Do you think those with an education should get more money then experienced ones

By Amy
Abernathy, Texas
August 28, 2007 9:29pm CST
Education is great, I'm pursueing it myself - do you think that once I've spent four to twelve years studying I should get more money then those in the field already, who have gained knowledge and experience from years on the job? Should those with degrees get offer the promotions first? Why do you feel this way?
4 people like this
11 responses
• United States
29 Aug 07
I think that starting graduates should not get more than experienced employees with no education, as they are just starting out and have very few practical skills. They have not paid their dues. However, they should get raises more quickly as they do gain experience, and should eventually be paid more for getting that education. College grads tend to have more analytical thinking skills, work ethic that shows they can stick to a project and succeed (getting a degree isn't easy or cheap), and equals a more qualified individual WHEN combined with some experience. If this wasn't true, there would be absolutely no reason to go to college at all, so long as you got an early start in the working world.
4 people like this
• Abernathy, Texas
30 Aug 07
I agree that its not necessary to go to college - you can still have a inborn or parent learned work ethic and and ability to stick to a project and succeed, and have analytical thinking. I myself will have a lot of college - my mom didn't - but was vice-president of an international development firm and proves that you don't need a degree to have all of those things. She was an analytical thinker, had an outstanding work ethic She was just brought up to be a wife and mother so when it was time to go to work - she oould only get a certificate type thing for school - she had to raise her family. She worked very hard, I'm very proud of her.
• Abernathy, Texas
13 Oct 07
I guess I disagree. My mom learned on the job and she was very skilled at what she did. She was the only one they trusted to go negotiate with governments and such - and get what needed to be done done. She wrote proposals then won them contracts with the state department and the world bank over and over. An education doesn't ensure that the knowledge 'sticks' that the information wasn't memorized, regurgitated for the test and then forgotten. While the knowledge learned and skills gained from someone working in their profession each day, without FORMAL education, stays because they apply it daily. Rather then going through four to eight years of schooling and only knowing the area theoretically. I think its very unfair to say that eventually someone with a FORMAL education will be superior and more qualified than someone who has been in the business all of their life and learned everything on the job. And had the innate business sense, negotiating skill, people skills, managing skills etc. That said, I love school and learning. I want to learn everything there is in my chosen field, then start working and learn to choose what works from my education, and have the innate intelligence and creativity to come up with new ways to make things work.
• United States
29 Aug 07
I feel that the person with the experience should get the promotions first.The person with the education should have a higher entry salary.The person with the experience should know more in the beginning but the person with the degree may and will catch up. So if there were two new employees starting and one had a degree and the other didn't,the one with the degree should have a better salary.But since they started at the same time, if the person without the degree did a better job, he/she should get a promotion.
2 people like this
• United States
2 Sep 07
No I am not saying every company. But there are some out there that value that piece of paper over on the job experience. And I think that is so wrong.
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
2 Sep 07
Me too. :)
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
2 Sep 07
Are you saying in every situation, in every company, the graduate may and WILL catch up every time? Why should the seasoned employee, who learned on the job and knows it inside out, get a lower salary, what about all of their hard work, their learning on the job? Whose to say the one with the education will remember everything - four years - with no direct experience - maybe it got learned for tests and forgotten. From what you say, the one with the degree - could hypothetically be an assistant to the one without, and be making the exact same salary - or more - then their own boss... I say this, and I'm planning on multiple degrees. :)
1 person likes this
@friendship (2084)
• Canada
29 Aug 07
There is no clear cut answer for this. Salary often depends on how well the company is doing, how the company's policy is and what kind of industry you are seeking. Someone who has same experience and education can be paid higher at company A, for instance, than his counterpart at company B.
• Canada
30 Aug 07
Again, there is no a clear cut answer for that :-) There are many factors that should be considered here. Someone who just graduated from the University but he has other skills and knowledge that may be beneficial to the company, he should be paid at least same with someone who has 5 years working experience. Please don't get me wrong here. Experience is important but we also need to know what kind of experience someone has. If his experience is only based on bookkeeping journal entries, administrative and data entry stuffs, it will be different with someone who just graduated and hold a Master Degree of Accounting, for instance. Also, someone who just graduated and hold a degree in a computer science, it will be different with someone who has many experience in computer because of training. In a computer science degree, the more current your knowledge is the better your skills are.
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
30 Aug 07
No answer, just opinion. There is no right or wrong here. :) Hmm not sure quite how this relates. My question wasn't would someone with the same education and experience be paid the same at one company or another but whether YOU think the one with the education should be paid more - at graduation - then the person who has been in the field for years and years. So what do you think?
• Abernathy, Texas
2 Sep 07
:) your avatar is cute.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
29 Aug 07
in certain fields experience is the master. but then again, if you are in IT for example, the guy who studied the most recent technology will be better at the job.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
2 Sep 07
yes its so true. but people who study further on their own while working, are in the minority. then theres also the type of research jobs where a freshly graduate will never get a top job.
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
2 Sep 07
very true. zorro girl I'm soooooooooo tired, I must sleep, but I thank you wholeheartedly for participating in this discussion. I think there are so many situations. In general though across the board, I think its unfair of those who say that graduates should ALWAYS in all situations get the job, promotions and more money. yator .
