TW= this is a very privileged post to make.
TLWR=found out I was making less money for the same work as others because I didn’t have a degree.
After a pretty long time in the military I left and landed a job in the civilian sector as a project manager for a construction company. I was hired on despite not having a bachelors degree because a friend recommended me.
After a few months a had developed friendships with a number of other coworkers and we would get beers after work etc. One night I discovered I was making 20k less than everyone else (92k vs 112k). I also had more projects than anyone (both in value and number). I was given 72 projects to work and everyone else has no more than 50.
I was a little surprised but I agreed to my salary and they agreed to theirs. However, the difference grew more and more annoying as time went on.
I knew that at my one year mark merit increases were completed based on performance.
At the year mark, I had about 75 projects (I closed out a lot and was assigned more). I had done really well in “change orders”. For every change to a contract after it’s been signed, I got a portion of the changed amount. I think it was .005%. Like I sell and additional 100k of add-on-site or labor I’d get 500 bucks. I made it a goal to get at least 500 from every project. Which would be 36k for me in bonus bucks, but also like 7.2 million for the company in additional billable work.
So I get this glowing review. I feel really good about how I performed. I pushed hard. Learned a lot. Developed great relationships with vendors and job sites etc. I had all this data to show my successes. I even cracked a nut on this major issue with the city and inspections (we could now email forms in rather than hand deliver them, because I had a worked out a process with the city). My manager was stoked about me and the regional manager even knew me by name.
4K. They gave me a increase of 4K a year. 92k to 96k. I was shocked. So, being former military and having no problem at all talking things out with higher, I scheduled a meeting to discuss. I explained that I felt I was doing exceptional work and my review captured it, but I was compensated far less than my peers some of which I had to provide training to.
My bosses reply,…they have degrees and I don’t. I should consider myself lucky that I’m even in the position.
So, two weeks later I quit after finding another job through a Veterans service. I knew at my age I wouldn’t be going back to the trades or project management so I gave 2 days notice.
I’m making was less money now, but I’m happier and less stressed.
Just another example of how arbitrary some of these work “requirements” are I guess. I did feel the situation was unfair. Like I was treated differently because I didn’t have a degree.