If you’re looking for a good starting salary for your first job, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll give you some tips and tricks that will help you land the offer from your dream company.
First, it’s important to remember that everyone wants to get paid what they’re worth. You’ll want to make sure that you’re negotiating from a position of strength by making sure your resume is up-to-date and that you have references ready to go. Companies want to see that you are capable and prepared for the job, so having these things ready can really help!
Once you have everything ready, find out what the average salary is in your area. This will give you a baseline number so that when it comes time to negotiate, you will know what they are paying their employees currently (or at least close enough). Then, once they offer a number, ask them if they could do any better than that—it never hurts to ask!
Finally, if all else fails and this particular company isn’t willing (or able) to pay more than what they initially offered, consider applying somewhere else instead! There are plenty of companies out there who would love for someone just like
Good Starting Salary For First Job
What Is a Typical Starting Salary?
Of course, starting salary varies a lot depending on your job title — a customer support specialist is not going to make the same amount as a neurosurgeon. But where you live also affects your salary. For instance, ZipRecruiter reports that the average entry-level salary is the highest in Washington at $35,793. On the other end of the spectrum is Illinois, with a $25,712 average.
According to Indeed, the average entry-level salary is $40,153. But Indeed notes that the number can be as low as $26,000 or as high as $56,000 depending upon the job and where you live. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also has extensive salary data for specific jobs (for all workers though, not new grads).
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Check Out: The Starting Salary Out of the 30 Best Colleges
Here are a few examples of median pay the BLS using 2020 data:
Middle school teachers: $60,810
Carpenters: $49,520
Epidemiologists: $74,560
Lawyers: $126,930
See the BLS data for a complete list.
Learn: The Biggest Salary Negotiation Mistakes You’re Making
Starting Salary vs. Experienced Salary
Another thing to consider is that your new job may warrant a much higher salary after you gain even a small amount of experience. “For instance, you may take a slightly lower starting salary, but at a company that offers genuine progression that adds value to your professional skill set,” said Zoë Morris, president of Frank Recruitment Group. “That could mean that your pay packet and career both look very different 12-18 months down the line, compared to just going to the highest bidder now.”
Make Your Money Work Better for You
Eighteen months can sound like a lot of time, but it will fly by as you are learning your new role. If you can find data on both starting salary for your job and also for those with one to two years’ experience, that is something to add to your calculation.
See: 10 Job Skills Worth Six-Figure Salaries
How To Determine Your Worth
It’s one thing to see median numbers or averages; it’s another to try to determine your real worth. This is undoubtedly more involved than looking up a couple of averages for your industry. Still, with the right approach, you can get a good sense of how much you are worth before you accept the job offer.
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That means doing more extensive research. “If you’re unsure on what you should be paid, then you need to do your research. Away from simply looking at job ads for similar roles, most industries have companies within them that publish salary surveys,” Morris said. “Beyond that, use LinkedIn and other social networks to try and connect with professionals within the industry and ask them directly.”
Make Your Money Work Better for You
You might think asking people in your industry seems intrusive or that they wouldn’t be willing to provide that information. Oftentimes, though, people are very much willing to help as long as you aren’t trying to sell them something. You can also set up interviews with hiring managers and even employees to pick their brains.
As far as salary survey data, the BLS is one of your best resources for this.
Check Out: 5 Things To Negotiate at Your Job Other Than Salary
How To Negotiate Your Salary
Now that you have a better idea of how much you should be paid, it’s time to negotiate. While there is no guarantee your negotiations will be successful, it is always a good idea to try. While more people are negotiating in recent years, just 45% of women negotiated in 2018. And yet, 70% of hiring managers expect people to negotiate when making an offer.
If your job offer has a lower salary number attached to it than you’d like, you have options, Morris said. “Once you know what to expect, if a company is offering below that then you need to have a reason for trying to negotiate a better deal. Whether that’s explaining any relevant experience or specialisms you may have, to exceptional grades if you’re just graduating, you need to put a case forward for why you should be paid more than the company is offering to pay.”
In addition to explaining your own qualifications, you’ll need to be armed with your research here, too. Sharing concrete numbers about industry averages as well as how much real people are being paid will go a long way in strengthening your case. If the money is available and you make a strong case for yourself, you’re likely to get a higher salary.
