What is a approx salary for people right out of college? (credit, 2013)
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It all depends on the degree. If you are a petroleum engineer, you can start at 6 figures. If you get a degree in gender studies, I read the other day you are lucky to get $13,000 per year which is less than minimum wage.
The amount of income will always depend on how many jobs are being created, in relation to the number of graduates in that field, and where the job is located.
Here is a tool, to find what the salary range is between occupations, and state differences in pay, along with adjusting for the differences in the value of that income adjusting for each state after cost of living adjustments are made. Often the highest paying state, may be the least value as to what you can do with the money.
Select the occupation, then type in 5 states, and find what you can expect to earn, and what you can do with the money.
It depends on what major completed and how in-demand your skill-set is. If anyone can do anything, your value will decrease. Ideally, the salary for a corporate position out of college would be $50k+, enough to pay your debts, live in a comfortable place, and save for either a down payment or retirement.
I have friends who are pharmacists who make $120k right out of college because they are desirable, the same with specialty engineers. I made around a $110k with my first 'real' job out of college due to being in a niche profession that doesn't often hire and requires a lot of pre-employment testing. Doing what everyone else does will not always yield results.
You don't need a college degree for that kind of job as most I've worked with do not have one. They are usually not high paying jobs either; not very hard either; or involve more than 2 weeks of training.
I have friends who are pharmacists who make $120k right out of college because they are desirable, the same with specialty engineers. I made around a $110k with my first 'real' job out of college due to being in a niche profession that doesn't often hire and requires a lot of pre-employment testing. Doing what everyone else does will not always yield results.
I've read that pharmacy is a saturated field and that the opportunities aren't as plentiful as they use to be.
Someone mentioned focusing on STEM jobs. I agree. However I would be very careful about investing a lot of time and energy in in the S (science). Especially as it relates to biology, chemistry, etc. I know Chemistry Ph.D's that are having a hard time finding regular work.
Any area that requires an advanced knowledge of mathematics (calculus and above) is going to be a good choice to go into as a career.
Last edited by usamathman; 04-08-2018 at 12:57 AM..
To be specific. A 21 year old starting their first corporate job at a large company. Purchasing, supply chain, stock buying, inventory management. Large metropolitan areas like Chicago and surrounding subirbs. I’ve noticed a trend of older experienced employees being passed up for young adults with no experience and I wonder if it’s salary based. I’m told you can start kids right out of school at 35K but I know some that demand 60K right off the bat. I make 46K and I’ve been in the corporate world for a long time.
Sounds like you should be making more especially if you have a degree. I would advise you to check around at other companies.
Companies want the energy and new ideas of recent graduates so I'm surprised they're not paying more. My son was a Computer Engineering graduate from a good university and started out at $85K for a famous Seattle area company.
Ultimately, everyone needs to work at developing a skillset that employers need but are in short supply.
It all depends on the degree. If you are a petroleum engineer, you can start at 6 figures. If you get a degree in gender studies, I read the other day you are lucky to get $13,000 per year which is less than minimum wage.
The amount of income will always depend on how many jobs are being created, in relation to the number of graduates in that field, and where the job is located.
Here is a tool, to find what the salary range is between occupations, and state differences in pay, along with adjusting for the differences in the value of that income adjusting for each state after cost of living adjustments are made. Often the highest paying state, may be the least value as to what you can do with the money.
Select the occupation, then type in 5 states, and find what you can expect to earn, and what you can do with the money.
According to this, I should be making $50,000/year as a writer in Pennsylvania. I wish! I can't find writing jobs in Philadelphia and stuck at a call centre making $30,000/year, $21,000/year after taxes and deductions. $5,000/year at a library (part-time).
What a lot of people fail to realize is that there is an entry level salary, mid career salary. and the salary you're earning near retirement. It seems college grads are expecting to get the mid or ending career salary. That $12-14 an hour entry level wage is about right unless you majored in something that leads to high entry level salaries like computer science.
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