URGENT: US Salary negotiation (Electronics, San Jose)
 

Hi,

I have been offered a job in San Jose, CA. I've recently graduated with an MSc. in electronics, although prior I had been working for 2 years in industry. Although I have been offered a figure, I have no idea whether this is good or not, so I'm desperately looking for some advice on how to proceed.

Do any of you have any idea what kind of salary I should be looking for?

Fairly entry-level position (graduate), electronics, San Jose, CA, 2 years prior industry experience.

Steve

Re: URGENT: US Salary negotiation (Electronics, San Jose)
 

salary.com

Re: URGENT: US Salary negotiation (Electronics, San Jose)
 

get yerself on dice as well and search for similar roles and see what those are advertising as salary.

Re: URGENT: US Salary negotiation (Electronics, San Jose)
 

These sites have only confused me more.

Re: URGENT: US Salary negotiation (Electronics, San Jose)
 

Why? You pick the job, type in the city and it gives you average salary and benefit info. Should take less than 5 minutes.

Re: URGENT: US Salary negotiation (Electronics, San Jose)
 

I don't know the area at all, but since it is CA I will assume it has a high standard of living. $60k would probably be ballpark figure for someone with your experience judging by what I was looking at in the same field (I am an EE). It's only a rough guide though, and will vary considerably depending on the type of industry and company.

If you can, try to get them to tell you what salary range they are expecting. Don't be too surprised if they try to turn the question back to you or don't come up with anything. If they seem reasonable, you can always just level with the guy and explain that you aren't entirely sure, then give a highball figure and see how much they try to negotiate it down.

Re: URGENT: US Salary negotiation (Electronics, San Jose)
 

All the usual suspects...

http://www.payscale.com/
http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm
http://www.jobitorial.com/

But best bet is a professional forum for the sector you're in, whatever that may be.