I'm a public employee in my day job and you can literally google my name and find out how much I make. That's always fun.

I think it's OK to ask about a salary range for a position, both in mystery shopping and in other types of jobs. It helps gauge whether you are wasting your time applying for it or not. It cuts both ways- Is it too low paying that you wouldn't want to do it, or is it too high paying that you wouldn't be a good candidate?

My day job title contains "analyst," but there are people out there who are "analysts" who really analyze some deep sh|t and make a lot more than I do hahaha, and there are people in my organization with the same title who make a lot less. So when I applied for my job, one of the first things I asked for was a salary range so I knew I was playing on the right ball field.

I have no problem with the idea of asking about pay levels on a forum like this. I suspect that many potential shoppers come here hoping to get some idea of the possibilities and I'm always glad to share information. I have freely shared information about my part time income from mystery shopping/image auditing and I've tried to make it clear that I don't do the higher dollar shops or the lifestyle enhancement shops.

Many of us may have been conditioned by employers who frowned on sharing income information but the fact is I've always shared income information with anyone who asked. I can't recall that I ever initiated the question but I never refused to provide complete and accurate information. When I was managing retail stores it was not uncommon to be asked by other retail managers about the pay level with my company compared to their company. How else are we supposed to keep track of what's fair and what's going on? Much to my surprise the Whataburger manager down the street was ahead of me about $5,000 a year in the nineties and I was managing a multi million dollar store. Who knew? After that conversation, both of us.

It's fine with me if some don't think pay levels should be discussed. Those who feel that way will be more comfortable if they don't discuss pay levels. Others of us will have a different approach and may freely exchange information. Etiquette and practicality don't always meet in the middle.

Edited to add.....many of those bonuses you guys ask for are paid directly out of your schedulers' pockets...not by the msp.
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I did not know that bonuses are paid by the scheduler. I thought they were paid for by the MSC. Especially if they are last minute shops that can not get filled

My understanding of bonuses is that the scheduler gets paid a flat fee for every shop scheduled and gets a bonus for successfully scheduling all of their shops within the scheduled timeframe. When bonuses need to be given to shoppers, it comes from the schedulers bonus.

Am I wrong?

It depends entirely on the MSC.

So would this explain why a scheduler promised a bonus for a shop this week and then went missing? I think he/she was unable to schedule the rest of the shops for this chain in the timeframe. Stopped answering my emails after I fronted a big chunk of change to do the shop and re-activating myself at their request. Am I imagining this?

How does a Car Shop go from $15 to $45, do you feel bad for the schedulers offering you $15 for a Car Shop requiring four components(Two to Three Hours easily for the fastest shoppers) or should we feel guilty by asking for more money so not to offend or take money from a Scheduler if that's how this game works?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2016 03:29AM by Pennies4Shops.

Let me first say Joan is my favorite scheduler that I've never actually worked with before Guilt is not a factor in my business model. My goal is not to take food off anyone else's plate nor to let them take food off mine. If anyone should feel guilty, and I'm convinced they do not, it is the clients and large MSCs who negotiate the contracts then put schedulers in the position of begging us to do work at less than minimum wage. The reality is an IC who works for minimum wage should get a job at a retail store where they are not responsible for the employers share of taxes and the business taxes. In the end they will bring home much more money along with having some benefits.

Which is why, even though Mary seems to think it's entirely self-serving, I keep saying that none of us should be taking most of these jobs at base rate. The huge majority are posted at what is ultimately at or below minimum wage. If nobody is willing to take the job, then the MSC and client are going to have to rethink how much they pay for these.

Minimum wage really has no bearing. That is the appeal of using ICs.

Lisa how much do you think a "employee's minimum wage" is versus a I.C.s? I mean what is the multiplier? Would you figure if some employers pay their employees a Vacation Pay, Sick Days, State Disability, Social Security(Pay-Roll taxes), a little 401k plan and medical benefits how far off is it? If someone is making $10 as a IC does a employed or employee at $10 make $14 or $15 if you price in all the other variables?


Your altruism is always shinning Lisa, you have a very good heart that care's for other people.

Joan,

Awesome response! I couldn't have phrased it better myself. Thank you for this!

@Inside Evaluators wrote:

I have been scheduling as an independent contractor for 8 years. During that time I have made anywhere between $3 per successfully completed shop and $10 per successfully completed shop.
Please realize that the operative words here are "successfully completed shop." This means from a shop's inception to it acceptance by the client.
Very few schedulers are paid on an hourly basis. I wish I were. My usual day starts at 6am because of east coast shops (I'm in Calif) and ends about 11pm because of Hawaii shops...Multiply this x 7 days a week.
Don't get me wrong....I love what I do and I love the people I work with. If I didn't, I'd have retired to Hawaii long ago.

Edited to add.....many of those bonuses you guys ask for are paid directly out of your schedulers' pockets...not by the msp.

One of the companies I have shopped for had a scheduling job listed. They were hiring employees, not ICs, although it was a work at home job. You had to live in one of four states, and attend training at their office. I believe the training was paid but there was no travel reimbursement. The wage offered was less than minimum wage in my state--it was probably Federal minimum wage. I can't remember which company it was.

Intellishop is currently recruiting a full time scheduler to work in their office. [intelli-shop.applicantstack.com]. It requires a college degree and gives no idea what they pay or if they offer any benefits.

