Labors of love - Salaries in Chair City and how they compare to the rest of the state
It pays more – literally - to be a software developer in the Chair City compared to the rest of the state, according to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor.
On average, a software developer in Gardner can expect to earn $137,860 per year, compared to the state average of $133,750.
“While I haven’t looked at the job market in the area in a long while, I would like to think that a good programmer could be an asset to any company,” said Greg Whitehead, chief technology officer for inConcert Web Solutions in Gardner. He said problem solving was one of the most enjoyable aspects of his profession. “Taking a vision of what the client wants and finding or writing a solution for me is very satisfying.”
Whitehead, who is a graduate of Mount Wachusett Community College, said anyone interested in the field of programming should take pride in their customer service abilities.
“There will be times where there is miscommunication, you don’t know the answer, or you are delivering a product that isn’t quite what the client wants,” he explained. “So, customer service can make the difference between a lifelong client or an upset client.”
More: Americans are demanding more: Desired salary for new jobs now nearly $79,000
Which salaries in Gardner match the state average?
Other occupations that pay about the same everywhere in the state include cashier ($31,830 in Gardner, compared to the state average of $33,560), food service manager ($76,440 vs. $77,440), and school psychologist, which pays around $94,000 per year, regardless of location.
A dental hygienist can also be expected to earn about the same salary anywhere in the state, right around $50,000.
Julie Donahue, who works as a dental hygienist for Dr. Winnie Yu at Family Dentistry in Gardner, said the position – like most others in the medical field – was in high demand in the Greater Gardner area.
“There’s just a shortage of help everywhere,” Donahue explained, adding that it was never a bad time to pursue a job for anyone interested in a dental career. “You have to be able to interact with people, have good communication skills, and you have to actually love what you do. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I absolutely love it.”
More: In demand: The most sought-after jobs at the moment
Bartending has flexibility, and pays about the same across the state
Another occupation that earns about the same across the state is that of bartender, which pays between $36,000 and $38,000, according to statistics.
Lauren Porter, a bartender at the Gardner Ale House, said one of the reasons the job remained popular everywhere was the ability to make your own hours.
“Honestly, the flexibility of the job is a huge thing for me and all of the other girls,” she said. “I like to travel and I do metalsmithing in the daytime so I have a lot of shows on the weekends, so it’s nice to be able to trade shifts and have the time off we need. You can’t ever do that at a nine-to-five job.”
What advice would Porter give to anyone interested in pursuing a bartending career?
“You’ve got to like people – you can’t fake it because people will know,” she said. “I love people and I love being social. And remember that you’re pretty much onstage the whole shift; you don’t get to walk away.”
Most management jobs pay less in Gardner
Other occupations showed greater disparities depending on where the job was located, however. A sales manager in the Chair City earns around $123,000 per year, while the same position elsewhere in the state can pay as much as $158,000. Likewise, a human resources manager in Gardner can expect to take home $118,900 per year, while the same position averages around $171,050 outside of the Chair City.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner area salary statistics from the US Bureau of Labor
