Graduated college? Degree Level/Major/First Career Pay

Ok, and now for something a bit different than my other thread. Let's pile on the statistics!

For those who have graduated college, let's put a realistic image for soon-to-be-grads (common for our genre to overestimate). I know this board has a more than average number of computer geeks, but this will serve as a good reference.

When you graduated college, what was your first job as? How was the pay and benefits. What was your degree level and major in?

Graduated in 1995 from a small liberal arts private college in Michigan.

1st job was as a inside insurance agent/sales rep in a call center. Great company and benefits. Made about $28k-$30k.

Still with the same company with much better pay and a much better job. But it was a start and gave me great experience.

I agree, many recent college grads expect to graduate and make the big bucks.

Graduated in 1997 from Wake Forest University with a B.S. in chemistry.
Graduated in 2001 from Duke University with a Ph.D. in chemistry.
First job = scientist in a contract research organization, salary ~ $65k plus benefits

I've got to admit to all those on the fence...get a graduate degree. You will thank yourself down the road for many reasons!

Graduated in 1988 with a B.A. in Computer Science from an IL university.

Got my 1st degree-related job in 1989 as a mainframe Cobol programmer making $24K/yr, fortune 500 company, excellent benefits. Got the job through the want-ads.

me - graduated recently with an MIS degree, CS minor, got a job at a large bank in a new training program for top graduates to be "groomed" for a career in IT management...currently make under 40K but when i finish the program i will be getting more - hopefully!!! the benefits here are excellent, insurance, great 401k and tution payment.

my SO - graduated with me, same degree...got a position at a large healthcare company. they are recovering from a major scandal and laid off/lost a lot of people. he was able into a training program with them only making 30K but with 10K raise each year for the next 3 years. his beneifts are about equal, his insurance is cheaper, and they don't pay for grad school but do pay for certifications.

we live in the south east, so we are easily able to live on our incomes. so far we are both happy with our positions and look to stay with these companies for a while.

I have a BA in Liberal Arts. My first job out of college was as a Flight Attendant (research project), at $32k a year. My first *real* job was a year later, at a software design firm for $35k + major options and other benefits.

Graduated from U of Delaware in 2000 w/ a BS in Finance. Started work for a financial information company at 32K plus bonus, now making 52K plus bonus...but I really can't stand my job.

Graduated from Univ of Maryland with DIS degree in 2001
Work at mortgage company writing softwares, started at $35K, now making $59K

Good benefits, 401k, 4 weeks vacation (5 weeks now), 100% tuition reimbursement, unlimited sickdays (every monday)....

BSBA in Finance/economics 1999.

1st job was a staff accountant for a large company at 23k. good benefits, though, 100% medical, dental, vision. Also 401k, 3 weeks vacation, stock options (could never use them before i left because of the lousy market.)

Graduated 2001 BA Biology.
Graduating 2005 DDS. Expecting 80-100k first year out.

Graduated in 2000, major BA in Computer Science (Yes, BA not BS, don't know why... did not get a chance to ask at the time)
First job: programmer/analyst 60K

Graduated in 99 BS in Computer Science
Worked in support for a software company.
46K w/great benefits. free beer friday, sand volleyball court, foosball, pool table (2 miles from my parent's house). Only lasted 18 months.

Im with wcfw, after reading all of these Im not feeling too hot.

Anyway I graduated from a public university in OR on 12/2001 with a BS in Poly Sci. Ive been working as a legal assistant for two (2) years now and making $25K a year. (The sad thing is that I know people that didnt complete HS and are making double what I am, go figure.)

Graduated from a University of California in June 2000 with a BS in Computer Science. Started out at $60k after signing a "letter of intent" 9 months prior to graduation.

Four years and three jobs later, absolutely hate what I do and am looking for something new. However, am reluctant to go back to school (already 26) and do not want to take a drastic paycut.

Graduated in '97 with a BS in Information Systems
First job was doing Desktop Support - Starting pay $27k
Been at current job as Network Admin for almost 5 years making about double the pay now.

Skeet

wcfw said:

<< man, reading these posts make me kinda depressed.

I graduated in 2002 from a top liberal arts college in the Northeast. BA in Economics. Been working as a research assistant at a well-known and top ranked hospital (according to US News and World Report anyway). The benefits are great. But pay really sucks. Even after two raises, I am still only making $30K. My starting salary was $20K.

Definitely need to go back to school soon. Can't live on this salary much longer. , discovering FW, however, definitely helped me a lot! >>

i have the same major and i guess it just simply doesnt pay much. i started at 23k and left at 30k. my husband is in computer science and he made more than me before he even had his degree, i would have to work at my old job for like 10+ years to ever make his entry level post degree salary. a lot of people are cs on this board thats why the numbers are so high.

daeagle said:

<< I am college student trying to figure out what I want to do. How did you get into finance with an engineering degree?

>>

My advice is to not get distracted by salaries you see. Obviously making a lot is a bonus, but doing something you enjoy or something you are passionate about is much more fulfilling, and more often than not will probably lead to future higher pay than you would receive doing something you hate.

I'm in the same boat as many others here -- I make a ton of money but my job is boring to me and I feel like I'm not reaching my full potential as far as my contribution to the human race (sorry if that's too deep for you). As soon as I have enough to retire or when I get downsized, I'll be looking to do something I that I actually enjoy (like full time specuation), or something that I can truly be passionate about (like missions work or writing my own software or chasing after terrorists ).

CS BS degree from state school. First job was $46k and quickly moved higher from there:
Year 1 46k
Year 2 55k
Year 3 100k
...
Year x 1XXk

Jefro said:

<< Funny how the $$ doesn't =

The money will come and go, but who wants to have worked their whole life for $$ and end up 65 and trying to live like they are 25? >>

well, it is better making more money with a job you don't like, than less with a job you don't like.

Graduated - June 2003 with a BA in Business Economics from University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
First Job - Quality Assurance Engineer
Salary - $40,000-$50,000

Unless it's a major inconvenience to go interview I say go for it. Pretty much every interview I have been through has been a good learning experience. This could be opportunity knocking, but more likely they want you to hawk some of their financial wares

K... my experience... graduated 12/1999 with a BA in Accounting and a minor in Spanish from a state college in Utah. A recruiter from a local firm came to campus and offered me a job. I started 3/2000 as a general ledger acct for $28K/year. This was the first job offered and I took it (even tho they say one of the worst mistakes recent grads make is accepting the first offer). I was a bit nervous about the future job market as this was right near the tech bubble burst. Plus there were very few employers looking to hire grads with no experience. I got a $1K raise 6 months later when I moved to the Internal Audit dept as there was some travel required (~20%).
I have since changed companies and am right around $40K/year after bonus. Not where I'd like to be salary-wise, but the company is great and there is plenty of potential for advancement, especially after I finish up my MBA next summer (on the company's dime ).

hobokrod said: Analog circuit design engineer.

i hear that you guys deserve every single penny earned..

didn't intersil acquire xicor just for its engineers?