Similar situation to A ----- last year I got 2500... this year I've heard some whining in the front office, so perhaps thoughout 2006, and in lieu of actual cash money, I shall be gratefully enjoying the "Jelly-of-the-Month" club...
A: I am expecting somewhere around 10k this year (at least I'm hoping...) My base salary is in the mid-range, or perhaps slightly below average, for my position/experience level, in my city, in a small firm. I work an average of 45 hours per week, but occasionally less or more depending on project load. The firm tends to keep base salaries fairly low and constant (I haven't had a raise to my base salary in a couple of years) but emphasizes that everyone in the firm is responsible for profitability and that the results will be divided equitably at the end of the year.
In past years this has worked out well for me - my bonus amount has always put my total earnings into a range that is above average. Of course there is some risk in this system in that if we do have a bad year we will all be relying on only our slightly low base salaries...
As has been said already, there are as many variations out there as there are firms. I already mentioned the firm that gave me $50 and a box of candy! But I have worked in several larger firms in which the principals' base salaries are fairly low - sometimes about the same as what their project managers make, not breaking 6 figures - but their year-end bonuses are often several times their annual salaries (sometimes several hundred thousand dollars.)
But larger bonuses aren't necessarily limited to principals and senior-level staff. I worked in one firm in which the profesional staff's bonuses were determined in part by how much overtime they'd worked that year, and some interns and CAD staff received amounts well over 10k, mainly because they'd worked hundreds of hours of overtime.
A-
Essentialy you're right. I posted with one of those nice sized bonuses. Pretty much everything has said has been fairly accuate, this was at a small firm where I didn't get any othe rbenefits to speak of, no insurance, no 401k, etc. It was basically a 2 person shop while I was there, me and the boss. My base salary always seemed to be more than my peers, but considering what I wasn't getting in benefits it probably leveled out. There were also plenty of 60+ hour weeks, but also freedom to take a day or 2 off when needed.
I also used to work for a 100+ person firm that had awesome benefits and bonuses based on billable hours. It was decent but I got screwed a couple times since my 3D skills had several of the partners asking that I work on thier marketing stuff, not billable, so in actual hours worked I was WAY into a higher bonus tier, but ended up getting a mercy bonus from the partner I worked most closely with, which I felt was a very decent move on his part.
Not expecting anything - one of the downsides of self-employment. A hard adjustment to make after a $10,000 bonus from my former firm last year...oh well. The other benefits of self-employment are still pretty damn great!
i got a 50$ gift card for food4less/ralphs for thankgiving.
downside: i was so excited with the gift, i ended up buying groceries for 150$.
But i cherish the small bottle of Maker's Mark that got me.
i hope i get another one for christmas. I'm running low on the WHISKEY, (*wipes bourbon dipped moustache with fist and ends up poking nose with pencil*)
and its getting mighty cold in LA (*curses the fool who called it "sunny CA'*)
So ... who's expecting some serious jack, come bonus time ?
Similar situation to A ----- last year I got 2500... this year I've heard some whining in the front office, so perhaps thoughout 2006, and in lieu of actual cash money, I shall be gratefully enjoying the "Jelly-of-the-Month" club...
A: I am expecting somewhere around 10k this year (at least I'm hoping...) My base salary is in the mid-range, or perhaps slightly below average, for my position/experience level, in my city, in a small firm. I work an average of 45 hours per week, but occasionally less or more depending on project load. The firm tends to keep base salaries fairly low and constant (I haven't had a raise to my base salary in a couple of years) but emphasizes that everyone in the firm is responsible for profitability and that the results will be divided equitably at the end of the year.
In past years this has worked out well for me - my bonus amount has always put my total earnings into a range that is above average. Of course there is some risk in this system in that if we do have a bad year we will all be relying on only our slightly low base salaries...
As has been said already, there are as many variations out there as there are firms. I already mentioned the firm that gave me $50 and a box of candy! But I have worked in several larger firms in which the principals' base salaries are fairly low - sometimes about the same as what their project managers make, not breaking 6 figures - but their year-end bonuses are often several times their annual salaries (sometimes several hundred thousand dollars.)
But larger bonuses aren't necessarily limited to principals and senior-level staff. I worked in one firm in which the profesional staff's bonuses were determined in part by how much overtime they'd worked that year, and some interns and CAD staff received amounts well over 10k, mainly because they'd worked hundreds of hours of overtime.
We have a direct equation for awarding bonuses based on the projects you worked on and their profitability. Works for me.
I got $25 once (elsewhere)
Strawbeary ... welcome back ... how's the new job going ?
A-
Essentialy you're right. I posted with one of those nice sized bonuses. Pretty much everything has said has been fairly accuate, this was at a small firm where I didn't get any othe rbenefits to speak of, no insurance, no 401k, etc. It was basically a 2 person shop while I was there, me and the boss. My base salary always seemed to be more than my peers, but considering what I wasn't getting in benefits it probably leveled out. There were also plenty of 60+ hour weeks, but also freedom to take a day or 2 off when needed.
I also used to work for a 100+ person firm that had awesome benefits and bonuses based on billable hours. It was decent but I got screwed a couple times since my 3D skills had several of the partners asking that I work on thier marketing stuff, not billable, so in actual hours worked I was WAY into a higher bonus tier, but ended up getting a mercy bonus from the partner I worked most closely with, which I felt was a very decent move on his part.
Woo hoo! I wasn't expecting some serious jack and got some anyway! Woo hoo!!!
Congrats garpike. Drinks on you.
quizzical. I'm doing damn fine, thanks for asking.
Working for an infamous Miami firm, I once got a day planner for my end of year bonus. Bernardo - you are a jerk-ass.
Now working for a firm that has paid out a couple grand for the last few years - can't complain.
Thanks, Strawbeary. Drinks all around!
i am expecting some serios jack in my dookie-hole
Not expecting anything - one of the downsides of self-employment. A hard adjustment to make after a $10,000 bonus from my former firm last year...oh well. The other benefits of self-employment are still pretty damn great!
i got a 50$ gift card for food4less/ralphs for thankgiving.
downside: i was so excited with the gift, i ended up buying groceries for 150$.
But i cherish the small bottle of Maker's Mark that got me.
i hope i get another one for christmas. I'm running low on the WHISKEY, (*wipes bourbon dipped moustache with fist and ends up poking nose with pencil*)
and its getting mighty cold in LA (*curses the fool who called it "sunny CA'*)
The reality exceeded expectations this year. I may finally start to win my own personal war on debt...
I hope all did well this year.
no bonus
Bonus...Yep...Self Employeed....Bonus is being Self Employeed!
hahahah. serious jack come bonus time? i thought this was a forum for architecture, not finance.
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