How much should newly grad cs majors make?

[jinduy]

just academic stuff...

would 40k a year be pushing it in southern cali?

 

[Red]

No work experience? Trying to find a job in SoCal?? In CS industry???

I'd take whatever you can find. Expect 25-35k.

 

[jinduy]

Originally posted by: Red
No work experience? Trying to find a job in SoCal?? In CS industry???



I'd take whatever you can find. Expect 25-35k.

touche that's what i figured. even now it's tough to find a job that I'm really interested in that would relate to what I want to do for that lower amount of pay. i don't really want to do IT stuff like tech support...

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: jinduy

Originally posted by: Red
No work experience? Trying to find a job in SoCal?? In CS industry???



I'd take whatever you can find. Expect 25-35k.

touche that's what i figured. even now it's tough to find a job that I'm really interested in that would relate to what I want to do for that lower amount of pay. i don't really want to do IT stuff like tech support...

You have to start somewhere. You can't start at the top.

I graduated in 1997 with my Bachleors degree in CIS. I had plenty of work experience through internships and working on campus in a related field. My first job was a Network Installer, but it was more like an implementation team. I was paid about 35k for my first job. Today, I am a Network Manager at a different company, but have been here for almost 6 years.

Tech Support is part of almost every IT job. Even today I do support to help out the techs below me. It isn't that big of a deal to be honest with you. You aren't going to be able to start as a Network Engineer right out of college.

I sent out over 80 resumes and did over 15 interviews before I graduated. 3 months prior to graduation, I had 3 offer letters to choose from. I took the one that I thought was going to give me the best post college education and best work experience. My advice is to do the same. Start looking about a year before you graduate. Do interviews, even though you probably can't get the job. It will give you good practice.

Finally, don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Take a starting job doing tech support, but build your skills. My first company really did a good job training me for the job I have now, but sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Build a lab at home. Learn about the latest operating systems and train yourself. Let your company train you as well if you can get them too.

Just my .02 cents.

 

[Jzero]

Rs 30k

 

[Deeko]

CIS != CS

CS majors really shouldn't be doing tech support.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Deeko
CIS != CS

CS majors really shouldn't be doing tech support.

Depends on the colleges program. Don't be so hung up on degree titles.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: Deeko
CIS != CS

CS majors really shouldn't be doing tech support.

Depends on the colleges program. Don't be so hung up on degree titles.

Well, here, CS is programming, CIS is networking and stuff, therefore the above jobs make sense, but they wouldn't really make sense for a CS major. I learn nothing about networking here for my CS degree.

 

[thirtythree]

12k.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: Deeko
CIS != CS

CS majors really shouldn't be doing tech support.

Depends on the colleges program. Don't be so hung up on degree titles.

Well, here, CS is programming, CIS is networking and stuff, therefore the above jobs make sense, but they wouldn't really make sense for a CS major. I learn nothing about networking here for my CS degree.

At the school I went to, CIS consisted of both programming, networking, hardware, or PC support. I specialized in both networking and hardware. You choose two to specialize in when you get into the program. Just as vi_edit said, don't be hung up on degree titles. It all depends on the college's program.

I have seen degrees for IT, CS, CIS, and a few other obscure ones. It really depends on what the person specialized in through college and their experience now that determines what they do today.

 

[LordJezo]

I'm at about 47 or 48, I have a friend making 52, one making 54, and another making 42... all of us just graduated last year. We are in the NJ area.

40 is way low..

 

[jinduy]

Originally posted by: LordJezo
I'm at about 47 or 48, I have a friend making 52, one making 54, and another making 42... all of us just graduated last year. We are in the NJ area.

40 is way low..

wow that's nice. so is that enough for you to spend freely on good food and computer parts? plus do u pay for your own housing?

 

[nageov3t]

hey, there are more important things than money. I make 30K/year (first real job out of school, graduated last year), and I survive fine on my paycheck.

some of my friends make more, but on the other hand, I have no manager, no dress code, and the only expectation in the work place is that I get the job done. my friends, on the other hand, have to put on suits and fill out "5 year objectives" and other random Dilbert-esque garbage.

 

[Passions]

Newly grad CS majors can expect to make 75k starting. Don't cave in at first and let them lowball you. Demand higher! Say that you want a bonus too. Usually you can get like $2k AT LEAST. Don't shy away from full benefits also, health, medical, vision, vacation time, sick time, etc, can all work into your factor if you bring it up during the interview. Be assertive and know your value, you will get job offers like crazy!!!

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: Passions
Newly grad CS majors can expect to make 75k starting. Don't cave in at first and let them lowball you. Demand higher! Say that you want a bonus too. Usually you can get like $2k AT LEAST. Don't shy away from full benefits also, health, medical, vision, vacation time, sick time, etc, can all work into your factor if you bring it up during the interview. Be assertive and know your value, you will get job offers like crazy!!!

Don't forget access to the company helicopter. It's a must!

