Entry level salary for fresh undergrad

[Anonymous]

$125k, GIS/Geography.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Arlington Police Department has a $25,000 signing bonus and a $72,000 starting salary that automatically increases to $90,000 on July 1st, 2026.

And you can apply with an Associates Degree. Save yourself money and make more than UVA grads.

[Anonymous]

$12 an hour - production assistant at top-tier news media

(point: sometimes you still get peanuts for something good for resume)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$125k, GIS/Geography.

This is my college student’s major, so that is encouraging! What type of organization does your child work at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I graduated over a decade ago, investment banks paid $60,000 base plus up to 100% bonus.

Paralegals at biglaw firms working extremely brutal hours made close to six figures.

No. I was a paralegal 10 years ago. I made $50K.

My kid is applying to paralegal jobs now and they start at $50-70K. But apparently they end up earning much more because of overtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$12 an hour - production assistant at top-tier news media

(point: sometimes you still get peanuts for something good for resume)

Wow that’s what I got babysitting thirty years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$12 an hour - production assistant at top-tier news media

(point: sometimes you still get peanuts for something good for resume)

Wow that’s what I got babysitting thirty years ago.

That’s not really relevant…as an example, tons of Hollywood execs start in the mail room at CAA or WB or wherever making peanuts, but it’s a rite of passage. Those jobs are highly coveted because if you do a good job you are promoted to much higher paying jobs after you pay your dues.

Many sports/entertainment industries are like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Arlington Police Department has a $25,000 signing bonus and a $72,000 starting salary that automatically increases to $90,000 on July 1st, 2026.

And you can apply with an Associates Degree. Save yourself money and make more than UVA grads.

Except by 7 years out, the UVA grads will be making 225k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$125k, GIS/Geography.

This is my college student’s major, so that is encouraging! What type of organization does your child work at?

Fed contractor here in DC. His job also sponsored his clearance.

[Anonymous]

Liberal arts grad, 2025, first job was $60,000. Just got a new job at $65,000 plus 10% bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Arlington Police Department has a $25,000 signing bonus and a $72,000 starting salary that automatically increases to $90,000 on July 1st, 2026.

And you can apply with an Associates Degree. Save yourself money and make more than UVA grads.

Except by 7 years out, the UVA grads will be making 225k

I went to UVA and I’ve never cracked six figures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Arlington Police Department has a $25,000 signing bonus and a $72,000 starting salary that automatically increases to $90,000 on July 1st, 2026.

And you can apply with an Associates Degree. Save yourself money and make more than UVA grads.

Except by 7 years out, the UVA grads will be making 225k

Will they though? According to universityhq.org the mid-career salary for UVA grads is $129,200.

We have a child in law enforcement that is three years out of college and already makes more than $130k. They also have a pension, a 457(b) deferred compensation plan with an healthy match and a Roth. They’re going to buy a house in NoVA this summer at 26 years old. They plan to retire at 55.

People don’t realize that the cop that pulls them over likely makes more than they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$125k, GIS/Geography.

This is my college student’s major, so that is encouraging! What type of organization does your child work at?

Fed contractor here in DC. His job also sponsored his clearance.

Good for him! That’s quite a lot higher than typical GIS/Geography entry level positions which are around 70K.

[Anonymous]

Four years ago we hired someone fresh out of college for $50k and they are now at $75k, in DC, working in public affairs. Undergrad degree in Poli Sci. We are about to recruit for another entry level person with a similar background and I am shocked by how high some of these salaries are. I thought we paid well...

[Anonymous]

Nephew is a comp sci major from a non top anything school. Graduated in Dec. Interviewed at FAANG starting last Oct. Final rounds finished about 2 weeks ago. He was selected to go forward and now goes into a rotation program for 3 months before going through team matching. Officially starts in about 4 weeks. Salary is around $200 inclusive of bonus, and RSUs. Will be based in the Bay area and required to be on campus every day. Received a nice relo package to move him there.