Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 09:59     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:SF/San Jose area. CS major, Software Engineering position making $200k, plus options/equity.


I know this is a flex and that you're really getting off on writing it, but let's adjust that salary for cost of living -- especially housing -- and take into account the hours, who and what you have to deal with, and the lack of any meaningful contribution to humankind. Then what number do you come up with?


Literally, 99% of all jobs fall into this category. I doubt you are providing any meaningful contribution to humankind.

However, while you may dislike some of the tech CEOs and companies, it's hard to say that Amazon, Anthropic, Google et al haven't provided meaningful contribution to humankind. Perhaps you view it as negative contributions, but they are certainly meaningful.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 09:54     Subject: Re:Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.

Yes, but being a police officer is much more riskier than sitting behind a desk all day. The hours can also suck. I have family members who are cops.


I don’t know but sitting behind a desk all day has led to many deaths. Dropping dead at your desk, heart attacks mostly, isn’t unheard of. Sedentary jobs are brutal on the body.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 09:28     Subject: Re:Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:2025 grad for architecture. Making $73,000 plus small annual bonus in large but (relatively) low cost of living city. Also had a $5,000 sign on bonus.


Where?? That's insane. Most I know are making more like $60k and I'm in the Midwest.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 09:22     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
DD engineer. Graduates in May. Lower cost of living area - $90k with $5k in moving expenses.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 09:08     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:SF/San Jose area. CS major, Software Engineering position making $200k, plus options/equity.


I know this is a flex and that you're really getting off on writing it, but let's adjust that salary for cost of living -- especially housing -- and take into account the hours, who and what you have to deal with, and the lack of any meaningful contribution to humankind. Then what number do you come up with?
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 08:42     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:This depends on major and job field.


Like, duh.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 08:41     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:26 years ago, my starting salary was 58k out of college. Sounds like starting salaries have not tracked inflation!


I graduated in 2001 and my first job paid 28k. While not great, it was probably the best I could do with a silly arts degree from a no-name college. 56k is the other end of that… pretty good for that time!


I graduated in 2000 and my first job paid 22k, no benefits, insane hours. It was at a nonprofit. But I actually could survive and pay my bills. Lasted a year and then jumped up to $35k in a new role! LOL. Within 4 years was at $50k. I thought I was loaded with that.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2026 20:27     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
25k while in school - Toledo
40k five months out of school - national network
72k one year out - DC

My field pays 30 to 80k in DC now.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 17:47     Subject: Re:Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Paralegal, $63K plus overtime (and they expect to work a lot of overtime).
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 11:28     Subject: Re:Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


They must be doing a heck of a lot of OT to get there. I also know cops and that's really how they make their money.


When you only work 2 days every other week it’s easy to pick up overtime shifts.


Good for them! I would never want to take on that job.


Thanks. They love working in their community.

They also get overtime every time they’re in court, at training, and driving outside their jurisdiction for training.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 06:10     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
B4 audit- low 80s out of school
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 06:08     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote:
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.


And they are well connected and have rich parents to support them after college.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2026 22:48     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Social services job in Pittsburgh, $45k
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2026 21:48     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote: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.


DS May 2025 graduate along with most of his friends, all CS or IS majors, have similar package + $11k relo + ER match that is 50% of contribution which comes to another $11k. They graduated from a top school w strong CS program.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2026 17:02     Subject: Entry level salary for fresh undergrad
Anonymous wrote: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.




But, they have to pass about 7 interviews.