Graduate starting salaires.

**hummus** · 22-07-2012, 03:24 AM

Hello Guys,

I have being going to some interviews lately and I always get the question what is your expected starting salary?

I am about to graduate with a information systems degree that is 3 years of study,

on average how much do grads make a year?

Thanks?

**pctek** · 22-07-2012, 07:12 AM

Grads? Pretty vague.....
Grad of what?

IT? BA? PhD?

And for what job? You can have a PhD and if you are applying at McDonalds starting wage would be about $14 an hour I'd say....

You look at what the job pays, take the lower end cause you're entry level and without experience. and expect roughly around that.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/jobs/salary-guide

According to this I am way under paid, and I'm not a graduate.

**WalOne** · 22-07-2012, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by pctek

Grads? Pretty vague.....
Grad of what?

IT? BA? PhD?

And for what job? You can have a PhD and if you are applying at McDonalds starting wage would be about $14 an hour I'd say....

You look at what the job pays, take the lower end cause you're entry level and without experience. and expect roughly around that.

pctek is right except I would not undersell yourself. View the lower end as your bottom line and ask for more - a certain amount of bargaining is appropriate but at the same time needs to be realistic. The interviewer will be looking for exactly that - are you realistic? If you're way under or way over, you could be viewed as not being on the same page. Good luck.

**stratex5** · 22-07-2012, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by pctek

Grads? Pretty vague.....
Grad of what?

IT? BA? PhD?

...

I think he wrote information systems degree.

**coldot** · 22-07-2012, 09:46 AM

Go out and get a job for 6 months, once you have started gaining "experience" that will provide a basis to rate you for a salary. Don't get hooked up on the belief that qualifications on paper are an absolute measure that an employer can use to set salary. Tell them that you want to prove yourself before you quote what salary you want.

**gary67** · 22-07-2012, 09:54 AM

What's the lowest hourly rate you will settle for that allows you to live add a dollar or a few until you think it's right

**stratex5** · 22-07-2012, 10:19 AM

That seems to be working quite well for you

**Nomad** · 22-07-2012, 10:34 AM

If it is related to IT and if it is a large company be it private or public, I say 35-45k. If it is helpdesk then maybe 35-40k?
If you get into a grad job like head hunted at uni maybe 50-55k.

But then again there are some places that will pay you min wage.

**hummus** · 22-07-2012, 11:36 AM

how much should this salary be increased after 2 or 3 years?

**johcar** · 22-07-2012, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by hummus

how much should this salary be increased after 2 or 3 years?

That will depend on your aptitude and attitude, the company and their financial health, and whether the job you are doing can be easily filled by another "know-nothing" graduate. If nothing changes (the company financial position, your job responsibilities, your qualifications etc) in that 2 - 3 years, then you should count yourself lucky to get a 1-3% increase annually.