so what do pcgs graders get paid as an annual salary?!

1907Quarter · September 25, 2007 7:26AM

someone mentioned the ngc figures today so I figured, why not ask about the west coast co.? are some in the several 6-figure land?

AskRaq · September 25, 2007 7:28AM

Ummm, no idea.... what were the NGC figures??

airedale · September 25, 2007 7:30AM

I saw an advertisement in The Numismatist offering up to $300,000.00 for a " senior grader " a year or so ago.

STONE · September 25, 2007 7:34AM

$300,000, now that's my kind of job!!!

fc · September 25, 2007 7:50AM

that is a lot of money.. but when you think about it you are basically
asking an expert to move to a certain location and be happy there.

they will also, if a terrible grader, ruin your grade guarantee because
they may make huge mistakes with super key coins. thus pcgs would
have to pay out sums that can easily add up to that person's year
of salary.

bidask · September 25, 2007 7:54AM

I think alot more.

BAJJERFAN · September 25, 2007 7:56AM

<< they will also, if a terrible grader, ruin your grade guarantee because
they may make huge mistakes with super key coins. thus pcgs would
have to pay out sums that can easily add up to that person's year
of salary. >>

I'd guess that at least one [and probably more than that] finalizer makes that decision. A $500,000 coin will get more scrutiny than will a $50 one.

Longacre · September 25, 2007 7:59AM

Even though I love the coins, you could not pay me enough to be a grader. I just could not handle sitting in a darkened room for 14 hours a day, looking at coin after coin after coin.

I never thought I'd ever say this, but I would rather read the Internal Revenue Code all day long than be a grader.

MrSpud · September 25, 2007 8:00AM

Ummm..... $2500 a year, in face value, of slabbed MS 68 key date coins???

ricko · September 25, 2007 8:06AM

"I never thought I'd ever say this, but I would rather read the Internal Revenue Code all day long than be a grader."
Those are TWO jobs I would never do...... Cheers, RickO

Cgb · September 25, 2007 8:10AM

I imagine your eyes would not last too long in that line of work...

9 hours or so a day squinting into a loupe, or possibly a 'scope.

LanLord · September 25, 2007 8:12AM

<< "I never thought I'd ever say this, but I would rather read the Internal Revenue Code all day long than be a grader." Those are TWO jobs I would never do...... Cheers, RickO >>

Yeah, these two and the poor sap that examines protocologist smears, gotta be the crappiest (sorry) jobs ever!

Bochiman · September 25, 2007 8:15AM

Sounds like a paycut.....so much for that idea...

WTCG · September 25, 2007 4:57PM

There is usually a sizeable difference between the salaries of beginner graders and the senior graders. Some of the senior graders earn annual compensation well into the six figures.

Several years ago I was offered (and declined) a grading position at one of the major grading companies and they offered a salary in the lower six figures.

MoneyLA · September 25, 2007 6:01PM

I was once in the grading room at PCGS and observed the conditions they work under...

catered lunch with a lobster buffet...

bikini clad massage therapists...

interns from local high schools to body bag one out of three coins...

two hour work day, six hours of joking over "they want to cross this?"

cheers, Alan Mendelson
BestDealsTVshow.com

GoldenEyeNumismatics · September 25, 2007 9:04PM

<< I imagine your eyes would not last too long in that line of work...

9 hours or so a day squinting into a loupe, or possibly a 'scope. >>

graders usually don't use a loupe.

I remember hearing somewhere that entry level for graders is about 145,000

1907Quarter · September 25, 2007 9:42PM

remember as well, they have to know their counterfeiting(an encyclopedic brain is in order here), characteristics of strike, luster for given mints and years etc.....more knowledge, way more, than the grading basics. Also, for BB, theoretical knowledge of what makes colors legit..

AskRaq · September 26, 2007 1:19AM

Is there some type of school that graders go to? Do they intern at a company and get trained there?

airedale · September 26, 2007 1:25AM

<< Is there some type of school that graders go to? Do they intern at a company and get trained there? >>

The same advertisement that offered the $300,000.00 for a senior grader offered $75,000.00 for an intern. A regular poster on the Coin Talk forum got the intern position and I suppose he is still there.

