply based on "mousing" ability, consequently depressing the pay scales for the field as a whole. This trend revealed itself in a recent hiring bout; I was absolutely amazed to have great numbers of designers/Mac operators thrilled at the prospect of making $22-23K (budget constraints) for a position which two years ago should have been worth $30-35. And, on the other hand, I was appalled at some of the portfolios – these persons called themselves designers?!? Sorry for the unhappy news. It's going to be a couple of years before the curve swings back up. …mm