Education and Income

[Grip]

52k last year, automotive painter. (2007)

never went to college.

ill try to make more this year.

[thejoe]

I make about 35k a year working a full time job and 18 hours on 2 out of 3 weekends. It works out to 15/hr for an avg. of 52 hrs/wk. I have a BS in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training.

joe

[ForTehNguyen]

69k, electrical engineer, still living at home with mom and bro

[Firefighter701]

At the fire dept I make 38k and at second job as electrician another 21k High School and thats it Plus EMT school

[Salilus]

52K, AAS is Computer Networking Systems and Administration, MCSE:2003. Currently Net Admin for med. municipality

[gsh341]

Originally Posted by XD40DucheKiller

I make roughly 20,000 a year and I am graduating soon.

Just curious whats the average xd owners situation.

If its too personal for you dont be offended you dont have to post.

What degree are you getting?

Your income can vary wildly depending on location, work experience and your ability to sell yourself, but the general rule is that your first job right out of college isn't going to be your career job. Expect to work VERY hard for not too much in income for the first year or two and work your way to a better income.

For example, right out of college with my BS in Electronics Technology I already had a job. I worked my butt off and left when they refused to pay me more than $8.75/hr (1996). I quit and got a job for $12/hr. That job laid off about half the employees within two years and I was one of them.

I then found a job for $11/hr, held that for 3 months and then quit for a job paying $12/hr working 80 hours a week. Within 3 months I was at $13/hr. At the end of the year I was at $14.50/hr. ($75,400/yr with overtime) Then 9/11 and the Tech bust happened at roughly the same time and I was unemployed again within a year.

Now after a deployment to Iraq and retiring from the National Guard, I have started my own small ATM service company and hold a second job as well. The income from this is about $55,000 year and will likely increase regardless of the economy.

As you can see, your career will not be a linear path to success. Also, success can be measured very differently for different people. I may not make as much as some people, but I have enough to take care of my family and I have the support and love of a great wife and a beautiful baby girl. To me, that's success.

A few key pieces of advice from someone that has been there already.

1. Avoid debt and credit cards like the plague, because that's what they are. If you have debt and credit cards now, cancel the cards and pay off all your debt as fast as possible.

2. Live within your means so you always have money left over at the end of the month and not the other way around. Put the excess money into a high yield savings account or money market account for emergencies.

3. As soon as you have a job and are debt free, start a Roth IRA and invest 15% of your net income every month.

Good luck!

[RVwannaB]

BS in Aeronautics. 55K this year and should be around 66k next year, as an Air Force pilot. Before going to training, I made a cool 17k as a flight instructor!


GSH341 that's some great advice!

[nickb]

gsh slid some good advice in here. It's not about how much you make, as it is what you do with it. Obviously where you live can dramatically affect what you make.

$20,000 is roughly 1/3 of what I paid in taxes for 2007. That's all I'm giving up there but...

I took a hand full of business courses at a local J.C. Then a bunch of industry specific studies. I still take about 20 hours a year of continuing education. But I never acquired a formal degree after high school.

The only thing I disliked more than study is paying taxes.

There is plenty of money out there in these United States. Don't assume you need a fancy degree to do well. But as I tell my kids don't close doors that lead to opportunities. Until you know what you want to do, keep working hard and keep learning.

[Kev_n_Az]

I spent $18 g's+ for computer school..dropped out with 3 non pc classes left..

I have other minimal college.

i work in construction

$43K ye average

on my own last year, I made $35k+ by late march..thats Jan to March!

I was on a roll to $100K++ till my wife walked out taking the kids and wanting divorce. my whole world stopped. so I have been working for contractors again...


till TODAY!!

I decided to re-establish my handyman business here in PHOENIX and business is already booming 1 day back!!!

[MindPlay]

Im a machine mechanic 40K a year