What types of computer based jobs would pay ~ $20.oo+ an hour?

[Polish3d]

I'm going to be job hunting soon (already am really) and would love to work in a field that is a hobby of mine anyway.

I'm a student so I would have to work part-time, but essentially I was hoping to get some certifications in whatever areas would be pertinent and hopefully go to work.

I'm new to this side of things though, so I'd really appreciate some advice.

 

[Bona Fide]

You could be a freelance programmer if you've got the know-how. Not sure where/how to apply, but my friend in college is doing it for a local engineering firm.

 

[Polish3d]

I don't have a great deal of programming knowledge although I could definitely learn fast

 

[gnumantsc]

People who aren't afraid of removing their clothes in front of a webcam would make about that much. It does have to do with computers because you would have to know how to setup the camera and stuff like that.

$20/hr is sorta easy if you work for yourself as a tech but getting clients is the hard thing. Working for a company is a different story and don't think the salaries are that great.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I'm going to be job hunting soon (already am really) and would love to work in a field that is a hobby of mine anyway.

I'm a student so I would have to work part-time, but essentially I was hoping to get some certifications in whatever areas would be pertinent and hopefully go to work.

I'm new to this side of things though, so I'd really appreciate some advice.

Entry level with no formal training, no formal experience, no former track record... You will be very hard pressed to find this job at ~20.00 per hour.

With formal training, experience, and excellent track record = no problems at all finding 20+ per hour / depending on the area of the country you are in.

pcgeek11

 

[imported_Kensai]

Computer Technician (Average or better)
Network Admin
System Admin
Programming

 

[ValuedCustomer]

What did you/are you taking in school? In other words, what do you have to bring to the table?

 

[AmberClad]

Are you working towards a major in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Systems Engineering? Or Info. Sys. at least?

 

[Polish3d]

I'm not taking much that is computer-related in school but I have been an avid PC user since before the 286 came out, so I have a huge amount of experience and intuitive ability for solving problems and such. (Both parents are soft/hard engineers so it's in natrual too.)


My hope was to become certified in "XXX" and then land a job that payed around 20 an hour... For example there is "A+" certification and such but I'm really just beginning to explore this because my current job is collapsing.

(Management fuggered up and company is probably dying.)

Is this plausible? Becoming certified in some specialty area and then going to work?

 

[dds14u]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I'm not taking much that is computer-related in school but I have been an avid PC user since before the 286 came out, so I have a huge amount of experience and intuitive ability for solving problems and such. (Both parents are soft/hard engineers so it's in natrual too.)


My hope was to become certified in "XXX" and then land a job that payed around 20 an hour... For example there is "A+" certification and such but I'm really just beginning to explore this because my current job is collapsing.

(Management fuggered up and company is probably dying.)

Is this plausible? Becoming certified in some specialty area and then going to work?

Maybe you should try an internship that pays. You should be able to get a decent starting wage and then see what you like from there. It will be good to expose yourself to things you normally wouldn't just being doing as an avid PC user.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: dds14u
Maybe you should try an internship that pays. You should be able to get a decent starting wage and then see what you like from there. It will be good to expose yourself to things you normally wouldn't just being doing as an avid PC user.

Unfortunately for him, many internships with major companies or governmental organizations require certain majors.

 

[CuriousMike]

Depending on what part of the country and your experience level will dictate what your pay rate is going to be ( all other things equal. )

If you don't instantly need $20/hr, you might look at customer support or testing/quality assurance to get your foot in the door and build experience. Both of those will likely pay far less than $20/hr for someone with no experience, but it might give you more exposure to working in a hi-tech enviroment and give you more ideas what you want to do. Plus, those are low-stress jobs that might give you part time status and allow you to continue with school.

 

[Nocturnal]

Probably a Network Admin or Sys Admin and programmer. Computer tech, no way. Unless you score a job with a govt. contractor as a CT then you won't be making $20.00 or more an hour.