-geoff

 

[Passions]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

Originally posted by: Passions
Newly grad CS majors can expect to make 75k starting. Don't cave in at first and let them lowball you. Demand higher! Say that you want a bonus too. Usually you can get like $2k AT LEAST. Don't shy away from full benefits also, health, medical, vision, vacation time, sick time, etc, can all work into your factor if you bring it up during the interview. Be assertive and know your value, you will get job offers like crazy!!!

Don't forget access to the company helicopter. It's a must!

-geoff

Well, that's just being silly. Company helicopter? Hahahaha. Company car is okay though. I can see that being justifiable for travel.

 

[Nanotech]

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: jinduy

Originally posted by: Red

No work experience? Trying to find a job in SoCal?? In CS industry???

I'd take whatever you can find. Expect 25-35k.

touche that's what i figured. even now it's tough to find a job that I'm really interested in that would relate to what I want to do for that lower amount of pay. i don't really want to do IT stuff like tech support...

You have to start somewhere. You can't start at the top.

I graduated in 1997 with my Bachleors degree in CIS. I had plenty of work experience through internships and working on campus in a related field. My first job was a Network Installer, but it was more like an implementation team. I was paid about 35k for my first job. Today, I am a Network Manager at a different company, but have been here for almost 6 years.



Tech Support is part of almost every IT job. Even today I do support to help out the techs below me. It isn't that big of a deal to be honest with you. You aren't going to be able to start as a Network Engineer right out of college.



I sent out over 80 resumes and did over 15 interviews before I graduated. 3 months prior to graduation, I had 3 offer letters to choose from. I took the one that I thought was going to give me the best post college education and best work experience. My advice is to do the same. Start looking about a year before you graduate. Do interviews, even though you probably can't get the job. It will give you good practice.



Finally, don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Take a starting job doing tech support, but build your skills. My first company really did a good job training me for the job I have now, but sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Build a lab at home. Learn about the latest operating systems and train yourself. Let your company train you as well if you can get them too.



Just my .02 cents.

Sound advice; however, I disagree that you will have to settle for 25-35k in SoCal. I graduated last May with a Bachleors degree in BIS and live in the Mid West where the cost of living is considerably lower. I started out at 40k so I would think you could count on doing at least that well if not much better. Experience should be your main concern though. I work for the IT department and my title is Programmer but I have not actually programmed in over a month.

 

[jinduy]

Originally posted by: Passions
Newly grad CS majors can expect to make 75k starting. Don't cave in at first and let them lowball you. Demand higher! Say that you want a bonus too. Usually you can get like $2k AT LEAST. Don't shy away from full benefits also, health, medical, vision, vacation time, sick time, etc, can all work into your factor if you bring it up during the interview. Be assertive and know your value, you will get job offers like crazy!!!

lol and don't forget the secretary

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

Originally posted by: Passions
Newly grad CS majors can expect to make 75k starting. Don't cave in at first and let them lowball you. Demand higher! Say that you want a bonus too. Usually you can get like $2k AT LEAST. Don't shy away from full benefits also, health, medical, vision, vacation time, sick time, etc, can all work into your factor if you bring it up during the interview. Be assertive and know your value, you will get job offers like crazy!!!

Don't forget access to the company helicopter. It's a must!

-geoff

good one geoff:beer:

 

[Pakaderm]

I graduated with a CS degree and took a job in San Diego. I accepted a 47k + 3k bonus offer. BTW, that was 5 years ago. I did have maybe three years of internship experience though.

I would expect a new CS college hire in SD with no real world experience to make 45k-55k. Good luck!

-Pakaderm

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: loki8481
hey, there are more important things than money. I make 30K/year (first real job out of school, graduated last year), and I survive fine on my paycheck.

some of my friends make more, but on the other hand, I have no manager, no dress code, and the only expectation in the work place is that I get the job done. my friends, on the other hand, have to put on suits and fill out "5 year objectives" and other random Dilbert-esque garbage.

Ever stop to think those short/long term objectives are there for your own growth ? Without direction or motivators, you are likely to stay where you are unless you have a real passion for the field you're in... learning on your own ALL THE TIME. Without it... you will be making the same for a very long time. I don't think I'd be able to live life @ $30k. Think about the family, mortgage, kids' schooling, etc. Money isn't necessarily important to an individual (it's not to me... I spend it like mad)... but it's a necessity once you have more responsibility.

 

[fs5]

I make ~$35k a year in the bay area. That's WAY LOW. I'm expecting a raise of at least $45k, if not $50k. Graduated last year, working as a software engineer.

 

[Bulldog13]

There was an article on slashdot today asking that EXACT question....

 

[Crusty]

I know several people making 45-60k with a BS in CS out of UT Austin. Most of them got a job with Natural Instruments..and my bro got a job with Lockheed Martin.

 

[torpid]

Depends a lot on:

Experience (internships, part time jobs)
Which university
Grades
Skills