December 2005/January 2006

Volume 46, Number 3

STC RMC's Annual Salary Survey

by Steve Wertzbaugher

Survey. The word strikes terror and loathing in all of us. Why? Because we are inundated by surveys. We receive them in our mail, through the Internet, in our e-mail, in the malls and stores we visit, even in our places of employment, disguised as the dreaded employee satisfaction survey. The list is endless. It's enough to send even the most courageous into an insane frenzy from which none could ever hope to recover. Why are there so many surveys? The answer is simple, of course; surveys gather information about people or groups that organizations use to focus their efforts to either provide information or sell something, like the ubiquitous all-expense paid vacation to a small Latin American country not presently involved in a civil war.

There are as many different kinds of surveys as there are species of insect inhabiting our planet. Most surveys simply try to wheedle information from you in order to sell you something. Such Surveys ask questions about our spending habits; where you spend your money, what you buy, how much money you spend on certain items, how likely are you to buy these items in the next few minutes, and of course how much money you make. We've all seen this type of survey and if you are like me, you set land speed records pressing the Delete key, or enter Bonzai Benny's Bouncing Baby Emporium in the mall in order to avoid the man or woman charging you with clipboard and No. 2 pencil in hand.

Occasionally, however, we receive a survey that actually tries to help us. This survey, while still gathering information from us, tries to give us something back that will aid us in some way, whether in our personal lives, spending habits, or professional lives. And while we still tend to cringe and moan when we receive such a survey, we take it anyway because in the end, any momentary pain we might feel is insignificant compared to the benefits we receive.

The STC RMC salary survey is one of these.

I have to admit, that in almost all cases, I'd rather experience a root canal without anesthesia than take a survey, which is why I avoid them like the plague. In fact, I've trained my attack Beagle to shred anything even remotely resembling a survey that finds its way into my mailbox or e-mail. But not so with the STC RMC salary survey. This survey I take. And in fact, I look forward to it every year. Why? Because unlike almost every survey ever conceived by the diabolical forces of evil, the STC RMC salary survey exists to help me in my career as a technical communicator. That's right, you heard me; the STC RMC salary survey helps me with my career. And not just me, but everyone who belongs to our chapter: self-employed, gainfully employed, or currently unemployed.

It doesn't matter where you are in your career, entry-level, junior-level, senior-level, management, slave driver, independent, or hope to be independent; taking the salary survey will help you. There, I said it. I'll repeat it for those of you who couldn't believe your eyes; the salary survey will help you. How? Simple. The information you provide for the survey creates a snapshot of what's going on in our local market. Using this information will help you make sound, informed decisions about your present career. Should I go back to school for that technical communication degree? Am I earning enough as an independent writer? Do I want to take the plunge into independent life? Am I earning enough compared to other technical communicators at my professional level? Should I reach for that promotion, or even management? What are my chances of finding a job if I am currently unemployed? The questions are endless as are the possible answers. So take the survey. You'll be glad you did.

There is one question, however, that might leave you shaking in your shoes and spouting curses upon the first born of those who conceived it. It's the "how much do you earn" question. I know what you're thinking; I will never answer such a spurious and obviously evil question designed to expose my most private information to the universe at large and make me look foolish because instead of dollars I'm paid with chickens and cows. I too usually avoid this question when I take a survey. Whose business is it anyway how much I earn and in what currency I'm paid? The audacity! The arrogance! I will not be party to such outrageous behavior! After you calm down, ask yourself how this information is used. It's used to help our fellow chapter members and technical communicators make informed decisions about their careers. You can use the information yourself to see where you stand in your own career. And best of all, its completely confidential. No one will ever know that your salary consists of chickens and cows instead of dollars. I answer the salary question and I ask you to do so as well, because the more people who answer the salary question the more accurate our survey will be.

So, what are you waiting for? As soon as you receive the salary survey in your e-mail fill it out and return. You'll be glad you did.