Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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(NBC News) -- It's Labor Day, and for many people that means a day off from work.
Do you ever wonder if you are getting paid enough for the work that you do? How much do others doing your kind of work get? What about your boss?
These are some of the questions you can research for free.
Big money, big cars, it all comes with a bigger paycheck. Unfortunately a trump size salary isn't that easy to come by.
Still, most people would say they deserve a bigger piece of the pie.
"Accountants should get 60 to 70 thousand dollars a year."
"The going rate is lower than what I deserve."
"I do so much i don't think they could compensate me enough."
Negotiating a higher salary isn't easy. But now there is a place to get help. Its called Salary.com. And while you can't get specific by name or company, it can sure tell you what ballpark you're in, or should be in.
Its all point and click easy. Just find your industry. And your title, or the kind of work you do. Select the state and city you live in. And in seconds, it will kick back a report and graph showing starting salary, median salary, and top pay for what you do.
The site has several levels of service and charges a subscription fee for the most detailed info, but the free stuff offers plenty pf really useful information that just may give you the ammunition you need to get that next raise.
Manpower President Phil Blair says any extra insight can be helpful. But don't think that number is the number that's going to work with your boss.
Phil Blair, Manpower: "If you say, well...I know I should make 80,000. He'll say Ah you've been on the internet. That's interesting, but we think you're worth 70 thousand and that is where negotiations start."
Negotiations, that with a little extra information, could mean a bigger paycheck.
"I make more for working less."
