[Perfection]

Hi everyone, I just recently finished college and am about to start working. I'm curious as to what kind of salary you all think a recent graduate can command up in the Portland area. I graduated from Oregon State Magna Cum Laude with a degree in business. Really, I think I'd like to both work and live in the city. Some of my peers have received offers as high as $65,000 to start, which I feel is a bit on the high end. Anyways, I'm hoping to avoid false expectations. I have a couple of interviews coming up in the next days and want to find a realistic range to consider.

Thanks.

[Dan]

I don't think, in my future potential given occupation, I'll ever make 65 grand a year.

[blazerboy30]

Originally Posted by Perfection

Hi everyone, I just recently finished college and am about to start working. I'm curious as to what kind of salary you all think a recent graduate can command up in the Portland area. I graduated from Oregon State Magna Cum Laude with a degree in business. Really, I think I'd like to both work and live in the city. Some of my peers have received offers as high as $65,000 to start, which I feel is a bit on the high end. Anyways, I'm hoping to avoid false expectations. I have a couple of interviews coming up in the next days and want to find a realistic range to consider.

Thanks.

Do you have a specialty within Business? Finance? Accounting? I know the starting salary of several people with business degrees, focus in accounting, working in Portland. I also know what a decent-to-good starting salary for an engineering major would be. I went to OSU for undergrad, so I have heard quite of few salary numbers for work in the Portland area.

The point is, it will largely depend on what field you enter, not just what your degree is in.

[Xericx]

I would guess you would start off at around 40k.

[Perfection]

Originally Posted by blazerboy30

Do you have a specialty within Business? Finance? Accounting? I know the starting salary of several people with business degrees, focus in accounting, working in Portland. I also know what a decent-to-good starting salary for an engineering major would be. I went to OSU for undergrad, so I have heard quite of few salary numbers for work in the Portland area.

The point is, it will largely depend on what field you enter, not just what your degree is in.

I have options in MIS (Management of Information Systems), Management, and a minor in communications. Before studying that, I had taken two years of computer engineering/science. However, I don't think I want to become an IT monkey, simply doing programming or other strictly IT-specific jobs. I intend to eventually go and get my MBA from Harvard or Carnegie-Mellon.

Anyways, I'm still exploring different potential careers, including marketing and even investment banking. Any ideas about starting salaries in these two fields. I'm just trying to get a range to make sure that I don't underbid myself or price myself out of the market. I would consider myself to be a top-tier candidate.

Thanks for any advice.

[Xericx]

Marketing = 35k a year

I-banking = 85k a year

portland prices. I think you sould have no problem getting around 60k+ though in MIS.

[Perfection]

That's nice to know. I actually have an interview with an investment banking firm coming up.

[Xericx]

http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/

[blazerboy30]

Originally Posted by Xericx

Marketing = 35k a year

I-banking = 85k a year

portland prices. I think you sould have no problem getting around 60k+ though in MIS.

I wouldn't expect $85k per year starting SALARY with an undergrad degree, working in Portland in I-banking. Maybe adding in other benefits you could reach a compensation package of $85k.

I know several people with undergrad degrees from Stanford working in the Bay Area in I-banking with salaries around 90k / year.

Based on what I have heard from other business majors in the Portland area, I would guess that you could be around $50k / year for a salary.

[Perfection]

Originally Posted by blazerboy30

Based on what I have heard from other business majors in the Portland area, I would guess that you could be around $50k / year for a salary.

Yeah, 50k is where I've drawn my walkaway point. I already have some leverage (if they offer me a job) in that I know they haven't been able to fill the position even though they've been looking for a few months. I really hope it works out.

Otherwise maybe I'll try to use my contacts at Nike and get back there. Don't think I'd get 50k starting out there though...actually I'm pretty sure I wouldn't.

[Ballscientist]

My starting salary is $96,250 in 2002 with job title Scientist II. I don't have degree in this country.

Friend A has a BA degree in history at Stanford. Starting salary $35K in 2005.

Friend B work for E&Y accounting firm with job title Junior Auditor. Starting Salary $52,000.

[ATLien]

[It's_GO_Time]

There is a lot more than base salary in considering a job. What is the environment or "culture" of the workplace? Do you want a job at a big company where you are a cog in a wheel but get lots of security (benfits and company not going anywhere) or a job in a small company where you have a direct impact but salary is more based on incentives? How much vacation time? Sick time? How do raises and promotions occur?

These all might be beggers can't be choosers, kind of questions, but if your bottom line is 50K in Ptd, then these other factors should come into play.

I'm sure most on this board know people who make lots of money but aren't happy with their jobs. What do engineers at intel call it . . . where are you PBF . . . "golden handcuffs" I think is the term. Avoid those handcuffs . . .

[Perfection]

Originally Posted by It's_GO_Time

I'm sure most on this board know people who make lots of money but aren't happy with their jobs. W