Negotiating starting salary for entry software engineer

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

<p>So I'm a little late to the game, but I am seriously applying for jobs now (graduating this May). What starting salary should I be looking for?</p>

<p>I live/plan to work in MD.
I have a 3.7 in CS/Math Double Major from UMD.
I have some internship experience.</p>

<p>Any ideas? </p>

2

<p>It depends where in MD and in what sector. Defense/government tech consulting is big in MD.</p>

<p>I graduated with a BS Computer Science from Rutgers with a GPA around 3.0. I accepted a job SW Level 1 position with a major defense contractor around the Baltimore/APG market with the Army as the client. I was offered around $75,000 starting, less than 40 hour work weeks + flex schedule, excellent benefits, over 4 weeks of vacation per year, $5000/year tuition reimbursement. I worked part-time for a defense contractor while I was going to school full time. I also had a Secret security clearance and Army experience as an infantry platoon leader at the time. Basically, with my background I was coming in maxed out for a SW Level 1 and this was for an integration/testing position.</p>

<p>If you’re coming in as a SW Level 1, your range is probably 55-75k/year.</p>

3

<p>I live/plan to work in MD.
I have a 3.7 in CS/Math Double Major from UMD.
I have some internship experience.</p>

<p>I don’t know in MD, but in NYC you could expect 85-100k if you are good coding</p>

4

<p>@Polo08816</p>

<p>Do you think your platoon leader experience played a significant role in your landing that job?</p>

5

<p>@ MutaRiSC</p>

<p>Significant? No. Already having the require security clearance played a significant role. My Army experience helped me bring an “end user” perspective to the program.</p>

<p>@dowtor777</p>

<p>That may be the case in NYC. Based on the offer I received for MD and MD’s cost of living vs. NYC’s cost of living, an employer would need to guarantee me at least 150k/year in NYC with the same work-life balance.<br>
<a href=“http://www.cnbc.com/id/101338309”>http://www.cnbc.com/id/101338309&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>I think you can expect some variance in your offers depending on if you take large midsize govt or startup type job. Some companies you can negotiate with if you have another offer from a similar company, you can always try to negotiate but with your first job I don’t know how much room you will have. Your career center should have some salary information for your area.</p>

7

<p>Once you get a solid offer or two, you can go buck wild with your salary requirements for other jobs.</p>