Unknown Salary Range

LegacyUser

Im considering applying for a new job soon, in a different industry to the one I am in, but doing similar work. I'm in architecture at the moment, and most people would call me crazy for leaving a full time job in this field with the way the economy is. The work I usually do is in 3D design visualisation, and really love doing it. However, there is no market for this at the moment as there aren't many new projects, so I'm doing work I hate, and the environment I'm in is getting worse and worse..

I was hoping to get a job doing 3D art full time, but because the architecture is slow there ain't much chance of getting work with a company doing just 3D. I was thinking product visualisation or a job in the film industry. The thing is, I have no idea of salary, and there aren't many companies in Ireland that do this work.

So lets say all goes well, I get an interview and they ask about salary. I say I want €X,000 a year. They either laugh me out of the office for wanting so much, or offer me a job on the spot and say, hey, this guy will work for nothing. How do I find a salary range for a 3D artist?

And while I don't have a qualification in that field (product design/animation), I have a degree in architecture and 5 years experience in 3D rendering alone. Also, most jobs say a degree in animation, art or equivalent. I'm hoping after 5 years it's the experience that counts. Any ideas?

freelancerTax

entry level in ireland for 3d artist is somewhere between 25 - 35k
in ireland it better to be a good allrounder than to be a specialist doing just one thing all the time (as it is in larger companies)

mid level is around 50k and someone who is competent and hard working can get to around 75k after a few years.

these are pre recession figures - adjust by 10 to 20 percent.

i remember one of my first interviews at a well know post production studio in ireland - i was asked what salary i expected - i said 25k , i was pleasantly surprised when my interviewer said "i think we can do better than that" and offered me 30k

and one final note - forget about the degree stuff, its standard job listing stuff - if you are good it doesnt matter if you went to school or not, all the matters is your ability not how you got there.

got any examples of your work?

good luck
FT

LegacyUser

Thanks for the reply, some interesting info there. I'm willing to be on less pay to work at what I love doing, but at the same time I was trying to gauge exactly how low the pay would go, and how realistic it would be actually getting by, but from what you said, that should be no problem. I have samples of my work but because Im unregged I'd prefer not to post here!! I could PM you a link to my work from my regular boards account if ya can keep quiet!

Thanks again