I obtained an internship at a government healthcare organization doing IT work (my title is IT Technician) which I successfully "completed." They offered to let me stay on for the summer and through next semester.
The objective of the internship was to literally setup their entire IT infrastructure as they were formerly part of another larger organization but now split off into their own. I'm talking everything from installing the server racks, putting the servers in it, installing virtualization/windows server, setting up active directory, all the group policy, setting up the network, firewalls, switches, setting up security, IP phone system, deploying 30 workstations and setting up Office 365 with exchange / sharepoint servers AND migrating their email system from Lotus Notes (horrible experience), and much more, all by myself.
I get paid $12 an hour. Zero benefits. I feel like I'm being taken advantage of, or at least that they don't value me as much as I feel they should. Before they offered me a full time position they raised my internship pay from 11 to $12. So I feel like if I asked for a raise they would say "well why didn't you ask for more earlier?" Sure, I don't have a degree yet, but if I left, not only would they be screwed (again I am the ONLY IT employee) but they would end up having to pay someone at least $20+ an hour who has the necessary education/experience to fill my position. And I would personally have to train my replacement because nobody else in the company knows any of this stuff.
So I guess my point is, this ISNT an internship anymore. I get paid $12 an hour with no benefits to do system/network administrator duties for a government healthcare organization. Even without a degree, it seems really low to me. I know I don't have a degree yet, but I'd like to be making at LEAST $18+. I enjoy this job and its duties, and it is great experience, but I pay for tuition out of pocket and I will no longer have health insurance, making the next year or so pretty damn tough if I stay here at this level of compensation.
I will also most likely have a job offer at the University for an Executive Technician at the help desk which would pay me at least $16 an hour. Is there any way to use that to my advantage? Or should I just put my two weeks in and leave if I decide to take it?
Is it really as simple as just asking for a raise? Help!