[MotoSook]

It doesn't matter if Salary.com is high or low. It can be used in your favor...or never mentioned in negotiations. It's just one of many things you should have at the ready when negotiating. Salary.com is not specific enough for any one industry, IMO.

It's important for you to know what competiting companies are paying their employees. When I say competiting, I mean what similar jobs in the same industry are paying. This is best learned by looking in the job ads across the nation. Talking to recruiters may give you good insight. Make adjustments for cost of living based on location.

Time of service is usually a big factor. I've never been a big fan of time of service as a major factor in hiring or salary adjustments. I have seen engineers with very low number of years out perform engineers with 20+ yrs of experience.

You just graduated recently, right?

Even if you interned with your company and then got hired on, it's going to be tough for you to negotiate Project Manager pay with your number of years. I've seen project engineers perform PM work, and it's usually very tough to negotiate that pay. As a young engineer (or one with low number of years) your best bet to advance in pay is to move on. Companies very rarely give you 10-20% pay hike unless you are very critical to the role you are in or will be in. Moving on to a new company will almost guarantee that you get that level of pay raise. Keep in mind that you may have a hard time finding a PM job with limited years of service too. Stay or go? Research..even interview if you think there is potential.

Obviously you don't want to be a hop-around going after pay only, but if you have learned as much as you can and you do not feel there is technical or financial advancement, then you should start looking elsewhere.

I hate that young engineers who are smart and have great potential have to leave a company in order to be recognized (with promotions or pay increases) for their talent. HR in years past weren't so worried about this as there wasn't the baby boomer time bomb ticking away like it is today. HR is learning. Be careful you don't push too hard. Keep in mind that you are negotiating to stay with the company. Be prepared to list your achievements and show loyalty. You don't want your super to bitterly give in.