What should I expect for a starting salary?

Of course it will vary, depending on the type of company and location. I would suggest using a website like salary.com. Also, contact the placement office at your college to get an idea from them (most schools try to keep data on the starting salaries of graduates).

Here in indiana, starting salary could be anywhere from 40k-65k, depending on your skillset and the type of work. If you can already code well in java or VB or another mainstream language (and demonstrate it from schoolwork and in interviews), then it will be up there on the high side. If you have a coding background from school, but need to learn to code well in specific languages (which is most entry level candidates), then it may be on the lower end of that range. Likewise, if you go to work for an IT consulting company, the pay will likely be a bit higher than going to work as a full time employee at a regular company (a company where software development is not their product).

If I were starting out, I would find a good consulting company. IMO, it is the best way to get lot's of experience in different environments in a short amount of time. Plus, they tend to be more liberal with paying for certifications b/c it makes you easier to bill out for the consulting company. Also, you can meet more people and network. If you have little financial commitments and can stomach the perceived insecurity of a consulting job, then it might be a good fit. I say perceived insecurity b/c the reality is that your job is only as secure as the value that your skills can bring to the table (especially in IT).

Yeah, that's a tough question. Glassdoor.com is also a very useful resource to find some info.

It's highly dependent on location, type of work & the company, so it's tough to know how to answer. Even though you're limiting your search to the DC area, there are vastly different ranges depending on whether you're looking for full time vs. contract work; private vs. government jobs; and even small vs. large companies. But typically:

Contract work pays more than permanent, but you don't get benefits or good job security
Government pays less than private/corps, but you get decent benefits and usually a pension
Larger companies sometimes pay less than smaller, but you get name recognition on your resume & usually better job security.

It's OK to try NOT to answer the question - say it's negotiable, say you're flexible, etc. Some will press the point, and for those the absolute best is to have a range from that specific company, but be sure to include a disclaimer that it's negotiable.

Just put "negotiable". It's not like you have a current salary that they or you have to go by.

Nothing pisses my off more than a candidate that has no idea what they want for a salary. That said, it is ok to put "negotiable" on your application, but you better have a number if/when it gets to that point. Since I live in the DC area, I can tell you as a recent grad you would start somewhere's from 55k-65k if the job is in your field. Good Luck!

Consider what they would offer that would be too low and you would not accept the job. You can use that as a starting point.

If you accept the job and you are being underpaid you can find a new one with experience under your belt and a better idea of what the market will hold for you.

I started at 60k in June 2009 with the same credentials as you in the DC metro area. My offeres varied from 50-65k.

Hope that helps.

Quote from slipgate : Nothing pisses my off more than a candidate that has no idea what they want for a salary. That said, it is ok to put "negotiable" on your application, but you better have a number if/when it gets to that point. Since I live in the DC area, I can tell you as a recent grad you would start somewhere's from 55k-65k if the job is in your field. Good Luck!

It's not that I don't know what I "want", its moreso that I don't know what is reasonable to expect, and I don't want to miss out on a job because I asked for some ridiculous salary.

Is using my low water mark really a good idea for a starting place? Not to sound greedy, but if I can get more for the same exact job I would definitely want it.

I do code well in a few mainstream languages(java and c++ mostly) and well in one not so mainstream(CUDA for those interested).

I have looked at glassdoor for a few specific companies, but the information is very minimal for companies that are on the smaller side, and the companies that are on the bigger side as far as I can tell tend to be paying way more (Google/Facebook/Twitter vs. random small govt contractor?). I'll take a look at salary.com and see what it teaches me.

To damix: What company if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks for all the replies!

I graduated last may with a B.S. In Comp Sci in the DC area as well. I already had a set specific goverment agency I wanted to work at, so I accepted a job on the very low end at 50k (Came in as a 7). In the DC area Software Developers are in demand. I would expect to make a minimum of atleast 50k; you should be able to ask for up to 65k easily. So if I were you I'd shoot for the 60k range if you don't want to scare off any potential offers.

Also, if your not dead set on any languages pick up a .Net (C# or VB) language as a backup. .Net developers have a solid foothold in the D.C. area and most .Net positions will start you out at a solid pay rate.

I was at a secondary loan market government sponsored enterprise.

Guess.

Totally depends on what you are offering - maybe post your edited resume up so people can take a better stab at it ?

My BF's little brother just got a job (LA area) for 45k but I doubt he had spectacular grades and from talking to him he didn't know a lot of practical programming. He was capable but the skill set list wasn't there. I'd say asking for 55k assuming your resume looks better than that is reasonable - if they only want to pay you 50 or 45 they will still want to interview you and then just talk you down - and if they want to pay 60k then you won't look like you were under confident.

Sounds like the DC market may be a little stronger than the west coast market though.

Quote from LordOfChaos : Consider what they would offer that would be too low and you would not accept the job. You can use that as a starting point. If you accept the job and you are being underpaid you can find a new one with experience under your belt and a better idea of what the market will hold for you.

Sorry, but I wouldn't at the 'minimum' and expect the company to work it's way up. If they can get you for 50k, why give you 60k?

Future employers will factor in your 'previous' salary if you switch jobs, and the less you're currently making, the less they will offer you. If you start off with a low salary, you'll have more of a struggle with getting 'fair market value' in the future.

I've read some good articles on The Ladders [theladders.com] (registration required) about salary, salary history, salary negotiation, and etc. It doesn't all apply to fresh out of school, but there are definitely some good tips.

I say scour the internet for salary ranges, and aim for somewhere in the middle. Much better to ask for 65k, have them counter with 55k then settle at 60k, than to low-ball yourself at 50k just because you scared to ask for what you're worth.

+1 on Glassdoor.com

You should never give a specific number. Give them a range based on what salaries are for that position, in that field in that geographic area. Glassdoor will help you get to a starting point.

Quote from BeckhamsTears : Sorry, but I wouldn't at the 'minimum' and expect the company to work it's way up. If they can get you for 50k, why give you 60k? Future employers will factor in your 'previous' salary if you switch jobs, and the less you're currently making, the less they will offer you. If you start off with a low salary, you'll have more of a struggle with getting 'fair market value' in the future. I've read some good articles on The Ladders [theladders.com] (registration required) about salary, salary history, salary negotiation, and etc. It doesn't all apply to fresh out of school, but there are definitely some good tips. I say scour the internet for salary ranges, and aim for somewhere in the middle. Much better to ask for 65k, have them counter with 55k then settle at 60k, than to low-ball yourself at 50k just because you scared to ask for what you're worth.

I am coming at it from "fresh out of school". "Minimum" is the min he would be willing to do the job for. Suppose he has the choice of an opportunity with a bad ass .com like google, or writing printer drivers for Xerox. Maybe his minimum for the google job is $50K whereas the Xerox shit job which doesnt have much room for growth he wont do for less than $60K? I am not saying go in to it and get screwed over.

Also, if the OP doesnt have any experience, no internships, and doesnt know what his market value is, he should focus more on getting experience and networking than an extra $10K a year (in my opinion).

As for other jobs "holding salary history against you"; you are very correct and that is a good point you bring up. I also learned this lesson searching for my second job out of school. I learned at that time to politely decline informing perspective employers of my current salary so they couldnt hold it against me. Now I dont mind stating my salary because it weeds out the companies that cant afford me and saves us both time.