Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Posted by Juliet

Posted by marymoon

Posted by Juliet

Posted by Leeners

I started at $28K a year I think shortly after me they raised entry-level to $30K. I started here more than 5 years ago but it was pre-September 11th so I'd say it's probably around $30-32K now. I look back and cannot fathom how I made it work (I lived in the city paying a TON of $ in rent too!).

That was a publishing job, I can tell already I started in publishing in 2000 and was paid $22K. Entry-level got bumped to 25K within three months and the next year entry level went up to 28K. In a year's time I went up 6K but looking at where I started, it wasn't that great.

I am now in grad school to become a librarian and while they don't get tons of money, their entry-level salary is at least 10K more than publishing is now.

I wouldn't think that publishing was so low and that librarians made more $$!, especially with all the cuts they're giving libraries these days.

This is going to sound rude, but it's a legitimate question, but what kinds of things do you learn going for a grad degree in library science (is that what it's called)? I'm really curious, because I don't know anyone who is a librarian and I didn't know that it required a degree until I saw it when I was applying to colleges. I really have no idea what goes into being a librarian.

Don't worry, I didn't know until I asked. I just started, but a lot has to do with technology management (and usage), choosing appropriate books for library collections, cataloguing, special library programs, reference services (need to know a lot about a lof things). Consider the fact that a lot of libraries on LI are doubling as community centers. There is a need to understand the community and its needs.

As far as publishing paying so low, it goes back to a time when publishing was filled with trust fund babies who graduated from Seven Sisters colleges and were looking for a nice respectable career but didn't really need a lot of money. Publishing has more glamour and prestige than pay.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Ugh! I began as an associate editor at a large publishing company in the city making $26K....very sad. I'm the editor of a magazine on Long Island now and do much better, however publishing is generally low paying unless you're Anna Wintour at Vogue or a high-level Conde Naste person!

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

$35K to be in the Macy's excuetive training program!- in 2002

and some how I lived in the city

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

$55000 at Morgan Stanley in the city, 2000. Communication degree but I worked on the trading floor. I also made overtime and was working insane hours so it was a lot of $.

Hated it though, and went to the much lower paying field of higher education.

Message edited 3/24/2006 9:43:48 AM.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Posted by tourist

Another publishing salary here. . .I started out at $21,000 in 1998. I am with the same company now & the last time that position was hired ( Nov.04) , I believe it started around 24,000.

I lived at home for 9 months ( commuiting from LI to NYC) & then got an apartment in Astoria with a roommate, who started off in social work at about 25,000. DH was making around the same doing data entry & database programming, so I guess it was average for the time, but I had accountant friends that started at what I am making now, 8 years later.


I made it work. My roomate & I bought a lot of clothes at $10 stores.

I laugh when people say, OMG I was making now money & it turns out it was what I was making after 6 years.

ETA- now, 8 years alter, I work in the same company, same department, but have been promoted twice.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Posted by usuk2004


I started in at $25K in '98 and shared a 1BR apartment with another girl....I know what you mean about the $10 stores

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

I worked in retail for many years in a store...my mother always would ask me if I owed them money at the end of the week because of all the stuff I would buy

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Posted by luvsun27

I worked in retail for many years in a store...my mother always would ask me if I owed them money at the end of the week because of all the stuff I would buy

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Posted by tourist

Posted by usuk2004


I started in at $25K in '98 and shared a 1BR apartment with another girl....I know what you mean about the $10 stores

Pretty Girl was our favorite!

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

26K-that was innn 2001.

ETA: I'm not making much more now, either-I changed careers,,

Message edited 3/24/2006 10:09:50 AM.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Nothing- but I went to law school.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Right out of college 59k, Dental Hygiene Degree

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

I've worked exclusively for non profits orgs. since graduating so I made just under 20K when I got out and worked on LI. I work for another non profit now (in NYC) but I make more than double what I used to.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

right out of my 4 year degree, probably $20,000 (I bartended and worked in a doctors office), when I graduated with my masters in 1998 I started at $46,000. I felt like a millionaire going from pocket change to a salary!!

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

OK I'm dating myself here..

My first job right out of college was in Manhattan, back in 1990 I never finished college if you want to be technical - I earned an associates degree in Business Administration and then took paralegal and legal secretarial courses because I wanted to work at a big NYC law firm. I heard that as far as administrative positions went, law firms was 'where the money was at' and yes at 20 yrs old, I was all about making $$ .. (I always thought I'd go back to finish my degree at night and then onto law school actually, but after working in law firms for a bit, I realized it just was NOT the life I wanted for myself..)

Anyhow, long story short... my starting salary back then was 24K, which was like a million dollars a year to me!! And to be honest, my friends who completed their college degrees and started working a year or so after me made much much less.. which really is shocking when you think about it

Message edited 3/24/2006 10:27:42 AM.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Posted by usuk2004

I started in at $25K in '98 and shared a 1BR apartment with another girl....I know what you mean about the $10 stores

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

33K in 1997 as a staff Auditor.

Re: POLL: How much $$ did you make right out of college?

My first job I made $26,500. This was 6 years ago.