<p>If you were offered a job for $33k/year as soon as you graduated, but promised $43k/year after 2 years and $59k/year after 4 years, would you say that would be a good a first job? I want to hear what you guys think about just the money before divulging what career it is, and yes, the job specifically offers these pay scales, so don't say "that's unreasonable". </p>
<p>Keep in mind that I'm not up for this job, I'd just like to know how other first jobs for college graduates compare salary-wise.</p>
<p>Yes, that would be a very good job. Keep in mind the average household income in the US is about $45,000. To make $14,000 more than that four years after graduating is excellent.</p>
<p>Sounds like a government job. By salary standards, those aren’t bad numbers. However, you should consider your living expenses. You need to make 120k in NYC to have the same living standards as someone making 50k in Houston.</p>
<p>Also, do you have student loans? What do you plan on doing after those 4 years? You don’t want to be stuck at 59k for the rest of your life. Will staying there for 4+ years lead to a better job in the future? Are the skills you acquire transferable?</p>
<p>My first real job paid $12K. My next job, after a year, was $18K. My next job after 1.25 years was $24K. $30K after another year. This was starting back in the 1970s. Yes, pay can go up quite quickly when you start out.</p>
<p>It’s hard to imagine pay guarantees though unless you’re talking about a government job and, even then, lawmakers may try to change the rules after you get hired. I guess the thing to determine is whether or not the organization or person can keep their promises. I once took a job with a promise from the manager to move into another, more desirable area, after working there for five years. He never came through but he told me that I was better off where I was because I was the expert in the area at that time. I have had long-term promises from managers that were kept in the past.</p>
<p>It’s hard to talk about the numbers without knowing the field and its prospects.</p>
<p>If it’s a private company, how are the current financials? Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow? If it’s a government organization, how are their financials?</p>
<p>You live in San Jose so keep in mind that your taxes are extremely high. Also, what is the upside of the job? When you make 59k in 4 years, where do you go from there? What’s the max salary you can earn in that profession?</p>
<p>Yeah it’s a government job; this is the pay scale of a USAF officer. I’ve been considering AFROTC for a while (I’ll be an incoming freshman this fall), and I’m weighing my options. I know that picking a career shouldn’t be based solely on numbers, but I don’t want one that won’t pay well. You are basically guaranteed those two pay raises as they come with ranks; promotion to First Lieutenant is basically guaranteed after two years, and then after another two years you become a Captain unless you find a way to not be in the 95% of 1st Lts that get promoted. Once you get to Captain though, your next promotion isn’t until you hit 10 years of service, and then the top 80% become Majors, although pay increases every two years of service regardless of rank anyways. If you want more info, it’s all here: [Officer</a> Pay Chart for Careers in the United States Air Force - AirForce.com](<a href=“http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/officer/pay-chart/]Officer”>http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/officer/pay-chart/)</p>
<p>So 10 years after graduation most officers that are making ~$80k, so it’s not the most lucrative job in the world by any means, but it has good perks (especially tuition assistance for an MBA) provided that you can handle the military life. </p>
<p>I’m really interested in learning more about becoming a USAF officer, I just wasn’t sure if the pay was way, way less than I’d be getting as a business major.</p>
<p>plus you get housing allowances, yes? That’s worth a bunch as well. Officers do fine for themselves, IMO. They are also wanted when they leave the service for various government and private sector positions.</p>
<p>Comparing a college graduate (who has much more education than an average American) to the average American’s salary is comparing apples and oranges.</p>
<p>I would not call $59k excellent four years out of college, but it is not a bad salary. Basically a 5k year each year for the first two and a 8k raise for the next two. Pretty nice pay increases YOY.</p>
<p>If you’re going ROTC you can also take into account the “bonus” of graduating both tuition free and having been paid a little bit of money while in college.</p>
<p>Those numbers sort of suck as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces. In terms of straight up stats (financial benefits), the Army has the Air Force beat all around.</p>
<p>TIS = time in service
DOC = date of commission</p>
<p>A lot of 2LTs have 4 years time in service already due to the SMP program. They’ll make 1LT in 12 months TIS from DOC. They’ll pin CPT in 36 months TIS from DOC. They will make MAJ around 8-9 years and LTC is all but guaranteed unless you royally f up. If you play your cards right, you can retire at age 37 with 20 years in as a LTC in the Army. If you don’t make LTC, you f’ed up.</p>
<p>Most 1LTs that I know in the ARNG with a zip code around the Tri-State area are banking 90+k on a 1 year deployment. Most of those guys are probably 23-24 years old.</p>