I think some clarification is needed as to why I even mentioned that some schedulers bonus shops out of pocket. It was definitely NOT an attempt to make shoppers feel guilty about asking for bonuses. And I was only speaking for myself.

The initial question was about what schedulers get paid. The simple answer would have been the gross amount (amount per scheduled/completed shop…period).
However, the net amount is far more accurate.

I am an IC and I am paid a set amount for each shop I schedule that is accepted by the client.
I am hired to recruit shoppers, get specific shops scheduled and then reported in a professional manner, and then submit those reports to the client. All within a specified time frame.

Any expenses I choose to incur affect my bottom line. Those expenses vary from month to month and may include charges to contact shoppers directly through Shadow Shopper and also any bonuses that are necessary to get a shop filled, completed, and to the client on time.

Out of pocket bonuses are my choice. I choose to bonus that way because I don’t think the MSP I work for should foot the bill for bonuses just because I am having difficulty doing the job I’m hired to do.

Good answer Joan.

Schedulers are definitely NOT professionals....I mean....really?

I love and have great respect the schedulers. I sometimes feel the pain they go through when a shop is cancelled last minute or shops at the areas where nobody wants to go!! I love all the schedulers I work with and I greatly respect you !!

No one asked an INDIVIDUAL what they make. The question was, what do schedulerS make. What do <people in a certain line of work> make is a perfectly legitimate question, especially if you're considering going into that line of work.

Whenever I ask if a bonus can be increased, all of the schedulers from my MSC always say that they have to get authorization first. So it makes me wonder if they have to pay the bonuses themselves and are just giving a line or if the MSC pays and they really do have to ask first?

I did not find anything offensive in this post at all from the original question. They were asking ball park. Would you consider a job without trying to figure out a ball park figure of what it pays?
For example - Disney pays low - it is not offensive to ask what an average cast member would make without asking someone directly. My second thought about this post was take a serious chill pill. It offends me how quickly people get offended these days.
Thirdly - I went for a scheduler position at a MSC that likes to look at things - anyways- the deal was a lot of work at the getgo and it was for very low pay until you started scheduling. A lot of commitment with a lot of reading - manual work. You have to be available 24/7 and if you want to go on vacay - you still must work your answers/schedule. I like to cruise and I knew this job was not a good fit. There was potential to make a nice wage; however, you are paid based on completed jobs- not scheduled ones. So that makes it much more challenging. In the end- it was not a good fit for my needs.

I don't think your experience is typical, Joan, primarily based on what dlkbc stated.
Also, I have to mostly disagree with your notion that it's not the MSC's fault. In 99% of cases, the reason people aren't taking shops, it's because they're not financially worth it. That definitely IS the MSC's fault.

I have paid bonuses out of my own pocket to keep my job. The pay is average for a retail full time position in a mall store but the hours are much longer. But it's a fun job with a flexible schedule. I work when I want BUT I work 7 days a week/365 days a year. (Yes. You read that right.) Just like working retail we have problem shoppers, angry shoppers, and amazing shoppers. Those amazing shoppers, the people I work with, the clients I have, and the ability to work from home and see my daughter is worth it.

@lucky7s wrote:

I see no harm in asking questions about this. This is what the forum is for. I wouldn't ask someone I knew that has a Professional position but here....who cares? For example I would not ask a Police officer of high school Principal

what they made.

The salaries for a police officer or Principal is listed in the budget of a town or county or State agency. Freedom of information requires that the amount be revealed. Of course just the hourly rate for an officer is listed not the actual amount the officer would receive. Often I would be ready to go home and be told. "you are not going home". You just can't leave an emergency scene just because the clock says it is quitting time. You get overtime that usually is not easy as you are out in the snow and rain. No wonder people think officers are dumb, they do not know when to come out of the rain, snow, bitter cold etc. We go out to protect and serve when normal people come in.

And people do things like this..
[blogs.wsj.com]

Maybe I missed read her question, but she didn't ask a "specific" scheduler how much they made, she asked a general question. Your response is being specific to her. Very different. You can google and get a general idea of what most professions make in your area - not a huge secret. She has a legitimate question especially for anyone who has ever considered being a scheduler.

Thank you for the answer. This is what the OP was asking. This is what any long time MS wants to know if they are considering moving to a scheduler position. Good information.

I have been scheduling for one company as an Independent Contractor for 19 years. I make a commission on work that is completed successfully. In 19 years, I've covered 6 - 14 states in the US. I consider a raise to be when I take on more states, but I've actually had ONE raise to my commission level in 19 years. I work at home 8-14 hours a day. We only give bonuses for distance traveled or to cover parking fees or tolls and only for certain assignments. I love my job and wouldn't trade it for an office job for anything. I'm also the primary wage-earner in my household of 2. How about you, 1JJ?

@Inside Evaluators thank you for answering the question. How do we find out which shops are hiring schedulers and editors?

Maybe some of this information can be found on glassdoor.com

My username is new, but I've worked as a shopper since 2007.

I've also read this forum and others many times.

I read long ago, AND depending on the company, schedulers are paid a regular wage. They get an amount of money to use for bonusing, and the scheduler receives any money left in the pot at the end of the round.

Im not saying it's good or bad, but it is probably a really tough job and also constantly micromanaged by their supervisors.