Good salary

aabby757 · #1 10-01-2008, 02:41 PM

I'm curious what college students consider a "good" salary.

I know your major, what industry etc you land in has much to do with this.

But I'm working on a project that is geared toward recent college grads and would like to know what you guys think.

Thank you.

MysticCat · #2 10-01-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aabby757

I'm curious what college students consider a "good" salary.

I know your major, what industry etc you land in has much to do with this.

But I'm working on a project that is geared toward recent college grads and would like to know what you guys think.

Thank you.

Where you live, and the cost of living in that place, also has a great deal to do with it.

This seems to be such a general question that I can't imagine you'll get much more useful than "enough to live on and save some."

nikki1920 · #3 10-22-2008, 04:08 PM

For the DC Metro area: $32 to 50K. I've been out of school for a few years (ok, 8), but to get to and from work, pay rent, eat, maintain a car, buy some clothes once in a while, that is about what is needed to stay afloat. The variation takes in to account how close one is to the city and what the field is. The question is kind of broad. Can you narrow it a bit? Education? Technical? Computer? Non Profit? Government?

KSUViolet06 · #4 10-23-2008, 04:54 PM

http://www.payscale.com/

This site allows you to plug in your education level, field, area you want to live in and such, and gives you an appoximation of your salary.

As far as I know, it's a good tool to get a ballpark number. The numbers I've gotten for my future field in my area sound about right (not unrealistically high, etc).

pinksirfidel · #5 11-01-2008, 03:59 PM

I'm in Florida. I don't know much about the DC area.... but, when I graduated from undergrad (2 years ago), I wouldn't take anything less than $40k.

Senusret I · #6 11-01-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki1920

For the DC Metro area: $32 to 50K. I've been out of school for a few years (ok, 8), but to get to and from work, pay rent, eat, maintain a car, buy some clothes once in a while, that is about what is needed to stay afloat. The variation takes in to account how close one is to the city and what the field is. The question is kind of broad. Can you narrow it a bit? Education? Technical? Computer? Non Profit? Government?

^^^ I agree with the above figure. I worked for Georgetown as a Development Assistant making just $28,000 or so in 2001-02. Georgetown has notoriously low salaries (I later learned) and had I gone directly into the *real* nonprofit sector that same year, I would have likely started at $32.

If I was in control of the budget, I wouldn't feel comfortable offering a recent college grad working for my nonprofit any less than $35,000. (The truth of the matter is that in HIV/AIDS work in non-national nonprofits in DC, recent college grads are passed over for this very reason. It's more likely you'll be able to hire someone older for less.)

((This is why y'all need to be donating to the link in my signature LOL I'm only serious))

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

http://www.payscale.com/

This site allows you to plug in your education level, field, area you want to live in and such, and gives you an appoximation of your salary.

As far as I know, it's a good tool to get a ballpark number. The numbers I've gotten for my future field in my area sound about right (not unrealistically high, etc).

I have used that website loads!

Thetagirl218 · #7 03-23-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

http://www.payscale.com/

This site allows you to plug in your education level, field, area you want to live in and such, and gives you an appoximation of your salary.

As far as I know, it's a good tool to get a ballpark number. The numbers I've gotten for my future field in my area sound about right (not unrealistically high, etc).

This is a neat website!

Benzgirl · #8 11-01-2008, 05:32 PM

It isn't always about money.

ZetaGirl22 · #9 12-16-2008, 10:28 AM

32 all the way up to 50? Are there kids in the area that really are getting that now? I was offered 32 at my first job after graduation 6 years ago and that was one of the higher offers. I was ECSTATIC! Just goes to show how things change as far as inflation and whatnot. I think my rent in my first place was $700/month (in Frederick County-most of us here work closer to DC-but to DC itself, probably a 40 mile commute, or more) and I was doing really well on that salary. By the time I was 3 years out of school, I couldn't even IMAGINE how I would survive on 32 a year anymore. I think NOW I'd be fine with that, but hubby is also making WAY more than what he was when he first started. I dont know where Im going with this-guess its just wild to see how things change so quickly

groovypq · #10 12-16-2008, 11:03 AM

I would say the $32-$50K range is pretty accurate. I went to the DC area a year out of college and started out at a little less than that. I was OK, but I was also sharing a crappy apartment with two (and for awhile, three) other people. But we do this stuff when we're young. :-)

Towards the end of my DC "adventure," I had moved up quite a bit in salary, but I also lived in a 1BR apartment by myself, so rent was a good bit higher. I was still able to pay all the bills, but I wasn't really able to save any money (which I realize is not as important to everyone).

Benefits are also an important consideration. Metrochek was a wonderful one for me. How much are they going to have to pay? What do they get out of it? And how consistent are your company's? (mine switched two or three times in the four years I was there, it was kind of a pain, although I understood they were trying to get the best deal for us)

nikki1920 · #11 12-16-2008, 11:36 AM

I was making maybe 23K at my first job out of school. But I did get benefits (medical) and Metrochek (whoo hoo!). I am making more than that now, with benefits (dental, visual and medical), a longer commute (not really public trans friendly), rent, utilities, gas, etc, etc. I would be able to save if I was making about $10k more, but que sera, sera. My job is stable (I work for county government) and reliable. I just wish it paid more, lol.

Boodleboy322 · #12 01-03-2009, 02:11 PM

I agree with my brother Mystic Cat. It is going to heavily depend on what industry, degree and geographical location you are in. Also, would you be out of college with a Bachelor's, Master's, doctorate, JD etc? There are too many variables to consider. Another piece of the equation is do you have networking contacts in the real world that could help you land you a good job? Cost of living is huge.

tri deezy · #13 03-19-2009, 12:31 AM

I grew up in the DC metro area and moved back after I graduated from undergrad in 2007. I'd say the majority of people my age (24) in the DC area are living a bit outside their means only because of the cost of living here. My rent is $1,615 for a teeny little place with my boyfriend. A girl in our complex graduated from the same school as I did just a year before me and she said that her rent was 60% of her salary (I think it's supposed to be 30% according to traditional budgeting.) I barely make any money because I haven't gotten my masters yet, so I can only be an assistant right now, so rent is pretty much the only thing I spend money on. The recession is scaring the crap out of me because I'm basically realizing that I will never actually be able to afford to live the way I grew up in this area. I'd say that something decent for a recent college grad in the DC Metro area would be between 32 and 40. A good salary would be 40+ for someone as young as me. I'm going to go cry about not having money for food now. (how's that for a flounce?)

KSUViolet06 · #14 03-19-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tri deezy

My rent is $1,615 for a teeny little place with my boyfriend. A girl in our complex graduated from the same school as I did just a year before me and she said that her rent was 60% of her salary (I think it's supposed to be 30% according to traditional budgeting.) I barely make any money because I haven't gotten my masters yet, so I can only be an assistant right now, so rent is pretty much the only thing I spend money on.

Spending 60% of your salary on rent? Yikes. Why? Could she not find anything better (or does she just WANT to live above her means?)

tri deezy · #15 03-19-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Spending 60% of your salary on rent? Yikes. Why? Could she not find anything better (or does she just WANT to live above her means?)

Yikes is exactly what I thought. She was living in a one bedroom place until she felt ready to move in with her boyfriend. Now that they live together they split rent, which is much more reasonable. I couldn't fathom not living with a roommate in this area. It's really absurd. She definitely didn't want to live above her means. Our places here really are nice, but not that nice. It's the kind of area where you have to pay a lot just to not share your apartment with mice and cockroaches. Hahaha.