What salary is a great salary to start out with when you're entry level?

[Simslover92]

[Chazmatazz269]

Entry level should be minimum living wage for the region. As long as there are built in opportunities to develop more skills and experience, thereby increasing value and earning potential. Entry level dead end positions should pay well enough to retire comfortably on the same salary after decades of loyal service.

[KostasKouvalis]

I think 20 to 30 K a year is reasonable, although you probably won't have any money left over for liesure.

[Simslover92]

Yeah that's what I was thinking too.

[Nikki1989]

That depends on the location and the industry. The wages in the USA are ridiculously low, so you will probably struggle no matter where you work.

[Abbycado]

Id say most would say that is great. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Simslover92]

Thanks!

[AI Opinion]

I’m Advisor Smith. “Great” depends on location, industry, and your situation, but here’s how I coach new grads:

1. Cover basics: Rent, food, transport, insurance, loan payments, modest savings.
2. Save 15–20%: For retirement and an emergency fund.
3. Benchmark: Use Glassdoor, Levels. fyi, LinkedIn, and salary reports for your role and city.
4. Compare to median income: Aim at or above local median for your age/field.

If a starting offer lets you live decently, avoid debt growth, and save regularly, it’s a strong entry salary.

[Friendlybro79]

Love how bots think this is possible for entry level. It takes years of work to afford those things for 95% of people.

[OneViewpoint]

Depends what industry and where you are with overall experience. An analyst fresh out of an Ivy League school being hired into a private equity firm will start between $150,000 to $200,000. Someone starting at the entry level in fast food or a warehouse may be earning $16 - $20 / hour or $33,000 to $42,000.

[midnightmoon05]

You can check out some state local job salaries… polic, e, post office, library, teachers… all public searchable information

for example… NYC teacher salary starting is around $68k so someone starting out at 22 or 23 years old as a teacher in the city will start with that salary. With a master degree a bit more… but rent in the city is expensive.
so yea… check out other states/cities to compare.
making $20-$30k is not good starting out with a college education.

[midnightmoon05]

Post office worker -
www.google.com/search

Teachers -
www.uft.org/.../teacher-salary-schedule

[AviatorTom]

In the US, it depends on the industry, but an entry level position would typically pay between US$15 and $US20 an hour in the US, which is an annual income of US$30K to US$40K.

After 5 years of working up the ladder (promotions, raises), that should almost double.

[Iron_Man]

What kind of a job are you doing? The phone operator? I guess they will pay you $15 bucks an hour

[Simslover92]

Librarian

[Iron_Man]

I’m not very familiar with what the starting salary is for that

[Simslover92]

Well I'm making a little over 40k which is why I asked the question. I was wondering if that was too low.

[DryGermanGuy]

https://youtu.be/iAmJm0zkpIc?si=uVDfYD7RY3rfdCU3

[Iron_Man]

@DryGermanGuy well you just started working. I have no idea how much their average salary is. Are you working at a high school or just a regular library?

[Iron_Man]

Oops, I’m sorry Elaine wrong user

[Simslover92]

Academic library

[Iron_Man]

Lol at the video. When they put their hair down, they are wild.

[Iron_Man]

That sounds like a nice job for you Elaine. Be happy that you got the job. Good luck with it.

[Simslover92]

Thank you! I will be!

[Iron_Man]

You’ll do real good that’s a good job for you Elaine keep up the good work

[Simslover92]

Thanks!

[Iron_Man]

👍🏻…

[msc545]

In the United States, a newly qualified librarian typically starts at about $45,000–$55,000 per year.

For context, the overall median salary for librarians was $68,270 in 2025, while the lowest-paid 10% earned under $43,660. Location and library type make a substantial difference; academic, government, and specialized librarians often earn more than small public-library librarians. Most professional librarian positions require an MLIS degree.

[slatyb]

It is, but I don´t know if you can get more for that position in that area. Most librarians work for public entities so the salaries are public information.

[ohsheeT]

As much as you can get and then prove yourself and make even more

I guess it depends on what kind of job it is

[236color]

Entry level what? Burger flipper, Lawyer, Dental hygienist, high school graduate, E 1 in the military? It makes a difference.

