There are like ten million of us, here, so I'm thinking, ask the darn question, they have to know. I'm talking about the top two TPGs. You have to figure the intellectual-skills involved aren't that demanding. I don't know, $8.25 an hour? I'm not joking. I'm saying, that's what it's worth. I heard higher, and, of course, can believe it, given how easy we are for their marketing. I don't know that I trust it very much, though, without some good verification. I mean, I know people out there in those forums who won't even look at a raw coin, anymore. Especially if it's a good coin, they wonder what's "wrong" with it. In the old days, we wouldn't, as we knew how to grade coins. Today, yes, they actually think that way. Just lurk in their forums, you don't even have to register, you'll see it. That's what I do. This isn't really challenging work, that's what I'm saying. Thus, whatever they're getting paid in excess of minimum wage has to be due to some factor other than the skills requisite. I mean, when you compare it to other jobs. You know. So, I'm just curious, what are they really getting paid? And, how do you know that? That's what I really want to know, too.
I don't know but I imagined that it would be a decent paying job. Probably not something to get rich from but enough to make a living.
Is this what you're referring to, eddie? Salaries are discussed on the last page of the thread. http://www.cointalk.com/t208357/
Can you instantly identify counterfeits of all denominations and all metals in all grade ranges? Can you instantly recognize issues from each series that are historically poorly struck, well struck or have some other striking characteristic? Can you instantly grade with extreme accuracy all coins from all series in all grade ranges? Can you instantly tell proof coinage from business strike coinage from all eras of US issues? Can you do this all day, every day? I think not.
And that's one of the reasons top graders get paid the big bucks... much, much more than eddie's original estimate.
Where's the unlike button when you need it lol They make plenty of money and deserve it IMO. Dark room grading coins in a hurry that we will all nit pick to death later so every coin has pressure to them. Sounds more like a sweat shop to me. And you want to pay them $8. lol
Regardless of how much the graders are paid, I will bet their optometrists are very wealthy. :nerd: TC
To me, working as a coin grader would be like working on an auto assembly line. Except auto workers probably get paid more and have mental medical benefits.
I could see it as a way to grow to hate the hobby. If you like computers as a hobby, you don't go into the IT field. If you like coins as a hobby, you don't become a grader.
No, I was talking about when you said "Except auto workers probably get paid more and have mental medical benefits.". Have you heard anything about the auto industry in the U.S. in the past 5 years?
I had a friend of mine name Steve from the coin shop go to become a grader for PCGS. and they only started him out $100,000.00 so he's making very good money I'd say.
Again, that's to start... senior graders can make $250,000+. Of course, most auto workers are in the $45 to $70 per hour range, which ain't too shabby either.
I have heard that graders have to sign an agreement that they will no longer collect coins but not sure that is true.
Cars are still being made in USA, even if they aren't "American" brands. Union Auto jobs are still VERY good jobs to have. Do you assume that the auto industry is a bad industry to be in because you read GM went bankrupt or something? You do know that many foreign auto makers operate plants in the USA, right? And they hire people and pay competitive wages. Do you also think the stock market has been bad last few years because you regularly read bad economic news? Just because you think something is doing poorly, doesn't mean that it is. Maybe you ought to check some facts and figures...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070924073107AAuGk8O Base of $28 and a average of $39.68 seems pretty good to me. But that $33.85 for pensions, healthcare and other beni's is really telling.