• Abernathy, Texas
2 Sep 07
Zorrogirl - Thank you! I didn't even think of that - that is sooooooooo true. And my husband, who is taking Space Studies will likely be on the cutting edge - although the few years they're in school - there may be new tech - computers change fast - oh and I guess I'm actually making a blanket statement, to be fair, there are some people who can learn the recent technology on their own - like those who teach themselves languages or music.
@jncdavao (115)
• Philippines
29 Aug 07
i think that at the end of the day, those who get the job done right and on time should get paid more or better. =) fortunately or unfortunately, there are systems and standards that companies follow. depending on the requirements of the job whether they need higher education or more experience on the job. education is valuable and so is experience. it just depends on how you apply both on the work that you do. =)
• Abernathy, Texas
2 Sep 07
Great answer! Only some believe, experience is an education in itself - some believe more valuable then education because of the real world applications. I'll have to come back and read this because I'm not sure I understand. You say, "Education is valuable and so is experience. It just depends on how you apply both on the work that you do. " So which is more valuable depends on how you apply it? So if you apply experience in the right way - its more valuable but in the wrong way less? I guess I've found that sometimes the requirements aren't logical. There may be someone who has the job experience of years - so knows how to do the job and do it inside out yet no 'formal' education in the field, and he doesn't get the job, it goes to the young graduate. So I guess my point in the discussion was - are the systems and standards companies follow really fair, and more important, logical? Should graduate get the job, the promotions, the salaries over those who are seasoned in the field for years? I think you hit the nail on the head with your first line!
• United States
29 Aug 07
No. I would hire someone with experience over school any day. Both would be even better. I have been in the hiring position before, and the people with limited school (Say, an Associate's Degree) and 5 or more years experience always worked out better than some right out of a Master's progam. Always. When I did have to hire an education-only person, I would never start them at a high rate of pay. If you have not dome it, how do we know you can handle the responsibility? I am talking about professional and technical/engineering jobs here, not flipping burgers.
2 people like this
• Abernathy, Texas
2 Sep 07
Oh I know, that's kind of what I was aiming at as well. I agree about the pay. You shouldn't get paid more until you have proven as the seasoned employees have that you deserve it and never never should you be paid more just because you have the degree - thats saying that because of that piece of paper you are better, more deserving and a better worker then the person who has a proven track record. Even to assume the person will be equal - catch up to the person - well if they are equal in job quality - then they deserve equal pay. Ridulous to pay more for a piece of paper.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
30 Aug 07
I personally have been at both ends of this situation. I have some college education. Now I feel that the person with the knowledge and experience actually should get the promotion/pay raise over the greenhorn with the education/degree/certificate. I feel one who has the experiemce knows more in all reality as opposed to one who is educated in the field but doen'nt have the experience. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
6 Sep 07
I so agree, if you have the knowledge, the on the job experience and EDUCATION you shouldn't be passed over for a job, promotion or higher salary. I'm pursueing higher education but I want to be hired based on what I know, my experience - which is why internships are great - and how my personality will fit into the organization - which actually - unless you work by yourself is key. If I'm not someone who say likes working with elderly - and don't know how to interact - and I apply my degree to a job in a nursing home - square peg in a round hole as they say. Happy mylotting Granpa Bob!
• Abernathy, Texas
6 Sep 07
I so agree, if you have the knowledge, the on the job experience and EDUCATION you shouldn't be passed over for a job, promotion or higher salary. I'm pursueing higher education but I want to be hired based on what I know, my experience - which is why internships are great - and how my personality will fit into the organization - which actually - unless you work by yourself is key. If I'm not someone who say likes working with elderly - and don't know how to interact - and I apply my degree to a job in a nursing home - square peg in a round hole as they say. Happy mylotting Granpa Bob!
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Honestly I don't think education should have anything to do with it. I think it the highest pay and promotions should go to the best qualified person for the job. If someone without a degree or big education is doing a great job then they should get the highest pay and promotions. Just b/c you go to school doesn't make you any better then the person that's been doing the job for 10-12 years. There's alot of things you learn hands on that you don't learn from a book. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
• Abernathy, Texas
21 May 08
This is very true, and you're on the job and learning the newest trends and programs too.
• India
29 Aug 07
what you learn during your education time is totally different from what you do when you join a company. most of the times there will not be any resemblance. experience is experience is most important. experienced ones shoul get more money
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
30 Aug 07
Thank you for your opinion on this matter! :)
• United States
29 Aug 07
I have mixed feelings. I think that in a perfect world people who pursue a higher education should earn a greater reward. However, because of the costs and difficulties associated with a higher education, it is unfair to say that people who don't go to college are lazy and should work in low -paying jobs for the rest of their life. Now if there is someone who is experienced in a field and has been there for say ten years, I don't think he should be replaced by someone straight out of college who looks prettier on paper. So, my final say is that whoever is more qualified for the job(one who has the necessary knowledge, determination, and experiece) should receive more pay.
• China
13 Oct 07
I do not think so.In my opinion,education is a kind of knowledge and the experience is a kind of knowledge,too.They are equal in some point,I think if I were a boss,I will give the same chance to this two kinds of people.
1 person likes this
• Abernathy, Texas
13 Oct 07
I appreciate that you consider both university and work experience equal in gaining knowledge.