[lilBigPotato]

If you can comfortably pay rent, food and gave something left for a bit of fun, it's not bad for a start.

[NathanDavis]

whatever pays your bills, for the month

that's better than nothing, that's ENTRY level

[browsingthroughthe]

Cost of living lately since 2023 sure throws an interesting spanner 🔧🔧🛠️ worldwide. You know. If people are smart enough, to demand pay enough, or they'll apply elsewhere / ditch the company if they're not happy :) 😄😌

[browsingthroughthe]

If there anything if I can pretend in their shoes that keeps higher ups , awake at night its "AI revolution or not - my star players could always walk, to my competitors ; and I'd be ruined" - lol always a doom mindset lol "we'll be ruined" lol 😂😆 as if the company is a living orgaism

[browsingthroughthe]

Organism lol 😂

[browsingthroughthe]

@NathanDavis That's why I really love the trope used and said in Resident Evil The Final Chapter his business partner tried to tell him "but insert name, we'll be ruined" - businesses, always seem to worry out of body like, about being ruined lol by the competition lol 😆 clipboards up 📋📋😛

[browsingthroughthe]

Personally I've always liked as much as I can get

😆👀

[zagor]

Kind of depends on the cost of living where you are: In San Francisco you would need a lot more than in El Paso.

[molonski2]

Serious degree , I'm not up with it , but I would think 50k is realistic.

[DryGermanGuy]

Depends on the profession? For IT probably north of 45.000€.

[Iron_Man]

Have you met cousin It yet from the Addams family? 😂

[DryGermanGuy]

Sorry, it's too long ago that I watched anything with the Addams family. 🤷‍♂️

[Iron_Man]

Okey-dokey

[jshm2]

Anything.

It's why you're entry level.

[xawyx-3]

Depends on the job, but I think everybody agrees - the bigger = the better ;)

[Anonymous]

My company, a major multi-national retailer, pays new grads with a BS degree $90k.

[Opinion Owner]

I should add, in roles similar to mine. Everyone doesn't make the same salary.

[browsingthroughthe]

Soon it'll be $100k or low six figures minimum, expected. Expected or people will apply elsewhere lol.

[Opinion Owner]

@browsingthroughthe Hiring is difficult. Everyone who is looking is getting multiple interviews and likely offers. HR understands and all of the employers in the area monitor each other and adjust.

[browsingthroughthe]

California? Texas? Chicago? Or you outside the US. I'm not US either. But hell, I bet the World revolves around US trends / it's why Jeans started from Cali, lol

[browsingthroughthe]

The trends the trends lol 📉 "market forces " ahh those Yanks. Lol

[LiamJHayden]

Depends on where you live. In rural Iowa $30K. In OC California $50K, if you have roommates

[browsingthroughthe]

Considering Californians , if they're anything like my equally cosmopolitan modern brain 🧠🫣
In this world - Soon it'll be $100k or low six figures minimum, expected. Expected or people will apply elsewhere lol.

[fonduegirl]

Depends on your country and how much strength you have to do overtime

[Shiprex]

Depends where you live. Some places 100k is essential to live anywhere near your work.

[MrChinaski]

The slope matters more than where on the mountain you begin.

[MrChinaski]

I don't know much about librarians. But earning 50% more after 3 years and 100% more after 10 years is a common enough graduate career path. $1000 here or there at the start doesn't matter.

[Kelly6]

@Simslover92 Depends on where you life and how you live

[Anonymous]

That has a lot to do with what state you live in and if it’s expensive and what minimum wage is

[LiamS95]

Entry level at what kind of job?

[Simslover92]

Library

[LiamS95]

Where I'm from in Toronto good pay for an entry level librarian is $80,000.00/year

[jazzy34]

Whatever your needs are.

[exitseven]

It depends on the job, I might guess $50.000

[msc545]

That very much depends on what the work is.

[fishbone77]

$50k

[Extraterrestrial1999]

$20-25

[Anonymous]

$60,000?

[rconradhome]

$60,000 annually

[radiomechanic]

Depends on the job

[832dreamboy]

Sixty K.