Feeling slightly "bad" about my out-of-school starting salary

[imported_KirbsAw]

Originally posted by: Descartes

As my accountant would always joke: "You'll never go broke paying taxes."

It helps put things into perspective, but it sure can be painful when you see the dollar amount.

I'm a contractor, which means they don't take tax out of my paycheck. Which means I'm paying it all at once, man it's painful seeing that big chunk taken out all at once. Everyone else gets to die a slow death and gets used to it, haha.

 

[Rayden]

55k is about average for engineering out of undergrad.

The highest I've heard from my school, a top engineering university, is $80k and that's from Microsoft and a few other big companies and those are only for the top hires.

 

[habib89]

$52k... i feel slightly bad.. i was hoping for more like $60k, but i'm still happy doing what i do...

a friend of mine, graduated top of his class at law school and is making well over 100k.. but he works his ass off big time

 

[clamum]

Depends on your location.

I graduated spring 2006 from Mich. Tech with a bachelor's in CS (3.4 gpa) and at my first job (which I'm at now, web design) I'm making $26k/yr no benefits.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Signed my offer letter in '99. Started in Sept. '00

$44K/yr
12% annual bonus + discretionary bonus

Recieved 10% or greater raises every year since then as a public accountant.

 

[EightySix Four]

Slightly OT, what is the highest paying field straight out of college? (4yr)

 

[BunLengthHotDog]

Atlanta, Network Admin...Started 7 years ago @40K + 10% bonus, now at 80K + 11% bonus.
No degree...yet.

Like someone else mentioned, benefits are a HUGE part of the equation, I lucked out and get some of the best (for non-govt workers at least) benefits I have seen.

EDIT: Typo

 

[Anghang]

first job out of school, 40k

 

[amicold]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
My degree is Computer Engineering.

I'll be making $55K+bonus, which works out to $60-65k depending on performance

(I'm very happy with the company and the position, though.)

I'm hearing stories (albeit third hand) of people commonly making $90-100K right out of school. Is this anyone else's experience?

You got me beat! I was only pulling in $44k. Don't scoff at $55k! That's a lot of money! And when it comes to making more money or doing a job I'm happy in, I will take the job I enjoy anyday over more money and a bad one.

Yes unless you live in some major city where 55K won't pay your rent, shut up and accept it. That's beyond a comfortable single living where I am at. As well you have the ability to get better salaries as your skills develop.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Slightly OT, what is the highest paying field straight out of college? (4yr)

Robbery.

 

[Hammerhead]

Man, you was robbed!

 

[shadow9d9]

I believe the median household income is around 40k...

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: HotChic
32k out of school, almost three times that three years later.

So you got a 44% raise each year for 3 consecutive years (on average)?

 

[tami]

my first job out of school with a 4 year ivy league degree in computer science was $19,200.

that was in 2003.

it was also a job in the empire state building.

yes, the one in new york.

please stop feeling bad and worrying about comparing yourself to other people. if you are happy with what you do, that is really all that matters.

thank you.

p.s. i don't work for that company anymore and am making a lot more.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: RelaxTheMind
i started at ~30k out of college, 1 year later over 110k. my friend who never went to college makes over 200k/year hes a club promoter. kinda makes me sick at times...

It pays to know how to manipulate people.

this is in southern VA just FYI.

How did you make a jump from 30k to 110k in one year?

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
My degree is Computer Engineering.

I'll be making $55K+bonus, which works out to $60-65k depending on performance

(I'm very happy with the company and the position, though.)

I'm hearing stories (albeit third hand) of people commonly making $90-100K right out of school. Is this anyone else's experience?

We hired out of school grad CS majors in the 90s in Santa Monica.

 

[johnjbruin]

I got 58K four years ago.

 

[Cattlegod]

hmm. I started 3.7 years ago at 50k, i'm at 62k now, probably almost 70k at the end of the year. Although I also majored in computer engineering , I'm doing nothing related to computer engineering now (program management).

No bonuses because my company is losing billions per year.

They are paying for my MBA at a top 5 school which equates to another 30k per year of a salary increase, so I can't complain.

Also, this is in Michigan, so the cost of living is fairly low.

 

[novasatori]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Accounting major here and I start my new job at the end of the month. $42,500 base salary, and with overtime (which is almost mandatory), I'm looking at $46,000.

You have a nice starting salary, be happy with it.

My buddy just graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and I think his starting salary is high 40's or low 50's.

where

 

[ScottFern]

Wow its all relative man. I amek 27k out of college and I am not going to mention my degree, but I am working entry level IT at a smaller company. I figured I need 33k next year to stay here. God its depressing right now to be living at home and trying to grasp with car payments, and tuition payments.

 

[Tiamat]

Most i have seen out of my CS/CE friends is starting with 71k$ and this is with BS @ IBM.

 

[her209]

Wow... I make 5x what you make.























Is that what you wanted to hear?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
My degree is Computer Engineering.

I'll be making $55K+bonus, which works out to $60-65k depending on performance

(I'm very happy with the company and the position, though.)

I'm hearing stories (albeit third hand) of people commonly making $90-100K right out of school. Is this anyone else's experience?

I wouldn't feel bad. You are making more than accountants or even some lawyers who start. Also, if you like the job, that is worth a LOT in my opinion.

 

[KillerCharlie]

$55k is about the average engineering starting salary unless you're working in California.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: Platypus
I'd say you're a bit above average for out of school.. salary is one thing, benefits are the clincher that most people don't consider.

Yeah. Imagine a 60K salary with 120k of medical bills. Whoa.