Typical programmer wages?

Hello all. I'm a 22 year old from MI with "decent" programming knowledge. I work at a plastics company and build automated assembly fixtures for various plastic parts. We use Micrologix 1000, 1200 and 1500. We also implement the use of HMIs (mainly the $415 AD unit) I have 2 years experience doing this, with no techinical training or college...I work with a guy who has over 20+ years programming PLCs and he has taught me a ton of stuff. I was just curious if I was to branch out on my own someday, what kind of wages can I expect? Right now I make $11.25 which leaves a little to be desired, but then again I only have a high school diploma.

aww..no edit button..
wanted to say thanks in advance

Don't sell yourself short because "you only have a high-school diploma". If you stay in this field for any amount of time, you will be amazed at the number of folks doing this type of work with a background similar to yours. If you make yourself a knowledge "sponge" and are fortunate enough to work with experienced people that are willing to share thier experience, you can go far. I too, had only a high-school diploma (and 10-yrs of no-related military experience) when I got mixed up in this stuff back in 1993. I was working as a maintenance electrician in a foundry for $9.01/hour. Since then, I have worked as instrument technician, one-man electrical dept. for small OEM (doing design, CAD, programming, panel-building & installation), electrical designer, systems integrator and finally, automation specialist for a medium-sized electrical distributor. And my income earning capacity has grown exponentially, as yours will as folks who need your services see what you are capable of doing. Hang in there, the sky's the limit, as they say.

Cool..good to hear. We have designers that design the mechanical part of the fixtures, making aluminum details etc. Our group (myself and another guy) build the panels and mount all of the sensors. I also know how to run a bridgeport / lathe to make details for mounting photoeyes etc. I've also implemented barcode scanning on a couple of our assembly fixtures..I really enjoy this field! I hired on as an operator, taking plastic parts from the injection molding machine and placing them in the assembly fixture...then I got promoted to maintenance...then I worked with my boss learning electronics and never went back to maintenance...maint. here at our shop just cleans molds and stuff....we get called out for any repairs to the fixtures...its kind of nice - but I only live under a mile from the shop. Before when I was living 10 miles away they would pay me 2 hours just for showing up...now I only get paid for the amount of time I am there..kind of a bummer.
Anyway, its nice to see someone as helpful as you answer some of my questions!

Undregistered Guest,

About where in MI are you??

Northern Michigan. Wages are probably a bit higher down near you

Yea...quite a bit..

Feel free to send me a resume if you might consider moving..

[email protected]

Do you actually work in Detriot or a surrounding town?
I have a friend that lives in Ortonville.

HuH?.....I live in Ortonville...I thought no one ever heard of this place.

ABATE anual hog / pig roast... It's been a while but they used to be held in Ortonville..

Up here in Canada we make anywhere from 25-40/hr, salary 40 hrs/week + overtime, NON UNION. The companies that we work for charge out 130-175/hr for our skillsets.

I worked in MI for a while at Wixom Ford plant and the Chesterfield Visteon plants as well. It seemed to me that there was a hard time finding people that had experience and know-how.

I am a Electrical Technologist, and have my Electrical Licence, but I really just started about 10 years ago, at 20/hr.

Look for a better job, one that will make people actually appreciate what you know, and your hard earned skill-set specific to your industry.

Cool. Thanks for the information!

elevmike: we will keep in touch

Dag....I get paid nothing 11.40/hr. The most I can make with my current employeer is about 14.75. That is there top pay...well they give everyone .25 raise every year.

Locally, programmers get up to $12.00 hour. Maintenance electricians with plc experience get $6.50 to $18.00.

Engineering jobs are being advertised for $28,000, though some are listed in the $45,000 are, but are few and far between.

In a 60 mile radius, (Peoria, Rockford, Bloomington, Quad Cities, far western Chi suburbs, I see $20.00 advertised, but the head hunters who call are trying for 16-18, but will submit for $25-30/hour, but aren't getting any takers.

Try doing a search at careerpath.com, monster.com, or hotjobs.com.

You'll see wages all over the place, but check back and see how moany of those jobs actually get filled.

regards.....casey

Sorry to bring up such an old post, but I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place..The lead programmer for our "Automation Group" will be leaving shortly, he has taken a position in Russia...anyway, I feel that the time is coming that I will end up "bargaining" for more money...Since I will be bumped up to the fancy job title of "Automation Engineer" with this title, should come more money - considering I will be responsible for programming every assembly fixture we build (we have 2 due within the next 2 months) I've been updating my resume to reflect some of my newfound talents but am intrigued about some of the possibilitys of staying where I work. They will pay for 100% of my schooling whether it has to do with my field or not..I've been wanting to go after my AD in Applied Sciences in Electrical Technology (offered thru local comm. college) but I'm getting sick of working for free!
They are totally cheap where I work. I know that I'm worth $15.00 an hour and I do not think that is much to ask...I'm hoping that my resume will reflect some of my accomplishments to some of the management and they will realize perhaps I am really worth the additional money...but who knows!!
What do all of you think about this situation? I'm sure I could relocate and make more money - but is that the best course of action? More money now, but less money later without degree....hmm such decisions!!!

Feel free to tell me im stupid etc