For context, I'm a trans woman working in aerospace manufacturing in CT, and started with the company as an intern. In my junior year of college, I ran out of money and had to put my degree on hold. Since I'm close to being done with my degree anyhow, the company hired me on full-time so that I could at least have health benefits when I turn 26 next month. That's all well and good, but talking with my boss about the title “upgrade” and pay bump, he openly admitted that he pays me less than the machine operators that just require a high school diploma and a single course at a community college…
I currently program all of the automated inspection equipment, including IT work, and writing work instructions so the operators know how to use the equipment in the first place. I also design tooling, make blueprints, and I have regular meetings with Pratt & Whitney engineers who are all pretty impressed with what I'm doing with model based definition and inspection, but apparently that's only worth $52k per year. Given the title change and the fact that I've worked for the company for 3 years now, is there any chance that I can get a pay bump if I apply somewhere else? I'd really like to be making closer to $65k or more considering my skills…