 

[Some1ne]

If your troubleshooting skills are up to snuff, you could try being a freelance computer repair tech. You could set your own hourly rate (and most people would be willing to pay $20 an hour to get their systems fixed, especially if you made housecalls), the only hard part would be finding business/customers, and it probably wouldn't be a very steady, reliable source of income.

 

[JE78]

I just received my IT degree last May and its focused towards A+. I'm still looking for a job but I applied and had an interview at a local computer store here that does repair, builds there own computers and sells retail stuff. They are a pretty big name in my area so I go in for an interview and they told me that they would pay me $8.00/hr + commission on how many repairs I did or how many computers I built or how much stuff I sold. I was kind of blown away by how much there pay per hour was. I was expecting to at least make $12/hr and was hoping for $15. My currnent job would've interfeard with and I get paied almost twice as much at this job so I had to turn it down. But I just applied at 2 school districts for a Computer Repair Tech. So I?m keeping my fingers crossed that I get one of them. I did my internship at a museum as a Tech and really liked it, and this would be just like it I think so I hope i get the position.

 

[Greenman]

I had no idea computer tech pay scales were so low. Around here (San Francisco bay area) I have trouble finding unskilled labor for less that $15 an hour.

 

[razor2025]

The pay difference is probably due to cost of living. CA's cost of living is insanely more than my state's, GA, cost of living.

 

[Polish3d]

Interesting suggestions from everyone...I'm shocked that comp. jobs pay so poorly, at least the ones we're talking about.

My current job is selling newspaper subscriptions at grocery stores and events.

Before the company I'm working for blew it bigtime by letting a competitor take over most everything, I was making an average of 800-1000 a week only working 4 days. It's falling apart now though. (Can't go work for competitor because of contract.)

I was also thinking about going to massage therapy school as the pay per hour doing that is quite high as well, only it takes about 6 months to get certified.

 

[shoRunner]

you could make that much at best buy's geek squad, fry's service bench, and at compusa as a tech supervisor.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Around here people throw money at you if you know anything about computers.

Like you I'm just an avid user who learned computer troubleshooting in the course of several personal builds, but people in my area (Alexandria, Louisiana) know so little about computers that my limited knowledge is actually worth money to them.

I've had people pay me $40+ per hour just to reinstall windows and other programs they might want. I honestly didn't know what to charge for that kind of service and I said as much to them, but everyone I've helped has paid me FAR more than I expected on their own initiative.

I suppose there could be a disproportionate amount of techno-fear in Louisiana compared to the rest of the world which may account for the willingness of it's denizens to pay out the ass for unofficial tech-support.

 

[Polish3d]

True, I live in CO which is a pretty-tech savvy area

 

[bob4432]

it is all about how you sell yourself. personally when i was doing some stuff on the side for a couple of bizs, i had my wife set up the contracts (she has a degree in communication, excellent business person/salesperson by nature, could sell a blind guy a flashlight, a deaf guy a ipod, etc) and they were happy to get me for ~$30/hour, plus they gave me the keys to their bizs so i could do the maintenance when i would get off from my regular job ~1AM, so i didn't even have to deal with anybody.

paid a couple extra grand / month easy doing some maintenance here, a little webwork here, illustration, photoshopping, easy $$$. eventually they wanted me too much so i had to turn them onto a company that does that for real work.

it is just as important as to how you sell yourself, as long as you have the skillz to back it up. word of mouth travels pretty quick and if you could get into some small bizs that don't want to pay the big $$$, you are set up. just make sure you are knowledgeable and don't f*ck anything up. get some nice biz cards printed up, buy your own domain name, not joe@aol.com(doesn't fly). act the part (again, you do need the knowledge) and it will come.

 

[Polish3d]

That's not a bad idea at all bob, thanks!

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Frackal
That's not a bad idea at all bob, thanks!

no probs, just trying to help out

 

[willstay]

Be content people. My monthly salary is not more than $360 for a full time job as Software Programmer. This is probably because I live on the other side of the Earth. You won't believe me if I told you that I can even save few when I squeeze my budget real tight.