What was your starting salary (approx.)?

[kwilkinson]

20k in California in 2009. I have since gotten rich! Up to 23k now!!!!

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Btw, Conne, I'd not worry about starting salary. I'd worry about possible upside and how long it takes to get there. I'd rather start in the 30s and end up with an SF approved income that start in the 60s and pretty much stay in the 60s or 70s. Quite a few jobs will get you out the gate with a respectable income but the upside is limited and takes time to arrive at.
This is how I've always approached it. Politics tends to be the former. People always say "Just gotta pay your dues early on."

Originally Posted by gnatty8

I agree with this, but not sure how much potential upside there would be in this field. I guess if one distinguished one's self, there is always lobbying or something like that, but I would expect the number of highly-paid jobs in the political appointee sphere at the state level would be pretty limited? I may be wrong.
Not in NY. The NY Legislature, plus the Executive branch, have thousands and thousands of appointee gigs. And then there are the lobbying, PR/communications, etc. jobs. If I had stayed in Ohio politics, I'd absolutely agree with your caveat.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Connemara

This is how I've always approached it. Politics tends to be the former. People always say "Just gotta pay your dues early on."
People say that in every field. It's just to make you feel better about being worked like an asshole.

 

[Connemara]

Stop shattering my world!

 

[IDirector]

2008, It, 63k.

 

[ltb]

120ish, this year but oh boy do i have a lot of debt to go with that

 

[eglbc]

college '08 first job- 55k

 

[pebblegrain]

Originally Posted by Connemara

It's a public service job (not civil service; political appointee position). Benefits are extremely good, naturally, and salary is $33K. It would be in a fairly low COL place (Albany).

I don't know anyone my age, in this field, who makes much more than that. So I think it's fairly standard, but it's not stellar.

I may also get an offer that pays considerably more so we'll see.

If it's the right position and will help you towards the next step, then it sounds fine.

I would ask for them to raise the offer, and if they don't, take the original offer anyway.

Just make sure you aren't still under $40k in 3 years.

 

[ektaylor]

So much misery in this thread.

 

[whymakemedothis]

2006, 60k
2010, 120k
same company, texas, energy services, 9-5 office job

 

[sho'nuff]

dont know why these types of questions would be asked but...

mine was about minimum wage.
it still is today, but times have changed. min wage has increased since the early 90s.

 

[gort]

Originally Posted by whymakemedothis

2006, 60k
2010, 120k
same company, texas, energy services, 9-5 office job

Doubling your salary in 4 years, impressive!

 

[JLibourel]

First real, full-time job:

$9,600 as a starting assistant professor (but this was in 1969).

 

[HomerJ]

One year as a paid intern between college and grad school, $25/hour, roughly equivalent to $50,000

First real job after grad school, $39,000

Originally Posted by JLibourel

First real, full-time job: $9,600 as a starting assistant professor (but this was in 1969).
So about $56,000 in today's dollars? I think it's about $70,000 these days (at tier 1).

 

[PITAronin]

$12k - educational testing in 1971