All of the following are considered entry level jobs except:

a. Answering telephone calls

b. Selling goods and services

c. Maintaining a computer system

d. Preparing files for a court case

e. Distributing information to clients

All of the following are considered entry level jobs except:

a. A job that requires a high school diploma and no previous work experience

b. A job that requires a college degree but no previous work experience

c. A job that requires a high school diploma, one year of experience in the field, and a passing grade on the certification exam

d. A job that requires a college degree and one year of experience in the field

All Of The Following Are Considered Entry Level Jobs Except

What Is an Entry-Level Job Exactly?

An entry-level job is a starting place for many careers. These types of jobs allow students just graduating to enter the workforce for the first time. These jobs require little to no professional experience. An entry-level job will introduce you to a field and help you build basic skills and knowledge.

This job level often acts as an apprenticeship for roles with more responsibilities. For example, you’d need to spend a few years learning the publishing industry as an assistant editor before becoming an editor, or begin in a role like associate architect before advancing to architect.

Do You Need Experience for an Entry-Level Job?

Many entry-level jobs don’t require previous professional experience. They’re often designed for recent grads and people just entering a career field.

However, having some professional experience may increase your chances of landing a job. Some job postings may ask for 1-3 years of experience and still be considered entry level. In those cases, any experience you have from internships or university organizations can count. For example, maybe you wrote for your university’s newspaper, led the student body planning committee, or ran your college’s radio station.

Even if you have several internships under your belt, you won’t be able to skip the entry-level role in most career paths. Full-time professional responsibilities carry a different weight than internships and will be taken more seriously by future employers.

How Much Does an Entry-Level Job Pay?

Entry-level jobs typically refer to full-time careers, not to be confused with hourly or minimum-wage jobs. The minimum wage in your state may serve as a reference point for developing entry-level salaries but would be considered low for a professional salary. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour, which would be about $15,000 per year.

An entry-level salary is a base pay for those just starting in a career field, increasing as your experience and responsibilities grow. In its 2020 Salary Survey report, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that the average starting salary for 2019 graduates was $53,890.

Average Starting Salary by Major, Class of 2019

Bar chart with 6 bars.

A bar chart of average annual salaries for registered nursing specialties. Public health nurses tend to earn slightly lower salaries compared to specialties with more demanding work conditions.View as data table, Average Starting Salary by Major, Class of 2019

The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.

The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Data ranges from 50099 to 76986.$76,986​$76,986$70,219​$70,219$66,942​$66,942$53,425​$53,425$52,040​$52,040$50,099​$50,099Computer ScienceEngineeringMath and StatisticsHealth SciencesBusinessSocial SciencesSource:

 NACE

Average Starting Salary by Major, Class of 2019

End of interactive chart.

Starting salaries vary widely by industry. The NACE Salary Survey found that the average starting salary for computer science majors was over $25,000 higher than the average starting salary for social sciences majors. When developing a starting salary, employers will consider the cost of living in your region, the market value of your position, and the experience you bring to the job.

How to Find Entry-Level Jobs

Entry-level jobs are available in nearly every industry if you know where to look. Here are some tips to help guide you on your job hunt:

• Use On-Campus ResourcesMany schools regularly host job fairs where you can meet potential employers and explore career paths. Your university’s career center can also be an excellent resource for polishing up your resume, strengthening your networking and interview skills, and finding local job opportunities. The same goes for the alumni network, which will also host networking events.
• Research Potential Career PathsDo some good ol’ Googling in the field you’re interested in. You can also research specific companies you admire and map out how their employees progress. This can help you identify those first-step roles and the skills you need to land them.
• Familiarize Yourself With Entry-Level TermsWhen searching for jobs, employers use a few different terms to indicate an entry-level position. Those terms may be industry-specific, but you can start by searching with words like entry-level, associate, junior, and assistant.
• Steer Clear of Sketchy OpportunitiesBe wary of “too good to be true” gigs, especially ones that advertise heavily to students on your campus. Unfortunately, some businesses prey on the ambition of freshly graduated students. Job titles like “brand ambassador” or “campus representative” and sales situations where they say you’ll be building your own business may be red flags.
• Remember You’re Interviewing the Company, TooWhen job hunting, remember that the company should be trying to impress you, too. Look for places that are a good cultural fit and where there’s potential to grow out of that entry-level position.

Frequently Asked Questions About Entry-Level Jobs

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Do entry-level jobs require a degree?

Not every entry-level job will require a degree, though it depends on the industry. You can search for jobs with terms like “degree not required” when looking for opportunities in your field. Usually this will include administrative positions or learn-on-the-job roles in factory settings, technician departments, and sales.

Can you negotiate an entry-level salary?

Negotiating an entry-level offer may feel a bit taboo, but it can’t hurt to ask. If you have more experience than the average entry-level applicant, or if market research about similar roles in your city proves you should earn more, it’s certainly worth a conversation.

If a salary increase isn’t on the table, you can also negotiate for better benefits like vacation time, hybrid work options, transportation stipend, relocation expenses, or a signing bonus.