What was your starting salary (approx.)?

[djh]

75k plus signing and performance bonuses.

graduated 2012, bs finance, now working in consulting.

 

[bingebag]

48k construction management with bs in construction management from an SEC school in 2012.

 

[Lowndes]

$160k, law in NYC. As others mentioned if you break it down by the hour (and not just billable hours actual hours spent working its not that much in NYC with all the taxes). However, I've since moved to Texas and two years later make $185K and if I never received a raise again would be perfectly fine in this city. Really amazing the difference the COL and especially no city or state taxes make.

 

[Connemara]



$160k, law in NYC. As others mentioned if you break it down by the hour (and not just billable hours actual hours spent working its not that much in NYC with all the taxes). However, I've since moved to Texas and two years later make $185K and if I never received a raise again would be perfectly fine in this city. Really amazing the difference the COL and especially no city or state taxes make.

NYers outside of NYC have it bad enough. Factor in the city income tax and you're REALLY screwed.

 

[salisboss]

Started at $38k as a government engineer. 8 years later I am at $99k plus money I make as an SAT tutor on the side. It is frustrating because our localality adjusted pay I think still favors cheaper locations. I wouldn't take much of a hit if I moved down south but things like housing are way cheaper than north Jersey.

 

[elsdon]

Graduated 2005 Computer Science from a decent school. Traveled for 2 years as a hobo.

First 'real' job in 2007 in Hong Kong doing Project Management and development for a hardware/solutions vendor, $16K USD a year.

 

[Texx]

$40k out of high school in 2006, $78k in 2012, same retail company since high school. Didn't have enough self discipline to finish college, working on it now! When you're 18 $40k feels rich, who needs college? When you're 26 $78k feels mediocre and you kick yourself for not going to college, oh, how perceptions change, haha.

 

[wj4]



$40k out of high school in 2006, $78k in 2012, same retail company since high school. Didn't have enough self discipline to finish college, working on it now! When you're 18 $40k feels rich, who needs college? When you're 26 $78k feels mediocre and you kick yourself for not going to college, oh, how perceptions change, haha.

A lot of people at age 26 with post high school education are making what you are making, if not less.

 

[dfagdfsh]

I am 26 and make like $22k a year. don't be so hard on yourself.

 

[Texx]



I am 26 and make like $22k a year. don't be so hard on yourself.

Not mediocre relative to what others make, mediocre relative to what I could be doing if I had concentrated that drive and work ethic into school and attained a degree before I started my career. Could be better off, or worse, just hard not to wonder!

 

[thezolt]

$37K as a junior auditor in Canada. Once designated it bumps to about (55K) and about 10-15K per year after that give or take. Not the most money in the world but I've done well saving and investing and always laugh when my superiors that are making 200K have a negative net worth.

 

[Rene_Lahm]



A lot of people at age 26 with post high school education are making what you are making, if not less.

Yeah seriously, I have a degree, a college diploma, and make less. Don't forget the debt I incurred with my education. You're not in a bad place.

 

[Rene_Lahm]



Not mediocre relative to what others make, mediocre relative to what I could be doing if I had concentrated that drive and work ethic into school and attained a degree before I started my career. Could be better off, or worse, just hard not to wonder!

And you can always go back part time if you feel that having a degree would make that much of a difference in the current line of work you're in. Of course education opens doors, and gives you the chance to upgrade to a masters, which can be a prerequisite is some fields to move up, but it isn't all that its cracked up to be. But it's never too late, you just may have to neglect your social or family life if you want to go back part time now.

 

[Big Pun]

$20,400. Hoorah military!

 

[Benrus]

Worked my way up from a textile factory making 50 k at age 20. Now I'm a salesman at 24 making 100+ Hard work and making connections worked for me. I barely passed high school and have never taken a collage class. My family was very poor, but I have always had a positive attitude and never burned my bridges.