WebMasters talks

Before I ask this, I should note that I am *not* looking to hire a
sysadmin or webmaster right this minute.  I do *not* want your c.v.
or resume, no matter how desparate you are.  I also do *not* want
any spam, get-rich-quick ads, sex ads, child porn, or offers of
shady political offices in third-world dictatorships.  Okay?  Okay.

I ask – primarily to those of you who’ve hired sysadmins or webmasters
in the past – just what I should expect to pay when/if I hire one?

Yes, I see you waving your pitchforks menacingly and saying "you’re not
giving us enough information, what are you looking for?"  Okay, I’ll
make it a little easier to estimate.  The person in question would:

* Be familiar with UNIX and system administration.  5+ years working
  with UNIX would be good, and at least 3 years in sysadministration,
  preferably on the Internet.  Multiple flavors would be a must –
  free ones like FreeBSD and Linux, as well as commercial ones like
  IRIX.  Academic experience would be acceptable as part of the
  total, but some of it would have to be commercial experience.

* Be familiar with PC’s, Mac’s, and, in general, as many computers,
  systems, applications, languages, et cetera as possible.

* Be familiar with the web.  3+ years of HTML coding, 3+ years of
  webmastery, need to know CGI/Perl, should be good with Photoshop.
  Must actually *know* HTML, and be able to write it fluently, not
  just use some editor program.  Helps to be familiar with Netscape
  Communication Server.  Same academic/commercial rule as above.

* Have a demonstrated history of being able to do useful stuff
  with the web.  Homepages don’t impress me, I’d want to see some
  hot/cool site awards, design awards, mention in the media, etc.
  Same academic/commercial rule as above.  Bleeding-edge stuff
  isn’t a requirement – better to know last year’s technology
  inside out and have some good ideas about how to put it to
  practical use.  Must be able to design sites that aren’t "best
  viewed with" one particular browser!

This hypothetical person would be responsible for all things
Internet at a $10M print/online company, including UNIX system
administration, DNS, sendmail, the company’s web site, and some
virtual servers the company hosts for large, globally-known
organizations.

The person would be expected to communicate knowledgeably with
both technical people (IS management, computing and network
manufacturers and distributors, HTML coders, programmers) and
non-technical (artists, sales reps, customers, et cetera).  Top
notch written and verbal communication skills would be a must.

The hypothetical person would answer to the manager of IS and the
company’s president, and would coordinate with graphic artists and
designers to make sure web sites turned out right.  The company has
over 50 employees and is growing fairly rapidly.  There are two
locations within the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area.

The working environment would be fairly casual – no suit or tie
required unless supporting a sales rep on a visit to a customer
or some such (rare).  The position would be full-time.

There.  Have I given you enough data points to come up with a good
estimate, or even a ballpark figure?  If so, please drop me a line
and let me know what you think I should be prepared to pay.  (If
you feel like being extra nice, you could even say "offer X, let
them talk you up to Y, but don’t exceed Z for any reason!"

Thanks,

-Shag

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