Going for a raise/role change. Need advice!
I’m a salaried full-time employee in a mid-size tech company in Utah and am paid $39,000 with a vague producer title. I have over 5 years experience in the industry and have basically always filled a “preditor” role going out on shoots and then editing. My team is small but will likely grow this coming year. My boss has said he wants me to remain the “lead editor” as we grow. I am planning on meeting with my boss to discuss the changes as we grow and how I fit into them.
Problem is, I feel like the role is hard to define in that I’m typically shooting, editing, grading, doing DIT work, managing the team (only 1 other person besides me for now), and creating process for our team to work with the rest of the company smoothly. I have no clue what a role like that would be called or how much I should be asking for. A 15% raise sounds like a lot to ask for after only having been there in a full-time capacity for a year, but I also think I take on a lot of work. Any help is appreciated!
Posted Dec 18, 2018, 5:43 AM UTC
I don't know what market you're in, but you sound horrendously underpaid.
Companies who’s main purpose isn’t video production but want a video production employee for like a YouTube channel/face book live/etc have a very low salary ranges even in expensive locations. I saw one for videographer/editor in a DC suburb that wanted someone to do the live video set up, shoot and edit videos for social media, and as they put it “walk around and film daily life (think “The Office” Style)” All for $12-$14 dollars an hour.
I get that being an employee gets you health insurance and 401(k) matching over being freelance but even with that being said there’s no chance I’d take that job in that area for less than $25/hr at the absolute lowest. And shooting “the office” style daily life? Is everyone just wearing lavaliere mics all the time? Because being all the across the room zooming in on people talking is going to sound great with the on camera mic 🤪. Plus lighting is going to be horrendous. No mention of the equipment either.
That’s just one example but I see this kind of thing on job listings where these companies want a video presence for social media but have what I feel is unrealistic expectations. I don’t know, maybe I’m the crazy one.
Im not in this situation, but i would advise someone already in this role to expand their duties and persona to become more of a 'creative director.' Management in such companies rarely have good creative perspectives, even their marketing people, and there's usually a valuable niche to fill. Though, forcing your way into it can be very difficult. They are also often spending fistfuls of money on traditional advertising agencies, and a well set up internal person can save them lots of money while increasing their own salary.