WTCG · September 26, 2007 4:07PM

<< 

<< Is there some type of school that graders go to? Do they intern at a company and get trained there? >>

The same advertisement that offered the $300,000.00 for a senior grader offered $75,000.00 for an intern. A regular poster on the Coin Talk forum got the intern position and I suppose he is still there. >>

The intern/ apprentice and "non-line" (bulk and moderns) graders generally make substantially less than $75,000.

lordmarcovan · September 26, 2007 4:11PM

<< I never thought I'd ever say this, but I would rather read the Internal Revenue Code all day long than be a grader. >>

I dunno if I'd go that far, but I can say that being a grader at a major TPG would not be high on my list of chosen careers.

However, if there were one here where I live, and they were payin' the kind of money I've heard discussed here, I would go for it.

bobbly · January 21, 2009 9:49AM

With salaries that high, I guess that explains why they charge 30 bucks to grade a single coin.

jessewvu · January 21, 2009 9:50AM

they get to swap out the coins we send in with theirs, of lesser quality that is. They make TONS of cash that way!

jmj3esq · January 21, 2009 9:53AM

$300,000 sounds unbelievably high, but I dont doubt it. I bet they have a hard time justifying thier salaries to someone who does not know anyhting about coins.

rays · January 21, 2009 10:04AM

$300k/year doesn't go terribly far in Newport beach.

IGWT · January 21, 2009 10:16AM

I hear they make most their money on endorsements.

MORGANHUNTER2 · January 21, 2009 10:18AM

They get the states minimum wage.

per minute of work...

badger · January 21, 2009 10:20AM

It is base salary less $50 for every coin crossed from NGC or upgraded....

Badger

CertifiedGoldCoins · January 21, 2009 10:20AM

The worst part of the job is the requirement for "continuing education." You know, the classes they must attend every time the grading standards are "adjusted."

halfhunter · January 21, 2009 10:21AM

<< $300k/year doesn't go terribly far in Newport beach. >>

OR Sarasota!

AUandAG · January 21, 2009 10:22AM

<< 

<< Is there some type of school that graders go to? Do they intern at a company and get trained there? >>

The same advertisement that offered the $300,000.00 for a senior grader offered $75,000.00 for an intern. A regular poster on the Coin Talk forum got the intern position and I suppose he is still there. >>

Do you think that you could live in sunny S. California (Newport Beach vicinity) on $75,000 a year? Nah, don't think you have much of a life if you took that job.
bob

robkool · January 21, 2009 10:53AM

With the economy being sooooo bad, I highly doubt that graders, if not skilled ones, would be making over $100K per year.
They would rather lay-off, or pay-cut salaries during these harsh times to save money... I would be thrilled to work as a grader at one of these TPG companies for under $35K per year...

CoinJunkie · January 21, 2009 11:32AM

<< I just could not handle sitting in a darkened room for 14 hours a day, looking at coin after coin after coin. >>

14 hours a day? That seems counter-productive considering it could easily lead to fatigue and
costly mistakes...

njcoincrank · January 21, 2009 11:38AM

Being a professional grader is a lot harder than you all think. While I don't think I would ever sit in a grading room 5 days a week, do on sight grading at major shows, again, I assure you that the graders earn EVERY dollar they make.

Next time your on vacation with your family, before you go, stop by your local bank and buy 10 bags of Lincoln cents ($50 each, or 5,000 coins each) and take them with you. And while your family is on the beach, lock yourself in the bathroom and start sorting them. Just by date. You don't even have to grade them.

Then maybe, just maybe, you will find a little more respect for professional graders. And maybe your family will benefit. Behaps you will realize just how valuable the time we have with them is. No amount of money can buy that.

njcc

njcoincrank · January 21, 2009 11:40AM

Sorry for my poor grammar. I was grading all day

njcc

ChrisRx · January 21, 2009 11:43AM

Shoot. Sign me up! Someone pm me with info on how to be a grader gosh darnit@!

JRocco · January 21, 2009 11:47AM

<< 

<< I just could not handle sitting in a darkened room for 14 hours a day, looking at coin after coin after coin. >>

14 hours a day? That seems counter-productive considering it could easily lead to fatigue and
costly mistakes... >>

Who says they work 14 hour shifts?

CoinJunkie · January 21, 2009 11:49AM

<< 

<< 

<< I just could not handle sitting in a darkened room for 14 hours a day, looking at coin after coin after coin. >>

14 hours a day? That seems counter-productive considering it could easily lead to fatigue and
costly mistakes... >>

Who says they work 14 hour shifts? >>

It's a mystery, but the clues are all around..............