Estimator to PM to Partner?
Hi all, I'm back again with another possible job change. I started at a mechanical company as an apm and worked my way UpTo a profitable sr. Estimator in the company within 3 years. I know my salary progression and income isn't normal and I know I have been very blessed aside from the fact that I worked my ass off to get here.
Company A:
July 2022: apm: 65k
2023: apm+ estimator: 84500
2024: estimator + pm 104k + 10% commission on NP: 184k for the year:
2025: 143k + 7% comm on NP at company A then October I was a PM at company B: total was 205k for the year, not including bonus or 401k.
Company B:
2026 if I stay with company B, I think I can end the year with close to 200k including bonus.
During my interview with Company B, they told me they will be grooming me to become a director of operations, operations manager first then director position. They were thinking 18-24 months before I became an operations manager. But it seems like they have moved the timeline up as they've seen me work and handle the projects and meetings.
Company B is a lot less work as I am essentially between a PM position and I feel like an operations manager already. Company B said they would like me to become director of construction, I currently am a PM for my projects, I am running 4 jobs with project costs equating to 8M, one of which is close to 4M on its own. I am also involved with ordering supplies and materials for the office inventory along with scheduling manpower for all projects( 2 other PMs at the company) 22 workers in total, 16 tin knockers and 6 pipe fitters.
Now they started me at 140k in Oct, bumped me to 150 in January as agreed, and I am to receive another bump to 160 next month. My base job description is just PM, the scheduling and material purchasing has been added as it progresses me towards operations, which were both things I took directly off the presidents plate.
First question for you guys, what should my new pay be?
Second situation, my previous employer wants me back, I walked away from that job because they needed me to be a pm, apm, estimator and business development along with IT. I told them I want to only be estimator/business development and I wanted equity. The boomer owner laughed and then was sad as he watched me leave. He reached out and wants me to come back, he will do everything I asked previously and will give equity, I am writing the terms and they have to agree + sign the contract if he wants me back. I'm not being greedy, but I know I accounted for 3/4 of the Ebitda. I confirmed it by comparing their ebitda for 2024 to their number for 2025... I didn't care much in 2025 and only had 20k commission that year, where as 2024 I had 100+k. January 2025 is when he essentially forced me to be a PM for a $800k job I brought in because he didn't trust the 12 year veteran PM he had working there.
I'm having a tough time deciding between the two companies.
Company A relied on volume as the owner didn't want to take on additional risk with large projects and they subbed everything out on my advice. Company B prefers large projects where they can leave their in-house people for multiple months.
Company A, I had an actual net profit of 20%+. gross sales for 2024 was 6M, 3.8M was me. Owner and another estimator also brought in work.
Company B has a np% of 9 - 10%. gross sales was 13M.
Both work in NYC metro area.
I typed all of this on my phone, so forgive me for any and all typos.