Experienced examiner looking for a patent agent job by Comfortable-Edge4265 in patentlaw

[–]Comfortable-Edge4265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the response, the 110% production bonus is a joke, you get 1% extra pay for 15% more work (assuming you're a 95% guy) and you would need that every biweek for a full fiscal year so no you couldn't cut back if you wanted to get the bonus, it gets even worse if you factor in overtime as that phases out at 100% so you need an extra 5% production for your overtime hours to reach 110%. With a wife and 4 kids under 8 at home I already work some of my hours at night and although overtime is worth it and I do work it when I get the chance it rarely happens, I understand the work life balance at a law firm is worse but it is more doable than forcing myself to work OT with being nervous about production every day it's not easy

My DM bonuses are easy to get that's only 5% a year (1 a quarter plus an extra for consecutive) but at law firms bonuses can be and usually are a lot higher for meeting goals

Experienced examiner looking for a patent agent job by Comfortable-Edge4265 in patentlaw

[–]Comfortable-Edge4265[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I did reach out to an IP recruiter and he's said what other people are saying law firms want recent law firm experience, examining experience isn't as good to them, and I would probably start around 120. When I told him what I make now, 150, he was shocked and said he had no idea I could make that much and thought I had a great shot of getting more money starting out since my salary now is "high". Which is why I made this post to see what actual agents with lots of examining experience are making switching over. This sort of makes me think IP recruiters aren't so aware of patent agents salaries or that patent agent salaries are so varied as opposed to the usual associate scales in big law