What is a good salary to be making out of college?

A good starting salary out of college in 2025 generally falls in the $60,000 to $70,000+ range, with averages around $68,000, but this varies significantly by major (Tech/Engineering highest, Humanities lower) and location, with higher costs of living requiring more, while some sources suggest $50k+ is needed for basic comfort in expensive areas like California.

What's a good salary out of college?

What is a good starting salary out of college? A good starting salary out of college is typically between $50,000 and $70,000. Majors like computer science, engineering, and business often land on the higher end, while education, social sciences, or the arts may start lower.

How much is normal to make out of college?

The average starting salary for college graduates is $55,260 per year as of 2020. Students graduating with a degree in computer science are likely to earn the highest average salary. Students who graduate with degrees in the humanities may make a lower salary than average.

What salary should a 25 year old have?

A good salary for a 25-year-old in the U.S. generally falls between the $45,000 to $60,000+ range, with averages closer to $50k-$60k, but this varies significantly by location (cost of living) and industry (tech/engineering pays much more than service jobs), with many feeling comfortable in the $60k+ range if they have no debt. It depends on factors like your specific career, education, and where you live. 

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

Asking College Grads What Their Starting Salary Is

Is $80,000 a good starting salary out of college?

Which Majors Make the Most Right After College? Computer science, computer engineering, and chemical engineering majors boasted the highest early-career salaries in 2023, with median earnings of $80,000 immediately after graduating, according to 2025 data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

What percentage of Americans make over $75000 a year?

Only 12.1% of Americans make in the $75,000 to $99,999 range. An additional 17% make between $100,000 and $149,000, and 15.7% earn in the $50,000 to $74,999 range.

Is it possible to make $2000 a month in college?

Yes, making $2,000 a month in college is absolutely possible by combining multiple income streams like online tutoring, freelancing, selling digital products, campus jobs, and gig work, leveraging skills and time efficiently without sacrificing studies. Success often involves a mix of active (tutoring, gig work) and passive (digital products, content) income, utilizing online platforms and leveraging academic strengths to meet this financial goal. 

Is $50,000 a good entry level salary?

Yes, $50k is generally a decent starting salary, often considered middle-class and comfortable for a single person in lower to medium cost-of-living areas, but its value heavily depends on your location, field of work, and expenses, potentially requiring budgeting in expensive cities or certain industries. It's a solid baseline for recent graduates, especially in high-demand fields, and provides a good foundation for career growth, but managing it requires awareness of your local market. 

Is $70,000 too much for FAFSA?

No, $70k isn't inherently "too much" for the FAFSA, as there's no strict income cutoff, and eligibility depends on family size, costs, and assets, but it significantly reduces need-based grants, though you'll likely qualify for federal student loans and some schools offer aid at this income level, especially for high-cost colleges or specific programs like QuestBridge. The FAFSA is always worth filling out to see your Student Aid Index (SAI) and potential aid, even for higher incomes, using tools like the Federal Student Aid Estimator. 

What is a good starting salary for a graduate?

A good starting salary for a graduate varies but hovers around the $68,000 average for 2025, though it's significantly influenced by major (Engineering/CS higher) and location (Tech hubs higher), with some high-demand fields like Computer Science and Engineering potentially starting well over $70k-$80k, while humanities or education might start lower, making the "good" salary dependent on your specific field and cost of living. 

Is a 100k salary out of college good?

Members of the class of 2025 say they expect to earn an average $101,500 per year for their first job, according to the survey of over 3,000 recent and rising college grads between Feb. 28 and March 19. That's much higher than what the average recent grad actually makes — $68,400 per year — according to survey data.

Is 30k good for a graduate?

In the UK, average is 25-32k. 35k would be above average , and anything above 40k is very good.

Is $40,000 a good starting salary?

As an individual, you may find that $40,000 is a good entry-level salary. Couples living the DINK lifestyle (which stands for dual income, no kids) and who each make $40,000 would be well above the median household income. Plus, they would have the additional costs of raising children as part of their budget.

Is 70k a middle class salary?

We use your size-adjusted household income and the cost of living in your area to determine your income tier. Middle-income households – those with an income that is two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income – had incomes ranging from about $56,600 to $169,800 in 2022.

Is 75k a year low income?

If you make $75,000 a year, you're earning more than half of all workers in the U.S. And in fact, many people would probably consider the salary as good pay. After all, a $75,000 salary works out to around $6,250 per month, $1,442.31 per week, or $36.06 an hour.

What income is considered middle class?

In California, a household can be considered middle class if it makes between $63,674 and $191,042. However, that range can change at the city level. SmartAsset used U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 1-year data and analyzed the median household income in 100 of the largest U.S. cities and all states.

Is $70,000 a good salary out of college?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average salary in the U.S. is $65,470, as of May 2023. Based on this data point, $70K a year is a good salary for a single person — one that puts you above the national average. But just how far $70,000 can carry you varies from person to person.

What jobs pay 100k out of college?

10 Best Degree Programs That Lead to 100k Salary Jobs for 2026

• Engineering Management. Engineering management programs prepare students to lead technical teams and oversee engineering projects. ...
• Architecture. ...
• Computer Engineering. ...
• Electrical Engineering. ...
• Aerospace Engineering. ...
• Actuarial Science. ...
• Finance. ...
• Chemical Engineering.

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

Earning $2000 daily often involves high-skill freelancing (consulting, specialized writing), high-ticket sales, advanced digital marketing (SEO, funnel building), or specialized gig economy work (luxury pet care, event services), with some paths like content creation or e-commerce taking significant time to scale; quick cash might come from selling valuable items or intense gig work (Uber, TaskRabbit, Rover), while long-term potential lies in building assets like courses or membership sites. 

Which is the no. 1 high salary job?

The #1 highest-paying job is consistently reported as Surgeons, particularly specialized ones like Pediatric Surgeons, followed closely by Anesthesiologists, due to extensive education, high responsibility, and complex procedures in healthcare, with salaries often exceeding $400,000 annually. Other top earners include other physician specialties (Cardiologists, Neurosurgeons) and high-level corporate executives (CEOs). 

What jobs make $3,000 a month without a degree?

You can earn $3,000 a month without a degree in roles like Dental/Medical Assistant (with short training), skilled trades (Electrician, HVAC), Delivery Driver (UPS, FedEx), specialized sales, Real Estate Agent, and some tech roles like AI Trainer or Medical Coder, often requiring certifications, apprenticeships, or a strong work ethic for entry, with remote options available in customer service or data entry if you have strong computer skills, notes www.nysmda.com, Tallo, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/3000-A-Month-Jobs-No-Degree.