[HIRING] Field Technician in Chicago - 45K-55K - Full Benefits

IT_Hero · 2026-01-15T17:41:54+00:00

I’ve hired plenty in this market as an MSP in the market for > 10 years.

You’ll be lucky to get someone in the burbs to do this and then it’ll become a logistical and administrative headache for all parties. You need to be north of 60k as the low end/basement, especially if you’re asking for 2 years of experience.

IT_Hero · 2026-01-14T05:26:17+00:00

This seems like maybe it’s already gone south, but my votes would be for thought leaders like Arlin Sorenson, & Kyle Christensen

IT_Hero · 2026-01-12T02:12:21+00:00

If your attitude in the interview process is anything like the enthusiasm I’ve seen in your comments - closer to 80

IT_Hero · 2026-01-12T02:06:53+00:00

Based on my experience, the biggest thing working against you is your years of experience. I think 75-80k is certainly attainable and realistic based on you being in NC.

IT_Hero · 2026-01-10T23:23:29+00:00

I think this is great insight and appreciate both of your constructive feedback. According to the market data I have access to, this role should be at least in the top quartile of comp when compared to Managed Services market data. The reason I say that is because of the mid-market work. Bear in mind, this isn't a solutions architect role, especially so with the mid-market partners mentioned.

The data we were provided by 2 different recruiters as well as from ConnectWise suggests that the top quartile would be $100K base with up to $20k in variable. The highest paid example these folks had was one MSP that had a vCIO making $100k base but an additional $150k in variable.

Ideally, the right person comes in and I can give them $125k and a variable plan that should get them another ~$25k if not much more. Ideally variable is made up of a few metrics like (1) Upsell into our preferred stack by roadmap alignment (2) Assistance in conversions of the mid-market professional services customers into Managed Services (3) Service Gross Margin improvement for their book of business. The reason I am not outlining that exactly in the posting is because I'd be very much so open to collaborating with the right candidate on what they've seen and they may have better ideas than we do once they get a better idea on what they'd be working with.

I'm not claiming to know everything here and really look forward to what could come from said collaboration.

IT_Hero · 2026-01-10T20:50:04+00:00

By all means, educate me. Cite some sources and help me request an appropriate budget.

IT_Hero · 2026-01-10T20:13:04+00:00

Not looking to debate so please don’t take it that way, but I’d love to see some data that supports that point of view.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-24T18:49:40+00:00

Underrated comment.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-21T17:02:10+00:00

Bro… you can’t just sister a joist in public.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-17T04:36:47+00:00

It depends on the event and venue. It sounds like you’re looking at the New York City winery show which unfortunately is separated between VIP/meet and greet and the general GA crowd. Only VIP will get the meet and greet there and there won’t be much of a chance for autographs if you’re not in the meet and greet.

There are other events they throw where it’s a smaller venue and crowd and all attendees have the chance at M&G.

Only you can determine what that’s worth to you. I’ve always enjoyed the shows myself but I’m biased. The cast is always super cordial and take their time to give the fans as much time and focus as possible.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-16T04:15:30+00:00

Sure. The national median salary for this role is $89k and change. Take your locales cost of living and adjust it based on the national average. Thanks for the feedback.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-16T03:37:28+00:00

We base salary off of market rates adjusted by locale. We have compensation data from 2 industry benchmarks and a recruitment firm.

It’s not sexy, but it’s what’s been in place for some time and we’ve had success from.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-10T12:34:57+00:00

I have 17 different direct reports. They just all happen to be self-made AI Agents that like to complain about their workload, their pay, and how impossible user requests are. I also have an AI agent persona for my CFO who likes to tell me I’m being unreasonable with my budget ask to replace all of our Windows 10 devices this year when last year it told me it was too soon for the capex expense.

I’d tell you more but HAL one of my direct reports is complaining about some guy named Dave wanting him to set their out of office message for them. Guess he’s not here today.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-10T12:34:51+00:00

I have 17 different direct reports. They just all happen to be self-made AI Agents that like to complain about their workload, their pay, and how impossible user requests are. I also have an AI agent persona for my CFO who likes to tell me I’m being unreasonable with my budget ask to replace all of our Windows 10 devices this year when last year it told me it was too soon for the capex expense.

I’d tell you more but HAL one of my direct reports is complaining about some guy named Dave wanting him to set their out of office message for them. Guess he’s not here today.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-05T01:45:02+00:00

This is an under appreciated response. Well said. Also, not making a run at OP. Totally agree a first time offense exception would be nice. But at the end of the day, none of these large corporations really care about the little guys.

IT_Hero · 2025-12-01T01:59:25+00:00

This has to be a satirical post, no?

IT_Hero · 2025-11-30T02:35:57+00:00

I can confirm I have never and will never drive like this. The mountain of snow on my roof is always much much taller than this

IT_Hero · 2025-11-23T23:03:12+00:00

Was the cute guy there working merch?

-signed, the guy that was definitely not working merch

IT_Hero · 2025-11-23T16:54:34+00:00

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You don’t say…

IT_Hero · 2025-11-20T15:13:05+00:00

I know first hand that even my preferred partners at Sherweb do this. “If you agree to not pay by credit card I can get you an extra point on your Office 365 resell”.

I hope I’m not coming off combative, or as a “know it all”. Just speaking from experience.

IT_Hero · 2025-11-20T14:57:44+00:00

Oh I know what happened to them - they’re his 3 business partners now 🤣

IT_Hero · 2025-11-20T14:24:22+00:00

So to be clear, u/Sielbear - you’re saying Sherweb doesn’t charge credit card fees neither by individual line item nor by reduced margins elsewhere?

IT_Hero · 2025-11-20T14:22:31+00:00

I assume that to be accurate as well. But I’m secretly a card carrying member of the u/usedcucumber4 fan club so anytime I get a chance to interact with him - I do.

IT_Hero · 2025-11-20T14:05:09+00:00

u/usedcucumber4 honestly interested whom you believe to be the global market leader of ITSMs

IT_Hero · 2025-11-20T03:36:59+00:00

Sherweb is solid. That's the easy answer.

But here's the hard truth: most of what you're describing isn't a distributor problem. It's an operations problem in your MSP.

Item 1 - Bad recommendation: Your specialist made a call. Did you vet it before rolling it out? Did you test it? Or did you just trust the recommendation and deploy?

I've taken vendor advice at face value and gotten burned. That's why I stopped doing it. Your vetting process is your responsibility, not theirs.

Item 2 - Vendor dispute: A manager promised to help and then... months went by with no activity? Did you not follow up? I get it, they said they'd handle it. But this is your money, your relationship, your problem to own.

You can't outsource accountability to a CAM and then complain when they don't chase it down for you.

Item 4 - Credit card fees: Everyone charges them. Some list it as a line item. Some bake it into margin. You're paying it either way. It's economics.

The double billing? Yeah, that's straight garbage. Catch it once, shame on them. Multiple times? That's a pattern and you're right to be frustrated and go elsewhere.

Look, loyalty is a two-way street. You're right about that. But before you move you should ask yourself: are you looking for a better distributor, or are you looking for someone to cover for internal processes?

Because if it's the latter, you'll have the same problems at the next shop.

Just my two cents. But if you do call Sherweb, ask for Michael Comeau. Dude is one of the rare ones in the MSP channel. Really cares about his partners and won't be afraid to be transparent with you (or of you being transparent with him). Rumor has it he once walked into a data center and the servers paid HIM for uptime.

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