Entry-Level Salary Expectations: What New Graduates Can Earn

New graduates entering the workforce often have difficulty calibrating salary expectations — job postings rarely specify starting ranges, and online salary tools show wide distributions. BLS OEWS percentile data offers a more grounded approach: the 10th and 25th percentile wages represent the lower end of the distribution, which often captures entry-level positions.

Using the 10th and 25th Percentile

The 10th percentile wage represents what the lowest-paid 10% of workers in an occupation earn. This often corresponds to entry-level positions, part-time workers, or workers in lower-cost markets. The 25th percentile is a better proxy for where most new graduates might expect to start — below median but in the broad "entry to early career" range.

Occupation Matters More Than Degree Level

A new software developer typically earns far more at entry level than a new social worker with the same or higher degree level. The occupation, not the credential level, is the primary determinant of starting salary. Compare 25th percentile wages across occupations starting at WageDepth occupations.

Geographic Premium for New Graduates

Entry-level wages are most sensitive to cost of living adjustments — employers in San Francisco and New York pay more at entry level to compete for talent in high-cost markets. Browse metro-level 25th percentile wages for your target occupation and location.