Video Manager Paygrade

[videoguru]

I asked this question a year or so ago, but some things have changed and I would like to see some opinions (since they are always in surplus).

I have worked my church for 3 years on minimum wage. I was hired as a general media person and have made my way to running the previously nonexistent Video Department. I went from making some DVD menus in DVD Studio for our plays and musicals, to now directing, shooting, and editing 3 to 4 weekly productions, motion graphics, and editing weekly sermons for DVD and VOD playback. All of this I do myself, with no assistants. I work about 50 to 60 hours a week, so even at minimum i make enough to not live paycheck to paycheck, but thats not a guranteed monthly income.

We will soon be discussing making me salary and giving me an actual position as I am still a general media person. I am also getting married in the next year or so.

I have other jobs on the table, but would like to stay here. Is asking 34,000 too much?

My Concerns: the "next" guy above me makes about 27,000/yr, but he is an assistant to a graphic designer (my Boss) but he is also in charge of the websites. I however would be responsible for much more than him and could have to work more hours than he does, as i have for the past 3 years.


Thoughts: Is 34,000 too much for Georgia Video editor, producer, and Director for a 4,000 member??

Thanks
-Video Guru

[jksbc]

In my opinion, if you are working that many hours and doing all of that yourself, it's not enough.

What part of Georgia? If you're in the Atlanta area, $50,000 is more like it. Of course I'm biased.

[petereit]

How much could you make if you went somewhere else? That's what you SHOULD be making where you are. If not, then you need to GO somewhere else.

I work in HR, so I see both sides of the issue. We have a budgetary need to pay people as LITTLE as we can, but make sure it's ENOUGH so that they don't look elsewhere. It would surprise most people to learn how much it costs a company to replace a single employee.

You actually have MORE value to your church than you do to the general market since you have institutional and relational experience. So find out how much your skillset is actually worth in the market and ask for AT LEAST that.

But make sure you're ready to walk away if your church refuses. And make sure they KNOW you'll walk away if they refuse. Otherwise, you have no bargaining power and they'll pay you whatever they want, which will be substantially LESS than your market value.

[tedanderson]

Start out by looking at your personal budget and answer this question:

How much money do you need in order to survive, fulfill all of your financial obligations, and to finance your dreams?

The third item in that question is what too many people overlook. If you are getting married, you will want to buy your wife a house or a new car.. and then you will want to put away a certain amount of money every month for investments and college for your children.. and then you might want to go on vacation twice a year.. so you have to take that into consideration as well.

What you ask for might be more than what the church is willing or able to pay but when you consider your asking price, you have to think in terms beyond making just enough to get by. You want to earn enough to progressively improve your life.

[KevinSlark]

You sound like you're in your 20's (about my age) and just starting out in your career. I work similar hours and end up doing similar tasks and I have a similar salary. I think you're on the right track.

I know that if i jumped ship to the corporate world I could make more for my skills, but to what end? Padding someone's pocket? I'd rather have less of a financial reward and huge spiritual fulfillment that I get from what I do, which explains why I got into ministry in the first place.

Of course, that's just my two cents.

Peace,
Kevin

[Esoteric]

Here it depends. In that size of church there often is not a dedicated video person. If they do the pay is probably in the area of $15000-$20000. The church I attend is about 1400 members and our video guy makes $10000. I worked for a church with a membership of 18000 and their lead video guy (head of a department of 6 people) makes $47000.

I would say if you get $27000 then you should count yourself lucky.

Mike

[Paris MkVI]

I would suggest also figuring the time in you will need to develop teams. If you continue to do all that yourself, you will eventually set yourself up for exhaustion and burnout. It will not matter how much you are paid.

Pouring into the lives of others and mentoring them is one of the highest callings. Jesus is the perfect example of that, of course.

Be like Jesus. Take everything He has built into you (gifts and abilities) and give them away. Grow teams. Cast vision for them and have them serve God at your side. You will do less work and accomplish more. God will be honored.

And that is good stuff.