Comments on: Salaries for Recent Graduates

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:15:08 +0000

Fresh out of college with a business degree I made $58,000 (2007) in Southern California for an aerospace firm. Perhaps it was the high living cost.

By: Steel Kit Homes

Steel Kit Homes — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:23:09 +0000

When I recieved my first offer it was for 50K plus a 5K bounus and increased to 55K with the same bounus; however, because of the economy they wanted to start entry level employees at 50K and make difference up along the way.

By: Duececlub

Duececlub — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:41:17 +0000

Graduated in 1998 with a bs in civil engineering. First job paid 30k working for the State DOT. I remember the other engineering majors getting starting salaries in the high 30’s, low 40’s. Eleven years and 2 job changes later, I’m at 75k at a private firm in a midwestern state. And believe me when I tell you that 75k goes a long ways here!!!!
30k adjusted for inflation comes out to around 39, which is about what most State DOT’s start their entry level engineers in midsized cities.

By: tiredofbeingbroke

tiredofbeingbroke — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:31:07 +0000

Graduated in 2003 from a public college with a liberal arts degree. I managed to get a fulltime job the following January starting at 35K. That was a considerably decent salary at the time. I read the article when it came out and also found the social worker’s salary to be kinda iffy.

By: Money Maus

Money Maus — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:57:49 +0000

Graduated in 2008 with a degree in Finance and got an entry-level job at a medium-sized financial firm in SoCal paying $33K. (Plus got 12.5% bonus for 2008.) Got a promotion 6 months later and now make $34,800. We are currently on a salary freeze and bonus freeze. But the benefits, company and people are amazing so I wouldn’t change my salary for anything right now. :)

(From what I’ve been told, my company SEVERELY underpays at the entry-to-mid-level range. I have a friend working at Target as an “Executive Team Leader” who just landed the job in May 2009 and starting at $48K. With very little mgmt experience.)

Honestly, depends on the company, degree… Have other friends making $60K in supply chain mgmt field, $50K in accounting, $42K as project manager, etc.