I've got a friend who owns a small company that is looking to improve the technology end of their business. It isn't a tech-centered company, but they need to improve upon what they have.<p>What should I tell him to expect to pay a junior developer and UI designer annually? He wouldn't need someone with lots of experience, just someone who could get the job done right and someone eager for a career. It would be full time salary, with benefits, would have their own office and is based in central Florida.<p>I was thinking mid 30's for UI designer and mid 40's for junior dev considering what I listed above. Thoughts?
I don't think you'd be able to hire anyone who labels themselves as a UI designer or a junior dev for anything under 45K with benefits. I know someone who recently hired a UI guy who had just graduated college and built a few minor sites' UI, he started at 60K plus benefits.<p>The alternative is hiring a graphics designer who can come in at around $30Kish
Given the location, you might be able to get away with 40-45k for someone with very little experience. That goes for both UI design and junior development.<p>That said, if you're serious about having them make a career there, I wouldn't low-ball them too much - or at least be prepared to give them a big raise their second year. Within about a year, if they're any good at all, they're going to realize that they can make more elsewhere - especially if they're willing to leave central FL. I think Orlando would bring both positions at least 60k with a year of experience, and the last thing you want is to train someone for a whole year only to have them leave because they feel their job isn't competitive / is "dead-end".
I've been playing with the job market and I agree with some of the posters below, anything under 50k, even for someone with no experience, is a no-go. With a bit of hard work and some cold calling, it's easy to make far more than that freelancing.
I'm a Jr. developer located in Central Florida and I wouldn't accept anything under 50k for this area. Granted I'm talking Jr. developer, not someone just out of school with no experience.