Just received an offer for 100k!

I wanted to share a bit of my journey because if you’re out there grinding and wondering if it’s worth it—trust me, it is.

Here’s how it’s gone for me so far: •2018-2021: Started in IT as Help Desk making $40k. Learned everything I could, stayed curious, and built a solid foundation. •2021-2022: Jumped to a local tech startup for $50k. Took on more responsibility and started expanding my skill set beyond just support. •2022-2024: Landed a Service Desk Analyst role (which was really more like Junior SysAdmin work) for $88k. Automated workflows, led projects, and proved my value. •2025: Just accepted a Senior System Admin position starting at $100k in January!

The best part? The company is undergoing a compensation re-evaluation, so I’m already looking forward to a bump in 2025, along with the yearly raise in April.

For anyone out there feeling stuck or undervalued: Keep learning, keep growing, and don’t be afraid to make a move. I’ve switched jobs every 2-3 years to keep my career (and salary) moving upward. It’s not always easy—especially now with a 20-month-old and a 7-month-old—but it’s worth it.

Take charge of your career. No one’s going to advocate for you more than you will. Whether it’s jumping to a new role, picking up a new skill, or simply being bold enough to ask for more, the effort pays off.

Keep at it!

Edit:

Been trying to reply to comments and answer as much as possible but got banned and have not heard back so I might just dump it all here.

Location: USA Specifically Central WA. Population about 50-60k

Certs: all acquired with my current employer. ITIL v4 MS 900 PL 900

Degrees: Associates. Started right after highshool took a long hiatus and finally finished it 2024